Georgia: Red Light Cameras Struggle in Face of Longer Yellow

the Newspaper.com ^ | 03/11/2009 | n/a

[cherry]

I mean, its not like the red light camera scam was meant to lesson accidents and death, right? ...( so we were told )

[happinesswithoutpeace]

Interesting. I had to look up “speed van”.

http://www.nbc33tv.com/news/speed-van-legal

[NonLinear]

I think you may want to read the article again.

The mandated increase in signal time created dramatic and instant results. In 2008, Lasercraft issued an average of 1,559 citations each month. In January, that number dropped 80 percent to just 313. Norcross also saw an 80 percent drop in violations.

According to a 2001 report by the Office of the U.S. House Majority Leader, the findings in Lilburn and Norcross are not coincidental. The report argued that changes in national signal timing guidelines systematically reduced the amount of warning time available to motorists. It argued further that those with a financial incentive in using enforcement to deal with the additional violations created may have played a role in the changes(view report).

How about eliminating the arbitrary reduction in yellow light timing which was conducted with a financial incentive.

[cherry]

we have a HS that is on a major neighborhood connection between two other roads....

they wanted the little darlings (15 -16- 17- 18yros) to be safe so...

first sign is "35mph"...

then they have the famed "child" profile ....okay, we know this....slow down to 20 when children are present ....fine....good idea....

then a few feet behind that is another sign...

it has 3 things that your must read inorder to follow the law.....

first, you can only drive 20 between these listed morning hours..

second you must drive 20 between these listed afternoon hours..

then you must drive this speed on school days.... it doesn't matter if there are kids present.

just tell me....how do people especially people unfamiliar with this street and sign, digest all this information in such a short time frame without gazing off reading those signs, thus imposing HIGHER risk of an accident...???

the more requirements....different speeds, at different times, on different days, and in different conditions....the easier it is to mess up....

but that's the point isn't it....

get the paying public to mess up on some specification and then you can scam us.

[jim_trent]

I read the article and did not see anything in it about what the original time was (nor the altered time) when compared with the time calculated by the traditional formula.

I have read several threads about Red Light cameras posted here and it seems like most of the posters are totally unaware that a formula exists and should be used with or without red light cameras.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

So all these years it was the short yellow light times that caused most of the accidents and deaths?

[devistate one four]

Quit belly achin’ and start shooting! (the cams that is).

[Aglooka]

Lilburn voted to accept the suspension to give Lasercraft time to come up with a plan to increase the number of citations.

These people are modern day red coats.

I'm enraged that these scams just keep getting worse and nothing is done about it.

[Aglooka]

Here in NH they are trying to get red light cameras. Almost all of our roadway fatalities are due to speed, reckless driving, reckless driving and speed and of course DUI.

Yeah, putting these damn things up is about safety? It's a lie.

[bamahead]

Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!

[wendy1946]

Far as I know, there’s absolutely nothing in either testament of the Bible about anybody going to hell for shooting an electronic device...

[elkfersupper]

The yellow lights should be set at the proper length and should not be changed for political (or revenue) reasons.

Likewise, the red light cameras should be described as a revenue-enhancement tool rather than a safety device.

I'm surprised people aren't plowing these things down all over America (or maybe they are, just nobody is reporting it).

[2harddrive]

This PROVES they were never designed for anythig other than revenue-raising by greedy governments!

[MaxMax]

It's the Governments new job to create criminals whenever possible.

[FreedomPoster]

You “get it”, that’s for sure.

Because of Ludowici, local yokels can’t write radar ticket for less than 10mph over the limit in GA, unless it’s in a construction or a school zone.

[logician2u]

Without the ticket revenue, Liburn will want to raise taxes.

It's about like the moral dilemma that results from a state with high cigarette taxes banning smoking in public esablishments. Once the number of smokers decreases, tax revenue plummets. Then the government looks around to find something else to tax.

Why can't they just leave well enough alone?

[Still Thinking]

Reading this correctly makes it clear that 80% of the citations went to vehicles that just barely failed to make it through the intersection before the light changed red.

That's not how it works. You're guilty of running a red light if it turns red and then the front of your car enters the intersection, breaking the plane of the curb of the cross street. It's against the rules to enter the intersection after the signal turns red, but not to leave it.

[Still Thinking]

the more requirements....different speeds, at different times, on different days, and in different conditions....the easier it is to mess up....but that's the point isn't it....get the paying public to mess up on some specification and then you can scam us.

"Did you really think we want those laws observed?" asked Dr. Ferris. "We want them to be broken. You’d better get it straight that it’s not a bunch of boy scouts you’re up against... We’re after power and we mean it... There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that’s the system, Mr. Reardon, that’s the game, and once you understand it, you’ll be much easier to deal with." - Ayn Rand, ‘Atlas Shrugged’

[FreedomPoster]

That’s the first entry on my FR profile page.

[Still Thinking]

Are you in the Freeper Book Club? I don't recognize your name. If not, stop by on Saturday. We're doing one chapter a week of Atlas Shrugged and we just finished The John Galt Line, which is chapter 8, IIRC. Publius and BilltheDrill do some great work there.