traffic light cameras...
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 361
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traffic light cameras...
...do they have these in your hometown?
...I just got a ticket from one of these...they are usually just a civil offense (meaning no points against your driving record). My fine was $75.
I've never intentionally run a light (in fact, drivers who do are one of my pet peeves) but in some cases, when the light turns yellow as you are approaching it, it's sometimes not easy to decide if you can safely stop or not, especially if the driver behind you is "on yer butt."
Please share your experience with traffic cameras...I think they also use them for speeding tickets in some areas.
...I just got a ticket from one of these...they are usually just a civil offense (meaning no points against your driving record). My fine was $75.
I've never intentionally run a light (in fact, drivers who do are one of my pet peeves) but in some cases, when the light turns yellow as you are approaching it, it's sometimes not easy to decide if you can safely stop or not, especially if the driver behind you is "on yer butt."
Please share your experience with traffic cameras...I think they also use them for speeding tickets in some areas.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,292
Likes: 5
From: NJ where fun comes to die
There have been some problems with the cameras, or actually the companies that installed them. Some states made a deal to give the camera company a piece of the action as part of their pay. So the camera companies cut down the yellow light so there would be more tickets and more money for them. Here in NJ they cannot use them for speed, but they are considering it. One way or another, they want ALL of our money.
Jäger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 5
From: Northern Arizona
There are some in LA, mainly Pasadena. They are for red light offenders and those who block intersections during heavy traffic periods. One intersection in Pasadena, Union Street and Lake Avenue, was constantly getting blocked by cross traffic until they installed the cameras.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 13,589
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From: NW burbs of chicago
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Gone but not forgotten.
Joined: Jul 2001
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You cannot drive in my area without seeing someone trying to gain a few seconds running a light. More cameras are going up here and hopefully they will help. That said, there is a license cover available that allows your plate to be visible from directly behind but stops clear pictures from an angle. Seems to me that anyone that buys one is expecting to run a light.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2005
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in London, UK, where i lived for 2 years, they have them everywhere, along with speed cameras. i got use to them and don't mind them at all, lots of people complained, but i never had a problem, but i never run lights or speed either.
they put 2 red light cameras up in my town, i would see poeple all the time running the red lights here, now they don't do it at the 2 intersections with them, but they still do it on the other lights.
but i personnly don't like them every where unless it is at a problem intersection. but i have a feeling they will start putting them up everywhere, with the timing a bit off as to make more money off of people.
they put 2 red light cameras up in my town, i would see poeple all the time running the red lights here, now they don't do it at the 2 intersections with them, but they still do it on the other lights.
but i personnly don't like them every where unless it is at a problem intersection. but i have a feeling they will start putting them up everywhere, with the timing a bit off as to make more money off of people.
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 164,377
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From: MA
They tried to get them in my hometown, but thankfully they were shot down..
The police were pushing to get it and they said they did a study and found that over the course of an hour many cars ran red lights..
Now my question is, if you can have a cop car sitting checking how many ran red lights, why not have them handing out tickets?
If the cops were periodically targeting certain lights to watch and writing tickets, then the local police would pocket the money instead of the camera company. Also people would know that the cops may be there and not speed or run the light.
The police were pushing to get it and they said they did a study and found that over the course of an hour many cars ran red lights..
Now my question is, if you can have a cop car sitting checking how many ran red lights, why not have them handing out tickets?
If the cops were periodically targeting certain lights to watch and writing tickets, then the local police would pocket the money instead of the camera company. Also people would know that the cops may be there and not speed or run the light.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 47,280
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From: DELAWARE, The First State
The red light cameras are starting to appear in my area. The thing is if they don't have a picture of the drivers face, the lawyers say to fight the ticket in JP court and it will be dismissed. If they have a picture of the driver and it is not you, case dismissed. I don't know if other states handle the fines the same way or not. I personally have not had to test this advice so I do not know if it really works or not.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2005
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yes, but the owner is respnsible for the car, there for he must present the person who was driving the car to the court for him to get the ticket.
the only problem i see with cameras are the fact that companies are operating them and not the government, i think its bad practice to get any companies involved in the affairs of enforcing laws. next thing you know we will have private contracted police forces.
the only problem i see with cameras are the fact that companies are operating them and not the government, i think its bad practice to get any companies involved in the affairs of enforcing laws. next thing you know we will have private contracted police forces.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,246
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From: Hawkeye Country
theres a few of each around here, i have no front plates and my rear plates are usally coverd in gravel dust and dirt anyways, ive had no problems with them mostly becouse i dont hang around ghetto trash downtown were there all located at.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,988
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From: Travelers Rest SC
Originally Posted by donjamer
They tried to get them in my hometown, but thankfully they were shot down..
I had the idea once that they should have a secondary line of another color at the exact distance from the light so that at the speed limit you would know whether or not you could make it. I can just see people hitting the secondary line late, and then flooring it to try to beat the light...
Here in traffic-choked FL, I have seen green lights as short as 6 seconds. Kinda makes you want to cheat a little.
