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Argument Against Speeding Cameras


gortiz

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I just don't get it ... people say speeding cameras are a money making scam, but is that because the camera's are efficient and better at catching violators?

Just not sure how someone can make a rational argument against them? Of course, that is assuming they are accurate and fair.

It is almost like the person against camera's is saying that it gives cops an unfair advantage in their attempts to catch violators.

Senate passes ban on I-95 speed cameras

The Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A bill banning the use of speed cameras along Interstate 95 in Ridgeland has been approved by the South Carolina Senate.

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I don't get the argument either. Speed and intersection cameras certainly save lives. The data proves it.

The argument that you have the right to face your accuser is often given. But how does that really matter or apply to parking tickets, or when a police pulls you over and tells you that he clocked you doing X over the speed limit, or doing anything he felt the desire to pull you over for?

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How does the camera prove who was driving the car?

it can't ... i got a ticket in the mail the other day and my wife and I could not remember who was driving. you don't get points taken away, but the owner of the car has to pay or is on the hook to pay ... regardless.

---------- Post added March-31st-2011 at 12:39 PM ----------

The argument that you have the right to face your accuser is often given. ?
wait ... seriously? i thougth the previous post was a joke?
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Cameras don't allow you to confront your accuser.

Not always but generally your right.

The camera snaps a picture as well as capturing the rate of speed. They then examine the plate in the picture to see who to send the ticket to. If the car is registered to you, you get the speeding ticket. Usually, this makes sense unless someone is driving your car and that's where it can get messy. ( as happened to me years ago)

My wife and I were going on vacation and a friend was watching our house and animals. We gave him permission to use our car while gone and he dropped us off and picked us up at the airport.

About a week after returning we received a ticket in the mail. I had to take the day off and go to court, but I did face my accuser ( state of Virginia not the actual camera) and presented evidence that I could not have been the driver as I was out of state. The picture was not able to distinguish who the actual driver was so the case was dismissed.

Funny thing, they never bothered to ask the name of the person driving the car.

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I don't get the argument either. Speed and intersection cameras certainly save lives. The data proves it.

The argument that you have the right to face your accuser is often given. But how does that really matter or apply to parking tickets, or when a police pulls you over and tells you that he clocked you doing X over the speed limit, or doing anything he felt the desire to pull you over for?

Seriously? You can ask for a hearing in both cases.

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My biggest problem with them is everybody knows where they are. People speed up until the camera zone, slow down, and then speed up again. The cruiser parked randomly has a better shot at catching people.

That said, I think they are perfect for intersections and school zones.

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How does the camera prove who was driving the car?

They don't.

Which is why they don't assess points against your license. Because they can't prove it was you.

OTOH, the owner knows who drives his car.

---------- Post added March-31st-2011 at 01:45 PM ----------

I don't get the argument either. Speed and intersection cameras certainly save lives. The data proves it.

Uh, don't know about speed cameras, but I've seen the opposites claimed about red-light cameras. That installing them causes an increase in accidents, due to people slamming on their brakes at the first sign of a yellow light. (That they might cause a decrease in the dollar amount of accidents, more accidents, but they're smaller. But that that information isn't conclusive.)

---------- Post added March-31st-2011 at 01:47 PM ----------

Cameras don't allow you to confront your accuser.

Neither do fingerprints, security camera video, DNA, or any other form of physical or forensic evidence.

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I think it goes back to the whole it isn't a crime if you don't get caught thing. Now that the State has the technological ability to catch any driver anywhere for speeding by use of cameras, that disturbs a lot of people. Who here really drives the speed limit at all times?

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Uh, don't know about speed cameras, but I've seen the opposites claimed about red-light cameras. That installing them causes an increase in accidents, due to people slamming on their brakes at the first sign of a yellow light. (That they might cause a decrease in the dollar amount of accidents, more accidents, but they're smaller. But that that information isn't conclusive.)

There was an article about that in the paper here in Raleigh. Basically there was an increase in small rear end accidents where someone slams their brakes on not to possible get the ticket, but there was a decrease in the amount of major accidents (T-Bone and such).

AND

The town of Cary is being sued for having their yellow lights to short thus increasing the amount of tickets.

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Next will be speed sensors in cars and signals on highways broadcasting the speed limit. Any time you go over they can just generate a ticket for you. Then you're caught everywhere not just at the speed camera site.

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The town of Cary is being sued for having their yellow lights to short thus increasing the amount of tickets.

I've heard that claim made a lot. That the company that installs the red-light cameras, shortens the yellow lights, to increase revenue. (And I can believe it.)

OTOH, the solution there is for the state to pass a law, mandating that the yellow light must last for at least X seconds. (IMO, make it based on the speed limit. If the speed limit if 35, then X seconds is good enough. If the limit is 55, then the light needs to be longer.)

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Next will be speed sensors in cars and signals on highways broadcasting the speed limit. Any time you go over they can just generate a ticket for you. Then you're caught everywhere not just at the speed camera site.

reminds me of Demolition Man with the profanity tickets.

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I've heard that claim made a lot. That the company that installs the red-light cameras, shortens the yellow lights, to increase revenue. (And I can believe it.)

OTOH, the solution there is for the state to pass a law, mandating that the yellow light must last for at least X seconds. (IMO, make it based on the speed limit. If the speed limit if 35, then X seconds is good enough. If the limit is 55, then the light needs to be longer.)

There is a law like that. That's what they are using to sue actually.

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Speeding cameras have no place on highways/parkways. In neighborhoods or areas where there is a high likelihood that there are pedestrians, I'm ok with them being there. School zones, shopping centers, places like that, where the driver needs to be more attentive to what's going on around them. Not to say drivers shouldn't be attentive at all times while driving of course. But I would think in parking lots around shopping centers there's certainly more chances to hit something/someone.

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Reminds me of the thread about the Maryland high school students using a program to print out fake license plates (of their teachers, iirc), then intentionally speeding past the camera to cause others to get tickets in the mail. Couldn't find the thread, but here's the story. http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/26/2632.asp

I also seem to remember a case where there was a speeding camera van. Some mischievous kids swiped the plates from the van and sped past it a few times and it sent itself a few tickets.

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