http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2011/05/lawrence_red_light_camera_route_1.html

 

dont know how I feel about it. Intersection where Michael's dinner is.

at least the article is semi honest. There's very little attempt at convincing you red light cameras make things safer. I liked this line "hit thousands of commuters with fines."

They are spending 130k to make an estimate 330k.

 

I recall reading somewhere how in VA, these speed cams and red light cams actually made the intersections and roads more dangerous as at any hint of yellow, people would slam on the brakes and cause accidents.

 

The scary part though is the loss of privacy, more and more nanny state feelings. Did not even know that most(?) of these cams are run by a third party company. What do they do with the information?

They are spending 130k to make an estimate 330k.

 

I recall reading somewhere how in VA, these speed cams and red light cams actually made the intersections and roads more dangerous as at any hint of yellow, people would slam on the brakes and cause accidents.

 

The scary part though is the loss of privacy, more and more nanny state feelings. Did not even know that most(?) of these cams are run by a third party company. What do they do with the information?

 

I remember reading something similiar, and I've watched it almost happen numerous times - a random light on Springfield Ave in Long Hill (maybe Stirling at that point)

 

In theory, the third party would just send a picture of the plate and driver to local police to issue a ticket...but my tinfoil hat is in the other room

 

now this scares me a bit.. http://www.progressive.com/auto/snapshot-how-it-works.aspx

I recall reading somewhere how in VA, these speed cams and red light cams actually made the intersections and roads more dangerous as at any hint of yellow, people would slam on the brakes and cause accidents.

 

I believe I heard that ~1/2 the profit goes to the camera company that sets up/maintains the cameras.....so they would play with the yellow light time....drastically shortening it, thus causing more accidents.

Towns love red light cameras. The company comes and installs them for free and they split the profits. Why wouldn't a town love this cash cow?

There have been numerous articles about Red light cameras and the increase of rear end collisions {Check Autoblog.com}

to the point that several towns that were testing eventually kicked them out.The underlining and unmistakable result IMO is it raises huge amounts of revenue for the town and the vendor and has little to do with public safety and everything to do with money for cash strapped municipalities.

After the red light cameras proves to be a boom, it's just a matter of time before speed cameras are touted as lifesavers also.

Europe is filled with these cameras and is now experimenting with GPS technology to actually cite drivers familiar with the camera's locations and speed between them. Think about that next time you climb into your OnStar equipped vehicle or press my location on your on board GPS .

Think about that next time you climb into your OnStar equipped vehicle or press my location on your on board GPS .

 

Off-topic, but just want to point out that as a 9-1-1 operator, I LOVE OnStar's crash notification system, and started paying for the service after my first dealings with them while working. The fact that they can track me if they want to is nerve-racking, but their system is top-notch, and I will keep paying for it as long as it's offered for my vehicle.

Off-topic, but just want to point out that as a 9-1-1 operator, I LOVE OnStar's crash notification system, and started paying for the service after my first dealings with them while working. The fact that they can track me if they want to is nerve-racking, but their system is top-notch, and I will keep paying for it as long as it's offered for my vehicle.

Oh,no doubt and I would be the first to activate it if necessary, my point is that even before On Star or GPS's became common place several alternative applications from clocking speed to notifying then penalizing owners if their car has a undiagnosed check engine light was already identified.

On the subject of the love/hate relationship with in-car technology, spend some time looking at the quiet push for a new "mileage tax", where your car becomes an IRS agent.

On the subject of the love/hate relationship with in-car technology, spend some time looking at the quiet push for a new "mileage tax", where your car becomes an IRS agent.

 

It's already here... It's called toll roads and easypass.

I feel red light cameras and automated speed traps are BS, they do not do anything except 2 things, Cause accidents, and generate revenue, and mostly for the 3rd party company not the town or the state.

 

These all started out in Paradise Valley AZ and if you have ever been any place where the cameras are at will notice that the yellow lights are shortened, and the speed traps you will see skid marks before them because if you don't pass them, you don't get caught, only problem with that if the people following you or people in on coming traffic that gets scared and reacts the wrong way.

 

Also to combat them, you can download POI files for GPS's that will warn you of many of these locations, not all but quite a few and they get updated quite often.

 

Harry

One thing I want to know is how does the red light camera prove that it was the vehicle owner driving the car at the time of the photo? License plates identify the car and registered owner, not current driver.

 

If one went to court and argued this fact, how could the court find the vehicle owner guilty?

One thing I want to know is how does the red light camera prove that it was the vehicle owner driving the car at the time of the photo? License plates identify the car and registered owner, not current driver.

 

If one went to court and argued this fact, how could the court find the vehicle owner guilty?

 

As I understand, this exact issue has been brought up both out of and in-state, and the summons has always stood. I'm not sure how though.

