[pageonetoo]

I opened an envelope Friday, to find a sheet of paper with three pictures of my TownCar, including a close-up of the license tag. It said I was speeding from 11-15 mph more than the posted limit, but included no speed or data re-inforcing their claims.

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!

[NonValueAdded]

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?

[camle]

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.

[G.Mason]

Should you not wish to form a vigilante committee to destroy those socialist cameras, may I suggest you get a can of this?

[Glenn]

I drive the speed limit. It has caused a lot of near-misses in traffic, along with many people extending the universal greeting. I haven't had a speeding ticket since 1992 and intend to keep it that way to save enriching the state and my auto insurance agent. I sometimes seethe as people pass me going 20 over. I'm so envious.

The system is nuts.

[Always Right]

It is just new tax revenue stream. Since virtually everyone speeds, they can collect just about whatever amount they want.

[Flyer]

$3.3 million in fines from its automated speed cameras in March

That's a lot of tickets!

Any idea if the revenue is split with a third party that operates the system?

[RangerM]

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?

[the invisib1e hand]

just wait until they start with the automatic withdrawals and/or wage garnishments.

/Orwell Alert

[jws3sticks]

It makes me sick, since I was just driving with the rest of the traffic!

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?"

[The Great RJ]

This is not only a goldmine for the local governments using these automated speed traps, but our city government pays $50,000 per MONTH for a lease agreement to the company that owns the three cameras in the city and processes and mails the photos.

[FreedomPoster]

Apply Rule 308.

[jpl]

Now that Washington is committed to building a $600 million dollar baseball stadium, I only expect these camera fines to increase in number. They have to pay for the stadium somehow!

[reagan_fanatic]

Every community and municipality in the country is looking at these systems, drooling over the huge increases in revenue that they bring in. It is nothing but a revenue-enhancement tool that has little if nothing to do with so-called 'public safety'.

I look for almost every community to have some type of system like this in place within the next ten years. The lure of money is just too great to say no.

[mysterio]

These cameras should be inactivated by civilian vigilantes. They cross the line.