RED LIGHT CAMERAS TOO GOOD? REVENUE LOSS? Great Article.

the problem in maryland is that there are soooo many cameras and they are strict and supposedly take a picture of you as soon as you go 10m over the limit.. now, people are looking more at their speedometer than they are of the road... hows that for safety?!

Great article!

There are some places in the Metro Atlanta area where cameras cover several intersections in a row. In many of the places around here, the traffic is simply too thick and slow.

Not sure about every state, but in Georgia, many (if not all)of our camera intersections are really obvious and they post huge signs well in advance.

Looks like next step will be only camera box + boards and no action. This will solve purpose of for which it is installed. Fewer accidents; and less cost to govt for installation.

Great article!

But don't for get the beer.
jolleyr c330

The article did not mention if the city plans to remove the installation altogether or just shut it off. I guess they would remove the installation and proudly display a sign that says "No more red light camera, go right ahead"

Jeff

Quote from another blog on the story in the OP (http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/03/cities-removing.html ):

It's all about the money for the local government, Safety come only second. Sad but the reality of the situation.

only if they would shut down all cameras, then we wouldnt all have to keep trying to figure where they are and continue to upload camera files to our gps.

If you want to avoid speeding, you would be looking at your speedometer, anyway. Personally, I wish there were speed cameras on every highway, street or avenue in town. I am so tired of everyone speeding. Even if I go 40 mph in a 35 mph zone, there are always people honking at you and giving you the finger because they want to go faster than you, even when you are going the speeed limit or over it.

What most do not know is that the city does not pay one single dime for the cameras. The vendor pays for the installation and operation of the cameras and the initial fines go to the vendor until the monthly "fee" is paid. Any additional fines collected that month then go to the city. If the fines do not cover the fee, then the bill is "adjusted accordingly" for that month. The city does not pay the difference.

So the impression that cities are "losing money" is a misrepresentation. The money that they are losing is the "additional" revenues from the cameras that they projected. This is not money that they had and is now outgoing. This is money that they projected to have and never had.

If the cities are wanting to remove the cameras, well, it's because they are not making them money. That is very evident here by them deactivating cameras and this all before they installed the full 100 cameras that they had planned. Dallas, like Chicago and others, has had budget problems for the last few years and this was their way to balance the budget for other city programs.

If this was for safety, the question of deactivating cameras would not arise.

Well... that's good new for people here in Dallas. I just wonder how long until the entire program fails. Even the surrounding cities around here are seeing a profit loss.

Try driving in the split speed limit states like Ohio, Michigan and Illinois.

I give them exactly what they want. If the speed limit for trucks is 55, then I do 55. What a mess behind me with the cars trying to do the speed limit of 65 (or faster)! But hey, I'm law-abiding!

I was almost rear-ended when I stop at a redlight (b/c of redlight camera). The car behind me thought I would go through. How's that for safety that redlight cameras suppose to bring?

I am always afraid that I will get rear ended at light when they turn yellow and someone is right behind me.

Welcome to reality if you ever come to Metro Atlanta. We average about 20+ mph over most speed limits, but a lot more speed on the Interstates! Going a mere 5mph over any speed limit here could get you a finger if you're lucky. Policemen, ambulances, semis, and so on can be found tailing someone at 50+mph with less than a car lengths distance. We literally have no examples of "obeying the traffic laws", except for a very few citizens.

As stated earlier, our fender benders at intersections has risen a great deal in my area due to the red light cameras. Tailing someone closely and red light cameras just don't go well together.

What a bunch of whiners! Remember! Everything is legal until you get caught; and when you get caught; don't whine!