One thing I want to know is how does the red light camera prove that it was the vehicle owner driving the car at the time of the photo? License plates identify the car and registered owner, not current driver.

 

If one went to court and argued this fact, how could the court find the vehicle owner guilty?

 

People in AZ have fought that and won, there is a picture of the plate, license plate and person driving the vehicles face, if the person who got the ticket in the mail fights it and they are not the person they have been thrown out with just court cost due. Not sure if all states that have them are the same but it has worked that way for some people I know in AZ.

 

Harry

Ah, so there is a camera taking a picture of the driver as well. I guess you only have a chance if the photo was obscured or if not clear enough to make a ID on the driver.

Ah, so there is a camera taking a picture of the driver as well. I guess you only have a chance if the photo was obscured or if not clear enough to make a ID on the driver.

 

Yup, picture of the driver, at least in AZ that is. You will see people cover there face when they go by them or move up really close to the visor to hide there face. Not sure if that has worked out, I just know of cases where the wife was driving the husbands car and even though you would think, well we have a picture of the wife, they are still not the registered owner and won. Not sure if it's common practice, but know from a few different people it has worked.

 

Harry

Don't worry they watch everything. More car manufacturer's are adding "black" boxes to cars to record the last 30-60 seconds of operation.

What if a company vehicle gets a ticket? How do they even try and put points to that? There is no drivers license directly associated with the plates.

Ah, so there is a camera taking a picture of the driver as well. I guess you only have a chance if the photo was obscured or if not clear enough to make a ID on the driver.

 

I believe it was in AZ or Southern CA, but a driver routinely wore a gorilla mask and was caught on camera. I think they eventually got him after a few failed attempts due to the mask.

The scary part though is the loss of privacy, more and more nanny state feelings.

 

 

Get used to it. The frog in the warm water slowly heating up effect.

 

We are slowly losing all of our rights. If we, as citizens and free men, don't stand up to this and soon, all of our rights, freedom and libetry will be gone.

 

Naked pictures or gropings if you wish to fly. Unconstitutional searches of your bags and being sniffed by police dogs and swabbed by TSA agents looking for explosives just to ride the NYC subway.

 

If we continue on this track, we will not be a free people in our lifetimes. We will be slaves to a ruling class.

I believe it was in AZ or Southern CA, but a driver routinely wore a gorilla mask and was caught on camera. I think they eventually got him after a few failed attempts due to the mask.

I also sprayed my tags with a clear,refractive lacquer which worked for awhile but now is useless against the newer digital cameras.

So, if you get a picture of you running a red light and a ticket on the mail it would be ok to you write a check take a picture of it and mail the picture to court?

Ah, so there is a camera taking a picture of the driver as well. I guess you only have a chance if the photo was obscured or if not clear enough to make a ID on the driver.

 

What it comes down to is you are responsible for your car and knowing who is driving it.

 

Some time ago, there were cameras but no red light cameras, I was driving in my car in the town where I was on the police dept. Some guy committed an outrageous traffic violation in front of me almost causing a multi-car accident, me being one of those cars. I caught up to him at a light, got a look at him and his plate number. Keep in mind I was never one to write a lot of tickets but this guy really deserved it.

 

I mailed a ticket to the registered owner and he showed up in court with a lawyer. I identified him and he claimed his nephew from NC who looks like him was driving the car at the time. The judge asks him if he can get his nephew up from NC. Guy says no, judge says well you'll just have to take the ticket. His lawyer says he would appeal, judge tells him go ahead its your right. Guy pays ticket, gets points, no appeal, end of story.

 

So, if you get a picture of you running a red light and a ticket on the mail it would be ok to you write a check take a picture of it and mail the picture to court?

 

That's been done and the court was so totally lacking humor they issued an arrest warrant for the guy. Can't remember where it was.

So, if you get a picture of you running a red light and a ticket on the mail it would be ok to you write a check take a picture of it and mail the picture to court?

 

That's been done and the court was so totally lacking humor they issued an arrest warrant for the guy. Can't remember where it was.

 

http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/handcuff.asp

http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/handcuff.asp

 

The crap that stays in your head for 20 years!

They're putting them up in Edison too.

So, if you get a picture of you running a red light and a ticket on the mail it would be ok to you write a check take a picture of it and mail the picture to court?

 

Yup that's good, they just fax you back a picture of some handcuffs..

 

Harry

They're putting them up in Edison too.

 

Time for us to update the "Red Light Camera" files on our GPS's and keep checking for updates.

 

Not that any of us run red lights but there have been some people who have gotten tickets at lights where there were legal turns on red but tickets were still being issued.

 

Harry

They're all over Newton and the surrounding areas, and have been there for a while.