As stoplight cameras spread, drivers see red

Christian Science Monitor ^ | 3/19/02 | Craig Savoye

[goodnesswins]

Here in Washington, the STATE, NOT running a nearly red light sometimes would be an extreme hazard - because of the wet roadways causing you to slide sideways if you stamped on your brakes suddenly. I've many times run a close light just because I knew it was safer. (Western Washington anyway where RAIN, RAIN, RAIN continues to fall.)

[monkey]

There's nothing on the books to prevent it, nothing in North Carolina's statutes making that a crime.

Go for it. They will probably arrest you (the charge will be interesting - interference with a "LEO"?) but it will be an interesting and important case. To hell with Big Brother.

[Palmetto]

As a casual paintballer, I do know that discharging a gun in public is likely against local statutes and can land you in heap big trouble.

[Palmetto]

Let me know when you plan your next freep. I'm only about 100 mi. south of you.

[egarvue]

Oh, I know. To say nothing about the hail of real bullets that might come your way if you decide to stick your paintball gun out the window in the wrong part of town. But a guy can dream, can't he?

[Ditter]

Having someone very near & dear to me killed by a person who ran a red light, pretty much stopped me from ever doing it again.

[Own Drummer]

Just out of curiosity, not that I would ever do this, but I'm just wondering idly what caliber bullet would, at minimum, destroy one of these camers?

JUST intellectual curiosity, you understand.....

[monday]

"I'm ready to take this from simple protest, to an act of defiance."

Cool. I almost wish we had some around here so I could do that too! Of course its better not to have them so as not to have anything to protest about:)

Lucky for me I live where even if these things take off nation wide, we will be the last to get them. Hehe, sometimes it pays to be behind the times:)

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

A few cities have. The citizens realized the profits generated, the scam, and the political after effects.

[Atlas Sneezed]

One simple solution is to have your vehicles owned by a holding corporation. Another is to your wife listed as the owner of the car you drive, and vice versa. They won't even bother sending the tickets in most cases.

[sweetliberty]

I hate agreeing with the ACLU on anything, but they're right on this one! It is outrageous; a serious invasion of privacy and the potential for abuse far outweighs ANY advantage!

[stlrocket]

This is my favorite picture of one mans silent "protest" to the cameras. Note the plate covered up.

PICTURE THIS!

[brianl703]

The real fun will start when the area is considered a non-attainment area by the EPA because NOx emmissions are too high and highway funding is threatened to be cut off. Hint: Vehicle NOx emissions are highest during acceleration. Carbon deposits in the combustion chamber from continued stop-and-go operation also contribute to increased NOx production (increases compression ratio, increasing NOx production) It's happening in the DC area.

[Kaslin]

Mr. Leonard tried to recall where his wheels were when the yellow light turned red. He thought he'd beaten the light. But 12 days later he received a summons – including photos of his car, incriminatingly in mid-intersection.

Well here it is. I learned that when the light turns yellow you should get ready to stop and not try to beat the light. I have seeen many go through a red light that was already red before they even approached the intersection

[lsee]

OH, that's a great punchline for Kinetic Kitty's joke!

[Rebelbase]

"Camera supporters also dismiss the "Big Brother" argument, saying that taking photos of someone violating the law in a public street is not having their privacy invaded. The results, they say, more than validate the cameras' contribution to road safety."

No doubt the same people who say we'll be safer when we guns are banned.

[Rebelbase]

Thanks for the ping, Fred.

[Hermes37]

We have similar ideas, I say use reflectors amd make a 'white' eye, not a black eye. If enough are used at once, no more camera. (slag 'em) A lightweight parabolic reflector to do the job can be constructed cheapo. SciAm Amature Scientist has the plans on it's astronomy CD! I want to make one out of pink foam board, and aluminized mylar emergency blankets. Not good at night or in shadows! :-) Hermes37

[lsee]

"The way to correct red-light running is to go back and look at timing, maintenance, and other intersection design issues and correct those problems ...

Huh? I don't think cameras are the solution, but blamung red-light running on timing, etc. is silly.

There will always be traffic dorks who think they deserve to go through the light just because they want to.

When we lived in Austin, I learned rapidly that red light running was the NORM and actually nearly got rear-ended several times because I slowed down when the guy behind me wanted me to zoom on through so he could, too. Dang it! I could see the yellow light was stale and so could the guy behind me. There were times when I had no choice but to go ahead just to prevent an accident!

I was also nearly t-boned a few times before I learned to wait even longer than normal on a green before pulling out (much to the disgust of the driver behind me). You know, in defensive driving they teach you to count "one thousand one, one thousand two" before pulling into the intersection on green and even THAT wasn't long enough. There was frequently some idiot who would come up to an intersection with a red light and blow right through even with other cars crossing.

So what if sitting at a red takes a few minutes out of your day? I invariably would catch up with the guy who ran the red light in front of me at the NEXT intersection! He didn't make any progress that would justify putting his life and the lives of those around him at risk. I'm including women in that generic "he". So why run the light? I admit some of the lights were interminably long when you were running late, but we had a lot of people using those roads. What I felt was needed was a turnpike that was a straight shot through the heaviest areas, like we had in Oklahoma City.

I warned my parents when they came to see me just how dangerous it was to drive in Austin...by the time they got to my house, they were wild-eyed with their hair standing on end...having narrowly avoided above-mentioned accidents themselves and only because they believed and heeded my warnings.

The only thing that decreased the red-light running from time to time was having a patrol car (or two) clearly visible to swiftly ticket those who dared to run in front of them. Unfortunately, while they were occupied with that violator, the other drivers would take advantage and zoom through, knowing they were not going to be caught themselves.

So, what causes "these problems"? Durned if I know...selfish drivers? Too high speed limit approaching these intersections? Low dollar penalties? Whatever it was, after a few weeks in Austin, I was inspired to get a more responsive vehicle with better pick-up-and-go for those times when I had to get out of some idiot's reckless way. That new vehicle saved my life countless times and I'm not an "old lady driver" by any means.

I've noticed in my new hometown we don't have the problem to the same degree...must be something in Austin's water.

I'd be interested to know what really makes Austin drivers behave differently than other city drivers...

[GailA]

I'm surprised some interprising inventor hasn't figured out a way to hit a button and drop a cover down on your license plate yet.

Who gets the ticket if SOMEONE else is driving your vehicle. Like your kid, wife, husband or a thief? Do the points go against YOUR license or against the person actually doing the driving? I'm surprised no one has mentioned this factor!