California redlight cameras to get speed sensors?.....(link fixed).....>>>>>

[Johnny SixPack]

Speed sensors on red-light cameras could raise money fast

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-budget-cameras9-2010jan09,0,3286125.story

Gov. Schwarzenegger's budget proposes fines of up to $325, with funds shared among cities and counties.

" Reporting from Sacramento - Speeding may be dangerous for drivers, but it could soon be a boon for California's fiscal health.

Tucked deep into the budget that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled Friday is a plan to give cities and counties the green light to install speed sensors on red-light cameras to catch -- and ticket -- speeding cars.

Those whizzing by the radar-equipped detectors at up to 15 mph over the limit would have to pay $225 per violation. Those going faster would be fined $325.

Small-government advocates want to put the brakes on the plan.

"This is a budget item for the state?" said Lew Uhler, president of the National Tax Limitation Committee. "This is totally reprehensible."

Red-light cameras are already in place in communities across the Southland. The governor wants to install speed detectors in 500 of those cameras, which would nab an estimated 2.4 million speeding violators a year, according to the state Department of Finance.

In Beverly Hills, for instance, there are nine red-light cameras, which could catch 835 speeders a month, the Schwarzenegger administration estimated.

That would add up to big bucks for cash-strapped California -- about $337.9 million through June 2011 -- to pay for state courts. Every year after that, the program would generate nearly half a billion dollars, the Finance Department says. Local governments would get a share.

All of which annoyed Uhler.

"I was nailed by one of these [red-light] turn cameras. It's so irritating," he said. As for the possibility of driving a smidgen over the speed limit and receiving an unwelcome ticket weeks later in the mail: "Just obnoxious," he said.

The proposal also touted safety: "There would be . . . fewer accidents and injuries to drivers, passengers and pedestrians." "

Dotcha love how safety was secondary to to income from the fines.

I wonder if the government will encourage speeding.  

I can see the campaign now: "Speeding saves budgets."  


Johnny

[Ghoste]

With all the lives saved from the reduced accidents and less need for real police with these ticket robots inplace, just think of all the jobs they can eliminate and how much money that adds to the bottom line too.  California will soon be the richest state in the nation.

[Silver R/T]

I wouldn't be surprised to see some people bash those light/sensors. So much for "freedom"...

[Mike DC]

 
What a way for modern teenagers to rebel against the system - driving under the speed limit!

 

 

[1969chargerrtse]

I'd leave the state.

[elacruze]

 
What a way for modern teenagers to rebel against the system - driving under the speed limit!

 

I got in a 'debate' with an officer who pulled me over and thought he would ticket me for 'obstructing traffic' while driving 40mph in a 45 zone, while all the rest of the traffic went by at probably 55-60. I told him I'd bet him yard care for the summer that before that ticket stuck the speed limit in that zone would be raised to 55. He balked and walked.

I regularly tick people off by driving the speed limit, though only on surface streets not the highway.

-Eric

[RD]

 kommiefornia

[suntech]

I guess we can just say welcome to the club!!

The rest of the world has had this for a long time. In Norway, where i live, has automatic speedtraps pretty much everywhere now. We got the first ones over 15 years ago. As for red light sencor/cameras... not sure how it is here, but in Korea, there i work, i pass at least 20 of them, plus the speedtraps, every day. Luckily the fines for red lighting and speeding is a lot more reasonable in Korea, than here at home
20 km / h over, in Korea .....app 40 usd
red lighting in Korea............app 120 usd

20 km/h over, in Norway......minimum 500 usd ( more in zones with reduced speed limit)
red lighting in Norway .........app 1000 usd

You guys are getting off easy compared to Europe!! hehe

[Rolling_Thunder]

I'll just wear a mask (not against the law to my knowledge) while i'm driving - when and if a ticket comes claim that "that's not me driving that car"   

[Arthu®]

I'll just wear a mask (not against the law to my knowledge) while i'm driving - when and if a ticket comes claim that "that's not me driving that car"   

I'm not sure about the laws in the U.S. but in Europe you are responsible for the car and the ticket is going to the owner of the car. They won't be able to deduct points from your license because of this, but they will always be able to collect. Some people fight them, and the most common reason that they would get off is the fact that in court the justice department would have to produce the photo's and these have often disappeared, but if the pictures are there you have little chance of getting out of it.

Arthur

[66chargerkid]

I'll just speed on country roads for now on. Im sure if California passes this, larger cities will also have reason to pass this.
Q

[Johnny SixPack]

With all the lives saved from the reduced accidents and less need for real police with these ticket robots inplace, just think of all the jobs they can eliminate and how much money that adds to the bottom line too.  California will soon be the richest state in the nation.

Yeah, I wondered if that meant they'd use this as a reason to cut back on patrol officers.

It's a win, win for the Gova-nator!

[Chatt69chgr]

They do this because they know if they were required have the citizens vote on something like this that it would never pass.  They have started putting the red light cameras in here and now have the speed cameras in a few locations.  Of course, the discussion now is about putting the speed sensor on the redlight camera.  I think devices like this do have their place, albeit, in very limited circumstances.  The problem is they are being used for revenue enhancement in the guise of enforcing the law and safety. 

[Mike DC]

The problem is they are being used for revenue enhancement in the guise of enforcing the law and safety.

IMHO most of the entire American legal system amounts to "revenue enhancement in the guise of enforcing the law and safety."



 

[Johnny SixPack]

The problem is they are being used for revenue enhancement in the guise of enforcing the law and safety.

IMHO most of the entire American legal system amounts to "revenue enhancement in the guise of enforcing the law and safety."



 

Sad, but true, Mike.

[moparstuart]

 I think i may have got busted by one of those red light camera's last night ,  I guess wew shall see if i get a little present in the mail .

[Dans 68]

I couldn't pull up the linked story...is there a "grace" speed delta that you will not be fined? Such as 3 mph over the limit? 5 mph? 1 mph? 

Dan

[Johnny SixPack]

I couldn't pull up the linked story...is there a "grace" speed delta that you will not be fined? Such as 3 mph over the limit? 5 mph? 1 mph? 

Dan

Sorry 'bout that, Dan!

Looks like the : was left out of the address.

I modified the original message, so it should work, but it doesn't, here's the address (you'll have to cut and paste it though):

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-budget-cameras9-2010jan09,0,3286125.story

[lisiecki1]

It's my understanding that since putting red light cameras in houston the accident rate has gone up at the intersections that have the cameras installed.

[Troy]

It's my understanding that since putting red light cameras in houston the accident rate has gone up at the intersections that have the cameras installed.

Makes sense because people anticipate the light and jam on the brakes.

Troy

[69charger440]

Another thing for me to watch out for here is CA! Darn them, how am I going to drive. Cant talk on my phone, cant text, enforced to have front plate, no tint, cant run lights, cant speed now!! They sure know how to take the fun out of every thing!! Well I can still get away with running STOP signs when no one is looking!!