Posted on 06/11/2007 2:27:22 PM PDT by FreedomCalls
Despite the opposition of the state legislature, the Texas Department of Transportation proposes a federally funded speed camera test.
Despite the near-unanimous opposition in the state legislature to the use of speed cameras, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is moving forward on a proposal to deploy photo radar on state highways using federal gas tax funds. Legislation awaiting Governor Rick Perry's signature prohibited only municipalities -- like Marble Falls and Rhome -- from installing automated speeding ticket systems. It was silent on the possibility of a state-run system (read legislation).
TxDOT began searching in April for a vendor that, using federal funds, would allow the agency "to assess and evaluate all elements of an automated speed notification system." Once selected, the vendor would operate an average time speed camera test for at least six months on Interstate 10 near El Paso and State Highway 6 near College Station.
Time-distance ticketing systems use multiple cameras spaced far apart on a freeway. Each car is photographed once as it enters the first section of road. Miles later a second photograph is taken that allows the vehicle's average speed to be calculated from the time it took to travel between the two locations. In use in Britain under the trade name SPECS, these cameras are commonly referred to as "yellow vultures" and are among the most lucrative in the country.
In its request for proposals, TxDOT cited success of speed cameras in the UK, which generated £120 million (US $240 million) in revenue in 2003, and in Washington, DC, which has generated $217 million in revenue with its red light and speed cameras since 1999. TxDOT's vendor will send notices -- warnings at first -- to motorists driving just 5 MPH over the limit with an accuracy level of +/- 2 MPH, meaning those driving just 3 MPH over the limit could receive a photograph and letter in the mail.
The River Cities Daily Tribune, which first reported the story last week, noted that TxDOT also ordered Marble Falls to remove its speed camera van from state highways in April citing safety concerns.
"How hypocritical is that?" Marble Falls Mayor Raymond Whitman told the Daily Tribune. "I have a bit of a problem with it, not because they're using the camera, but because if it's unsafe for us to use, how can it be safe for the state to do it?"
A full copy of the TxDOT speed camera request for proposals is available in a 219k PDF file at the source link below.
Source: Automated Speed Notification Services (Texas Department of Transportation, 4/1/2007)
Disgusting. Cars are now safer than ever before and we still have the same speed limits that were posted in the 1960’s.
Government has an insatiable appetite for our money and Rick Perry is toataly out of line on this.
Ping to you. You may wanna ping the other Hubbers.
Hmmm ... does identification rely on a front plate?
Texans had best inundate their elected Reps and Senators and the Governor demanding that this madness be put to a halt. It is uyyer madness. This a money as well as a power grab.
However, they'll try to "soften" the blow by not having the speeding "offense" show on your driving record... oooo, goody-goody. Just send the state the $200 fine and all's good in the world of big bro.
True. This exact scenario happened to a neighbor of mine driving thru Marble Falls last month.
Here’s what’s going to happen in virtually every state with electronic tolls: at some point they’re going to start sending out tickets to everyone who has gone between two toll stations in a time shorter than the speed limit will allow. The state will show some fine print somewhere that declares that accepting the speed pass (ha ha) constitutes an agreement to pay a fine for exceeding the speed limit between toll points. The states will attempt in one fell swoop to raise hundreds of millions of dollars.
President Hillary’s almost certain to resurrect the universally hated “double nickel” speed limit to fight Global Warming®. Of course, we are in such urgent danger that speed cameras will be necessary for enforcement, for the children, of course.
Revolution, anyone?
Suppose the speed cameras do their job and force 100% compliance with the speed limit. The camera revenue drops to zero. Of course, by then, the state has come to rely on that revenue stream.
Can anyone guess what happens next?
Texas highway speeder ping. This is just another way to get more revenue.
...and they will use the revenue for what exactly????
I don’t expect to see it going back into roads, do you?
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