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Red light cameras and the “anti-poverty” argument: Disproportionately issued to low income drivers.
Hotair ^ | 12/05/2016 | Jazz Shaw

Posted on 12/05/2016 1:05:19 PM PST by SeekAndFind

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To: SeekAndFind
Is there anything in the eyes of liberals and minorities that isn't disproportionate?
41 posted on 12/05/2016 1:34:24 PM PST by liberalh8ter (The only difference between flash mob 'urban yutes' and U.S. politicians is the hoodies.)
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To: dp0622
The city of Newark, NJ had a bunch of red-light cameras installed as part of a pilot project. They shut them off after the review period was completed. I don't remember the exact explanation for it, but they were political hot potatoes all over the state in towns that installed them.

In Newark there was one comical episode that probably spelled the doom of the program. There were hundreds of motorists who received summonses for red-light infractions in a two-hour period after an NHL game at the Prudential Center. These motorists were all driving through a red light because they were being directed to do so by a police officer who was in the intersection directing traffic after the game.

The story probably wouldn't have made headlines, except that one of the victims was a state legislature or his/her spouse. LOL.

42 posted on 12/05/2016 1:36:31 PM PST by Alberta's Child ("Yo, bartender -- Jobu needs a refill!")
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To: SeekAndFind
there were more total red light violations in five ZIP codes that had the city’s highest rates of poverty

Does it matter to anyone that the location where the traffic ticket was given does not necessarily correlate with to whom the ticket was given?

For example, a lot of high poverty rate zip codes include downtown areas... areas frequently by the entire spectrum of the economic scale, not just low poverty drivers.
43 posted on 12/05/2016 1:37:30 PM PST by caligatrux (Rage, rage against the dying of the light.)
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To: eddie willers

and have paid out about $700 when I really shouldn’t have had to due to one.

Are you saying you didn’t run the red lights?


If you go online, you will find hundreds of examples of people getting tickets that they didn’t deserve from red light cameras. A favorite trick is to shorten the yellow until it is impossible to make it across the intersection before the light turns red.

Also people who have stopped and then made a legal right turn on red get tickets.

Also I’ve seen statistics that show rear-ending accidents skyrocket at red light camera intersections due to people just slamming on their brakes so as not to take a chance of the camera.


44 posted on 12/05/2016 1:37:50 PM PST by chaosagent (Remember, no matter how you slice it, forbidden fruit still tastes the sweetest!)
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To: Alberta's Child

That’s happened on Staten Island too!!

I told the cop, “I’m not going through the red light”.

She was pi##ed. I didn’t care.

####ing cameras.


45 posted on 12/05/2016 1:39:52 PM PST by dp0622 (IThe only thing an upper crust conservative hates more than a liberal is a middle class conservative)
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To: Arm_Bears

“Maybe low income drivers should acquaint themselves with traffic laws and then follow said laws.”

That is the first thing I thought, but then I remembered that they are seldom held responsible for anything.

So drive defensively.


46 posted on 12/05/2016 1:40:39 PM PST by READINABLUESTATE ("If guns cause crime, there must be something wrong with mine." -Ted Nugent)
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To: eddie willers

“Are you saying you didn’t run the red lights? “

No. According to the ticket itself I was. . . 1/10th of one second into the red.

Going with the flow of traffic on a heavily, heavily traveled urban section of 101 (Park Presidio, San Francisco).

Had I suddenly stopped, I could have been rear ended. The guy behind me, in the photo, clearly was entering the intersection as well.

Also, it is well known that most municipalities shorten the yellow light cycle to get more money.

To top that off. . . $700 dollars. For one ticket that endangered no one.

I don’t think a cop would have issued it.


47 posted on 12/05/2016 1:41:36 PM PST by Persevero (NUTS)
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To: 2harddrive

“Then, why did you PAY? It is only a civil fine, not a criminal one.”

If I don’t, I can’t renew my registration. I can’t get my driver’s license re-issued. And the fines and “interest” are very high.


48 posted on 12/05/2016 1:42:38 PM PST by Persevero (NUTS)
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To: Persevero

$700???? In Texas, the red light camera tickets are $75.


49 posted on 12/05/2016 1:43:21 PM PST by tuffydoodle ("Never underestimate the total depravity of the average human being.")
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To: caligatrux

Exactly... 5 zip codes with the highest total what....Is that total tickets issued? Or address of offenders?.... And total is meaningless if it is not adjusted to population or car registrations.....


