Robey preparing to push for speed cameras(another Dems fleece the taxpayers scheme)

Baltimore Sun ^ | August 19, 2007 | Larry Carson

[sickoflibs]

It's the No. 1 complaint in county government. The reality is, we all speed," said Del. Guy Guzzone, a former county councilman.

Guzzone, like other state legislators, is expecting another General Assembly debate over legislation to allow local governments to install automated speed cameras that can safely catch more speeders - who would get expensive tickets but would not get points on their licenses - than any police radar team in history.

State Sen. James N. Robey, a former county executive and county police chief, hopes to help spearhead the move for speed-camera authority next year, he said.

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman wants the authority to install cameras, and he has announced a moratorium on the installation of any more speed humps or other so-called traffic-calming devices that many residents want.

Montgomery County has the cameras, and now Baltimore officials want them, too. Because of a change in governors, the chances for enactment of a law authorizing the cameras are better in 2008 than in 2003, when the General Assembly approved a speed-camera bill that then-Gov. (Rep) Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. vetoed. (Dem) Gov. Martin O'Malley has said he favors the idea.

"Jim Robey, in particular, has told me that he's going to push for it statewide, but at a minimum he's going to work hard for Howard County." Ulman said. "My biggest concern is neighborhood speeding."

"With speed, it just is a money-maker because there can't be any points added and that's where you get the penalty for speeding," she said. Red-light cameras operate the same way, though. Drivers caught going through a red light get a ticket, but no points because the camera cannot prove who was driving.

"I'm still opposed," Kittleman said. "You worry about a machine saying you're guilty. Maybe the machine was wrong."

[sickoflibs]

Well here's a big surprise. Democrats hire a private company to issue speeding fines, and you are automatically guilty. The private companies have unmarked trucks on the side of the road, so you won't even remember the occurance when you get the fine. The traffic problems were created by Robey when he said yes to every development project while (Dem) county executive . The result is cars forced onto back roads as the main roads are parking lots, or have red lights every 1/4 mile. Now the Democrats plan pushed by Robey is to further captitalize on the problem they caused with this tax scheme. And Maryland voters still don't get it, as traffic gets worse and worse, and taxes go up and up.

[NonValueAdded]

They could make a fortune just on fines for speeding off-duty cops (on duty not responding to calls also). How much longer before they require a GPS-based device that automatically debits your account a la e-pass with all the finds you accrue on each drive?

[MD_Willington_1976]

camera, meet a dozen eggs and a bag of flour !

[sickoflibs]

You get it!!!

[pnh102]

I personally do not mind speed cameras provided that they are in residential areas only and they clearly visible from a far off distance so that a driver has a chance to slow down. This could be done by painting the poles on which they are mounted bright yellow or cyan.