Planted Support

It is an interesting question, but I doubt if public officials that are camera advocates would bother to have "plants" at POI Factory or other forums that specialize in GPS technology. Lets face it ... the population of GPS enthusiasts is a small (and shrinking) crowd .

IMO, the folks here who are supportive of speed cameras have all been around for a while and are likely expressing their own opinions. I would however be suspicious of the motives of newbies who promote their use.

Be aware that your scenario also works in reverse. It is just as easy to plant anti speed camera propaganda.

I don't doubt it. In fact I'm sure it happens all over social media with all kinds of topics. I know a few times I've been on Amazon reading a glowing review only to see the reviewers comment include they were given the item for free to give feedback.

There are a few topical forums I belong to that I have no doubt have "plants" on both sides of an issue. If emotion or money is involved you can bet on it.

Our state rep openly opposed hands-free driving, stated it's nonsense to say people cannot drive with a phone in their hand. There are plenty of politicians who oppose safety. It's about keeping their jobs/elections.

It does seem like one of the "hot topic" buttons for some of the members here. But I doubt if anyone is paid to be a "plant".

Traffic enforcement (whether automated or manual) is a hot-button issue. While this item focuses on camera technology, there are lots of complaints about increased officer-issued tickets to meet "month-end quotas".

Let's be honest, people don't like getting a traffic ticket and having to pay a fine. If they get a photo ticket, they will complain about it being a money-grab. If they get ticketed by a police officer, they will complain that the police should be after "real criminals".

I am no different than the rest of the people on this forum - I don't want to lose money paying a traffic ticket. But I am not opposed to automated traffic enforcement.

And no one pays me to "plant" my opinion.

I am shocked, Shocked that this stems from Maryland.

And more shocked that it's Montgomery County Maryland.

Where are my winnings?

everybody agrees running red lights is wrong !
everybody agrees texting while driving is wrong !
so what to do ?
I think the fines should be adjusted to one violation $ 1000 fine
2nd violation 1 year suspension of license
3rd violation no license
why do we have to kill people to get attention to somethings after the fact .

Why do we have to wait a week to fine people to get their attention. Is there a period of grace where killing people is acceptable? Police presence/surveillance stops the illegal activity IMMEDIATELY. Deaths can be avoided immediately, fines affect immediately, vehicle seizure affects immediately and all those unpaid mail order fines for previous offences resolved immediately.

Mail order fines are only a politicians way of justifying not doing anything to stop the illegal activity BUT a great justification to raise more money for many unjustified expenses .... the trouble is too many people just aren't paying attention.... or don't care!

Tickets issued by police officers are not stopping anything "IMMEDIATELY' for you have a given time to pay the ticket as you do with traffic cameras. After you get your ticket from the officer and he/she is no longer in your rear view mirror you can resume speeding.
Tickets only tell you that you were caught and you have to pay the fine before a given time.

Looks like you failed to appreciate the impact of "presence" before/during/after an infraction...

Money seems to be your priority. Are you in politics?

Let's see about this logic.

If fines affect immediately then the day a violator receives the "ticket" in the mail will be the last time that person runs a red light or speeds. Versus, when the "ticket" is issued by an officer, it stops the illegal activity IMMEDIATELY. In either case, a "fine" has not been paid; it is only due. And has been said, it will likely only be a short time before most people will return to their previous behavior of speeding and trying to beat red lights.

In some instances, a ticket will get people's attention but I think that only a very few violators will thereafter faithfully obey the law - regardless of how the "ticket" was issued.

Now, your statement that vehicle seizure affects immediately and all those unpaid mail order fines for previous offences resolved immediately is partially true. The effect is immediate relative to the vehicle but not so for any outstanding fines.

You contend that Police presence/surveillance stops the illegal activity IMMEDIATELY. Well, let's start with the observation that the "presence" of the police did not head off the "ticket" that was given - because, I suspect, the violator did not realize the police were near. You obviously do not consider Police surveillance as including Automated Traffic Enforcement - but I fail to understand why.

I am still trying to work out the logic in Mail order fines are only a politicians way of justifying not doing anything to stop the illegal activity BUT a great justification to raise more money for many unjustified expenses .... the trouble is too many people just aren't paying attention.... or don't care!

Do fines have no impact at all?

What are the many unjustified expenses?

I do agree that many people don't care

....One needs to weigh all the facts in their own minds and decide themselves. Are there folks here with their own agenda in mind?? Possibly. Law enforcement?? Possibly. We all have are trusty brains and need to follow our own instincts.

It's done all the time in politics. The next election if you have propositions up for vote, read the whole proposition and then notice how the wording on the ballot is edited to get the vote they want. Example: The ballot will say "Reduce by 10% property tax for disabled veterans". The whole proposition will state "Reduce by 10% property tax for disabled veterans that allows for gains not to exceed 15% in property tax appraisals each year." The veterans get their deduction (which they should) and property appraisals are too rise on everybody.