Posted on 05/08/2006 4:10:34 AM PDT by pageonetoo
The Metropolitan Police Department collected a record $3.3 million in fines from its automated speed cameras in March -- increasing the five-year-old program's total revenue to more than $100 million.
The amount marks the first time that the program has collected more than $3 million in monthly revenues, even though only 2.2 percent of more than 3 million vehicles monitored in March were cited for speeding, according to police statistics.
The percentage was near 30 percent when the program began in 2001. The percentage in March was the second lowest for a month, with the lowest at 2 percent in February.
Critics of the program say the department is attempting to monitor more vehicles to catch more speeders as their percentages decrease.
Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey said there are no plans to scale back the program, despite the steady decrease of motorists caught speeding...
(Excerpt) Read more at insider.washingtontimes.com ...
I paid the $50 rather than going to the trouble to fight it. It makes me sick, since I was just driving with the rest of the traffic!
And that's why they'll get away with it ... the fine is low enough so that paying it is the easy choice. Wouldn't you feel lousy to find out that your fellow "speeders" in that group of cars all fought it and won?
lemme see. revenues up, number of citations down... Hmmm...
maybe they need to look aththe yellow light timing - a lot of cities do that when revenue falls.
you can tell their focus because the article is all about REVENUE and nothing about SAFETY.
I don't! But, I don't drive 20 over. Normally, I keep it about 5-7 over. My oldest son is a cop, and assures me that I won't get a ticket. (LOL)
They installed red light cameras first, in DC. then, they contracted to install these speed cameras. They did not post a location, nor did I see it. I just got a picture and a demand for money!
DC is all about money. There are more meter maids and men than most any city I know. They use boots to keep cars until they can be towed. They are little more than pirates!
If my dad wasn't living there, I wouldn't go back again!
It is just new tax revenue stream. Since virtually everyone speeds, they can collect just about whatever amount they want.
That's a lot of tickets!
Any idea if the revenue is split with a third party that operates the system?
I am tempted to say simply, "don't speed", but there is more to it than that.
I acknowledge that the speed limits are there to be followed, but that is not the reason for the cameras.
Public safety is only a secondary concern (and besides, you are probably safer at 11-15 mph over the limit anyway, since you say you were 'going with the flow'). The real focus is revenue, and the government's insatiable desire for it.
I got caught by a red light camera a couple of months back. Did I run the yellow/red light? Yes. Did I do it intentionally? Not really. The tractor trailer in front of me obscured my view of the signal until I had already entered the intersection, but that is no defense. I am guilty, no matter the reason.
My fine; $50. It is cheaper to pay it than fight it, and that is exactly what the system is counting on. (think "tax on the rich") My time is too valuable to worry about fighting a $50 ticket. What disgusts me is that we (the people) are unwilling to hold those accountable for implementing such systems at the ballot box.
On a side note. Here in Wake County, NC the voters gave up their rights to decide bond issues by vote, and instead allow the council members to obligate us (voters) to pay the interest on their "pet" projects, like $2 million "foot bridges" that maybe 100-200 people will use regularly.
Not only are we willing to put up with the "speed camera" or "red-light camera" crap, we willingly allow our county commission to screw us by giving up our rights to check their spending.
When will we learn?
/Orwell Alert
Illegal in Virginia.
Rockwell International implements a lot of those "red-light camera" systems.
According to their contract, the are guaranteed a minimum revenue. That is why they are such a bad deal.
Initially, the revenue is there to pay Rockwell, and leave a tidy sum for the local government.
Then, as the number of "violations" goes down, the local government must make up for any shortfall in revenue by writing a check to Rockwell. In the end, the cameras end up costing the public more money than they generate, and also end up INCREASING THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS DUE TO REAR END COLLISIONS.
Read more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/03/AR2005100301844.html
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/03/314.asp
I just checked out the link. How cool is that! I hadn't seen them before. Did you get one?
While I totally agree with you, you statement reminded me of an old joke.
A cop pulls a guy over for speeding.
Driver says: "Why'd you stop me, I was traveling at the same speed as everyone else!"
Cop says: "Are you a fisherman?"
Driver says: "Yah, why?"
Cop says: "Well, do you ever catch all the fish?"
Am I to surmise if Virginia outlawed sex, you would become celibate?
No I haven't, but I just may get that twenty dollar cover gizmo that is placed over the plate.
These local "would be dictators" are springing up all over the place.
I see cars stopping short all the time so they don't get caught by the cameras. Have to wonder how many accidents are caused by this.
Am I to surmise if Virginia outlawed sex, you would become celibate?
That fine in and of itself is not worth contesting, but how about the effect it has on your driving record and insurance rates?
I think the cameras are creepy and basically anti-American as I know it. Pittsburgh, where I live, is not hip and modern enough to install these cameras, and I hope it stays that way.
D
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