Rochester has just installed 3 red light cameras in the city. The kind that take a picture of your car if you run a light and send you a ticket. They are in the "grace period" right now, where you just get a warning. They will go real next week.
Do any of you have them in your towns? How are they working? What do you think?
Some folks are complaining..that they are too big brotherish. I do not think so. I have almost got T-boned a few times by cars running lights.
But I have an unanswered question. Here in NY we have the "right on red after stop law." Meaning you can legally make a right turn on a red light if traffic is clear. Would these cameras tag you for that? On that note...I see the biggest problem around here is the assholes who will turn on red, while there is still traffic, causing people to slam on their brakes to avoid them. I wish those people would get nailed.
How long does it take for paint to dry in a squirt gun. I would think it would be cheaper to just raise the fine to some ungodly sum. What are they doing trying to raise money or prevent accidents?
We have them. They work beautifully. I've paid at least three tickets my boss has gotten that way. The camera takes a VERY clear photo of the ass end of the car {license plate} & a "full body" shot of the car. There is no mistaking who the vehicle belongs to. Here, the yellow caution light means, "drive faster". 
If people knew how to drive we would not need any lights, a 4-way stop sign is the most efficient way of keeping traffic moving but nobody can yield or give right of way anymore. Buncha lunatics.
(10-12-2010, 12:49 PM)Duchess Wrote: [ -> ]
We have them. They work beautifully. I've paid at least three tickets my boss has gotten that way. The camera takes a VERY clear photo of the ass end of the car {license plate} & a "full body" shot of the car. There is no mistaking who the vehicle belongs to. Here, the yellow caution light means, "drive faster".
You better stop borrowing the car.
i swear i read this thread title as red light district and thought QB had a new job.
you can go ahead and smack me QB. 
HaHa.
i like the red light cameras. hell, big brother is everywhere anyway, and it's for our safety. wherever the cameras are. they are invaluable evidence in all kinds of crime.
they free up police from having to chase cars and there is also no mistake when it's on tape. just pay the ticket and never clog up a docket list.
i don't have them in my area yet.
once my son missed a toll on the NJ Turnpike, unintentionally he swears, and here came the ticket and fine in the mail. bugger. 
but they can't tell if a licensed driver is at the wheel. only drawback.
London has the most people-watching cameras of anyplace on earth, ever since the tube bombing. even before then, it helped ID the bastards.
Playing devil's advocate:
For those who feel the need to beat the cameras:
It has been said that to foil the camera, can be accoumplished by using a 3M reflective sticks tape that has been cut and stuck directly on the numbers and when a flash hits it all you see is white, works superbly evertime.
Also there is a "Photo Blocker Spray", that many say foil the camera as well.
So . . . .
alter or obscure your plate and you're busted! bad Carsman!
I see a job opening for red light district camera snow shovelers in Rochester. Being at bumper level and all. In fact lens cleaners may find a home in Rochester. I hear L.A. has many that do car windscreens. In the summer they could live in the park...........
Red light cameras cause 100's of accidents because people slam on their brakes if they see a yellow light. They especially react badly if they don't know how long it's been yellow. Yes, most of the extra accidents are fender benders but these cause disruptions, costs, and human suffering too. There are fewer fatal and serious accidents but there's not enough information to see the trade-off. Municipalities that put them in are looking for revenue not safety. In California they have been reported to send tickets to people who don't "stop long enough" before making a turn on red. They generate thousands in fines and peoples' insurance rates soar and accidents increase. This is not only big brother but a big brother bully.
People need to do better at stoplights but cameras are not the ticket. I might agree with ticketing those who go through extremely late but enforcing the letter of the law (or more) without tasking into account such thing as weather, traffic, and road conditions is just intrusive and causes accidents.
I'd vote against any politician associated with them.
What we really need are cops to enforce the traffic laws. If people knew they'd get ticketed for something minor like failure to signal then they would certainly find a way to stop for a red lighjt when indicated.
(10-12-2010, 09:32 PM)cladking Wrote: [ -> ]Red light cameras cause 100's of accidents because people slam on their brakes if they see a yellow light. They especially react badly if they don't know how long it's been yellow. Yes, most of the extra accidents are fender benders but these cause disruptions, costs, and human suffering too. There are fewer fatal and serious accidents but there's not enough information to see the trade-off. Municipalities that put them in are looking for revenue not safety. In California they have been reported to send tickets to people who don't "stop long enough" before making a turn on red. They generate thousands in fines and peoples' insurance rates soar and accidents increase. This is not only big brother but a big brother bully.
People need to do better at stoplights but cameras are not the ticket. I might agree with ticketing those who go through extremely late but enforcing the letter of the law (or more) without tasking into account such thing as weather, traffic, and road conditions is just intrusive and causes accidents.
I'd vote against any politician associated with them.
What we really need are cops to enforce the traffic laws. If people knew they'd get ticketed for something minor like failure to signal then they would certainly find a way to stop for a red lighjt when indicated.
Most of the laws out there now are in use because of the liability issue. Everyone is sue happy and do not know how to use common sense. Politicians and lawmakers have jumped at the chance to compensate themselves to rationalize pay raises and pensions. The song "under my thumb" comes to mind more often nowadays.
