Lakeland, Florida Adding 10 New Red Light Cameras
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The brilliant powers that be in my hometown of Lakeland, Florida have decided to add 10 more new red light cameras in the city limits. Here's the first graphs of the story with the new locations from my newspaper I work for, The Ledger, and a link to the full story follows.
By John Chambliss
THE LEDGER
Published: Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 10:44 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 10:44 p.m.
LAKELAND | In a couple of weeks, don't be surprised if you see an increase in camera flashes from the sky and angry drivers slamming their steering wheels.
The cause: 10 new red-light camera locations in Lakeland will be up and running.
The new cameras will be located at east and westbound Memorial Boulevard at Massachusetts Avenue; northbound Harden Boulevard at Beacon Road; south and northbound U.S. 98 North at Griffin Road; south and northbound Bartow Road at Crystal Lake Drive; southbound Harden Boulevard at North Parkway Frontage Road; westbound Memorial Boulevard at Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and South Florida Avenue at Edgewood Drive.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20130803/NEWS/130809751?tc=...
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They invest money into cameras and we end up paying for them!
[URL=http://www.speedtest.net][IMG]http://www.speedtest.net/result/693683800.png[/IMG][/URL]
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They invest money into cameras and we end up paying for them!
[emphasis added}
Are you saying that you run red lights?
Read the article and the comments
They invest money into cameras and we end up paying for them!
[emphasis added}
Are you saying that you run red lights?
The city has already lost $500,000 due to lawsuits,etc.., over these cameras. They do not make the first dime off them until the tenth ticketis issued that day. So, if they only issue 9 tickets a day the city never sees any money from them, only the company issuing them does! Then the city only receives a percentage of each ticket. It increases with each ticket. I would have to look it up but if they issue like 13 tickets the company that issues the ticket receives around $1200-1300 and the city would receive about $300-400! Great deal negotiated by the idiots in charge.
1490LMT 1450LMT 295w
I was wondering why Lakeland sounded familiar...
Then I looked up the wikipedia entry. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakeland,_Florida
After hunting down an (alleged) cop-killer, the swat team fired 110 shots at the fellow, hitting him 68 times. When asked why they shot the suspect 68 times, the sheriff responded it was because "[they] ran out of bullets."
So, I guess that's one city where I'd think twice about running red lights, camera or no camera.
@spokybob
Did read the comments and felt that what you quoted was in opposition to the news report which said
After the 30 days, the standard $158 fine will be implemented. Of the $158, the state gets $83 and the city receives $75.
I usually take comments to articles with a pinch of salt.
Realize that the article comments on the fact that in
the last 11 months, the city has lost a total of $26,157 on red-light cameras in the city, said Mike Brossart, finance director for the city of Lakeland.
We need more information - clearly. However, if the city is losing money overall and still adding cameras, then what will happen to the argument that cameras are only for revenue?
Jgermann
Yes. I'm reading that the fee structure has been changed to what you posted. The article does not state how ATS will get paid.
We need more information - clearly. However, if the city is losing money overall and still adding cameras, then what will happen to the argument that cameras are only for revenue?
Good point!
1490LMT 1450LMT 295w
It's probably still about the money.
Yes. I'm reading that the fee structure has been changed to what you posted. The article does not state how ATS will get paid.
We need more information - clearly. However, if the city is losing money overall and still adding cameras, then what will happen to the argument that cameras are only for revenue?
Good point!
I think it is about the money. More info is needed, but it appears to me that they are making changes to make it more lucrative for them. Just because they state that they lost money in using these cameras, does not mean they will continue to do so in the future.
I am surprised it is only
I am surprised it is only 10. If people would stop running red lights, we wouldn't have this silliness. I do believe that 95% of all traffic lights in FL will be equipped with red light cameras in the next 10 years. Apparently many see red lights as a suggestion as opposed to the law.