MD town using "red light cameras" to ticket people for stopping over the white line.

 
Quote:

The town of New Carrolton's new mobile red light cameras are snapping up pictures like the paparazzi and motorists are calling the cameras out.
Danielle King got two tickets and says she's been wrongly accused. "I got caught by one up there," says King referring to the cameras along route 450.

Motorists complain they are being wrongly accused. King says," I think they need to go away. I just think they are unfair. They need to go away."

Fox 5 camera's stood at one intersection near 85th Avenue and caught the camera popping off like popcorn.
75 dollar citations. One motorist shared his ticket.
He got cited in his white van, but a closer look at the ticket shows the vehicle is at a complete stop. Complaints are pouring in.

AAA Mid-Atlantic's John Townsend says it appears drivers are getting ticketed; not for running the red light, but for stopping over the white line.

Townsend blasted the camera saying, "This is the most egregious one we've seen. It is so beyond the pale. It not only violated the spirit of the law it violates the letter of the law. It may be illegal in the state of Maryland. "

During a short period, the camera flashs continually went off when cars were at a complete stop. We asked one motorist, "Did you go past the red light." The unidentified driver said, "no I didn't, I'm still stopped here at the red light. If I went thru then you wouldn't be talking to me know. The camera went off. So am I going to get a ticket? Oh no. "

Townsend said, "These people legally stopped for a red light, but they ventured into this box and they consider that technically to be red light running and it's not. It smacks of I got you; a game just for money"

As the camera snapped another picture, we asked another motorist, "Do you realize you just got a red light ticket. The unidentified woman said, "You've got to be kidding. You are kidding. Did you pass the red light? No!"

Some say it's not just a camera, but a cash cow--snapping up photos of unsuspecting motorist.
Townsend said many motorists don't even contest the tickets, in fact one woman confirmed that saying; "if I got it I wouldn't fight it no. If the camera is set to do it that way I just have to pay the ticket.

Townsend admits he's one of those recently ticketed, but he fought it.
Fox 5 made an effort to talk with the New Carrollton Police Department and the city about the issue.
The chief said he'll answer questions during office hours.
Triple A says they've received numerous complaints from several cities using the mobile red light cameras along the Route 450 corridor; including Bladensburg and Riverdale.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/maryland/031009_motorists_se...

Its a rough economy the

Its a rough economy the government needs money anyway it can get it. Thats unfair.

Snellville, GA

The cameras have worked so well here, that they are now costing more than the tickets bring in. Last night on the news they said the cameras would be turned off for 90 days.

While in use, they were giving the tickets for being stopped over the white line here too.

I guess they are for generating revenue, and not for public safety.

And Here's Another One for You

Looks like Maryland is enjoying the benefits of traffic cameras. This article appeared in the local newspaper:

ANNAPOLIS Legislators introduced a bill Tuesday that would allow the use of speed cameras in highway construction zones throughout the state.

The bill also would authorize local jurisdictions to use speed monitoring systems in school zones and residential streets with speed limits of 45 miles an hour or less.

Cameras would take a picture of any car traveling at least 12 miles an hour over the designated limit, and then use the picture as evidence in the levying of applicable fines. The bill, requested by Gov. Martin O'Malley, is based on a pilot program already in place in Montgomery County. In the hearing, proponents addressed concerns that the program was primarily designed to generate revenue.

--
Tuckahoe Mike - Nuvi 3490LMT, Nuvi 260W, iPhone X, Mazda MX-5 Nav

I was watching the same report this morning.

All I can say is, I'm glad I have the red light POI installed.

Money

Drivers should be more careful these days of hard time. traffic citation will the new sales tax, property tax and .............

--
Val - Nuvi 785t and Streetpilot C340

It makes you wonder if with

It makes you wonder if with the economic down-turn will cause more cities/states to consider adding red-light cameras to boost revenue...I mean catch traffic violators.

Red light camera

If you don't get the ticket until weeks after the incident, most people would not remember exactly what happened? Unless it is a publicized as a problem area. That is why this forum is so valuable- it alerts us to the issues out there.

Technically, stopping beyond

Technically, stopping beyond the white line is a 'ticketable' offense. However, this is still aggravating. Also, what about drivers who are making legal right turns on a red light? It really is all about the revenue and this isn't the type of government jurisdiction that anyone wants, except those who are having their wallets fattened by the cash flow from the cameras and insurance companies who can raise motorist’s rates.

Columbus Ohio looking at speed cameras

to be placed with red light cameras, according to the local TV station. They may boost profits from 900k to 1200k per year. Its all about the money. You know that a police officer would not try to ticket someone for a "red light violation", for stopping over the white line. The economy downturn has cities looking at very source of cash.

--
260, 295W, 1490T,2455LMT

Please Clarify

epc2 wrote:

The cameras have worked so well here, that they are now costing more than the tickets bring in.

I'm sorry, I just don't understand that statement. Could you explain further? Thanks.

.

I drove from Owings Mills to the Walgreens store on Eastern Ave and back.
I hope I didn't pass any speed cameras on the way because I had the POIs on my SDHC card still pluged up to the computer at home.
I was speeding for sure.

clmathes wrote:

Technically, stopping beyond the white line is a 'ticketable' offense. However, this is still aggravating. Also, what about drivers who are making legal right turns on a red light? It really is all about the revenue and this isn't the type of government jurisdiction that anyone wants, except those who are having their wallets fattened by the cash flow from the cameras and insurance companies who can raise motorist’s rates.

Technically, you're supposed to stop at the red light for 3 seconds before making your right turn.
If all you did was drive then turn right, or pull a "rolling" stop, expect to see a ticket.

If the cameras are being

If the cameras are being abused there's only one way to stop it and that's to let the people responsible know that it will cost them their job.

I don't have a problem with red light cameras used properly at intersections with a history of accidents. However I do have a problem with either red light or speed cameras used as cash cows. In the jurisdiction I live in we used to have photo radar vans which were frequently set up in areas designed to generate revenue rather than promote safety e.g. a changed speed zone at the bottom of a hill. This became a political issue because an organization was set up to publicize the abuse and focus the opposition. At the next election the government which brought them in was defeated and the new government ended the speed cams.

The speed cams weren't the only reason the previous government were defeated but they were a significant factor, and it will be a very hot political potato if any future government attempts to bring them back. Politicians put these things in, can determine how they're used and should bear the responsibility if they're abused - and we all know how politicians focus on reelection. If they are made to understand that camera abuse can cost them their jobs then the cams are much less likely to be abused, but that isn't going to happen based on posts on here, you have to get in their face and tell them they will pay the price for abuse.

Same here in WA

I agree: red light cameras are for generating revenue, not for public safety.
All they want is your money. Cash, check or credit card with convinience fees in Seattle, WA.

I realize...

Lothario wrote:

I drove from Owings Mills to the Walgreens store on Eastern Ave and back.
I hope I didn't pass any speed cameras on the way because I had the POIs on my SDHC card still pluged up to the computer at home.
I was speeding for sure.

clmathes wrote:

Technically, stopping beyond the white line is a 'ticketable' offense. However, this is still aggravating. Also, what about drivers who are making legal right turns on a red light? It really is all about the revenue and this isn't the type of government jurisdiction that anyone wants, except those who are having their wallets fattened by the cash flow from the cameras and insurance companies who can raise motorist’s rates.

Technically, you're supposed to stop at the red light for 3 seconds before making your right turn.
If all you did was drive then turn right, or pull a "rolling" stop, expect to see a ticket.

I realize that you're supposed to make a full and complete stop for the required period of time. My question was whether or not drivers who are making (keyword) LEGAL right turns are also being ticketed.