50 posted on 12/05/2016 1:43:41 PM PST by orionrising
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To: SeekAndFind

The argument is bunk as cameras are unconstitutional


51 posted on 12/05/2016 1:44:13 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway - "Enjoy Yourself" ala Louis Prima)
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To: Arm_Bears

Come drive in Memphis sometime. It’s insane.


52 posted on 12/05/2016 1:44:19 PM PST by blackdog
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To: Arm_Bears

Come drive in Memphis sometime. It’s insane. In a city 83% people of color.


53 posted on 12/05/2016 1:45:04 PM PST by blackdog
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To: SeekAndFind

Of course. It’s because low income drivers can’t afford brake pedals. Solution: raise taxes on those still fortunate to have jobs after 8 years of the Democratic War on Employment. then just increase the welfare payments to any low income driver who runs red lights. Problem solved!


54 posted on 12/05/2016 1:46:20 PM PST by faithhopecharity ("Politicians are not born. They're excreted." Marcus Tullius Cicero)
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To: Arm_Bears

The sole purpose of Red Light Cameras is to generate Income. The Mansfield, Texas people set the camera at a major intersection and the freeway at a point so that when you stopped, then pulled forward to turn right, the camera would trip and issue a ticket for failure to stop. Generated millions in fines.


55 posted on 12/05/2016 1:46:32 PM PST by rstrahan
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To: SeekAndFind
The Insurance Institute says flipping the switch on the program will likely cost lives. According to their studies, cities that ran with red-light cameras between 2010 and 2014 saw a 21 percent drop in the number of fatal red-light-running crashes, while those that turned their systems off saw a 30 percent increase.
Let’s get serious. The tech exists, and is in use abroad, to display, in seconds, the time until the light is going to turn red (or green).

If you are serious about wanting to facilitate the safe flow of traffic you will make a serious study of what effect such a digital display of “time ’til red/time til green” has on the safe flow of traffic. With or without cameras. IMHO the digital display would moot the benefit of the camera.


56 posted on 12/05/2016 1:47:16 PM PST by conservatism_IS_compassion ('Liberalism' is a conspiracy against the public by wire-service journalism.)
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To: Alberta's Child

” These motorists were all driving through a red light because they were being directed to do so by a police officer who was in the intersection directing traffic after the game.”

Yes, I was first in an intersection (in my taxi, with a passenger) when the cops pulled up behind me sirens blaring.

I had a red light.

I did not enter the intersection.

The cops blew, beeped, finally used their megaphone: “TAXI!! GET OUT OF THE WAY”

But I was scared to enter the intersection on a red.

I was afraid there was a camera. Then it’s ON ME to prove the negative. I have to give up a day of work, show up, and hope I get some justice. Which in my case has been usually denied.

Also I was afraid I’d get hit by a car coming through their green light.

And I had a passenger.

I finally inched into the intersection to let the cop go and he yelled at me something fierce, big red face.

I am really cooperative with cops. What do they expect? When they do these things to people?

No ticket appeared in my mail, thankfully.


57 posted on 12/05/2016 1:47:21 PM PST by Persevero (NUTS)
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To: tuffydoodle

“a$700???? In Texas, the red light camera tickets are $75.”

Welcome to San Francisco. It’s more like $900 now.

It’s almost $1000. Seriously. How are the poor supposed to pay for this? Of course, they should never run a red. But sometimes you make a “small” mistake, sometimes it’s in the best interest of safety, and sometimes the yellow is shortened.


58 posted on 12/05/2016 1:50:06 PM PST by Persevero (NUTS)
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To: SeekAndFind

A red light camera is an electronic piece of equipment. It has NO political agenda.

It does NOT know the economic strength or weakness of the person who runs the light.

This kind of pass being given to a poor driver will cause more accidents. Red light runners are as dangerous than drunk drivers-—and drunks who run red lights are the worst.


59 posted on 12/05/2016 1:50:23 PM PST by ridesthemiles
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To: ridesthemiles
A red light camera is an electronic piece of equipment. It has NO political agenda.

It also is not a witness, and someone charged with running a red light has the right to confront the witness who is testifying against them. Absent a human who is able to serve that role, a red light camera is absolute horseshit, IMHO.

That's why challenging red light camera evidence in court has been highly successful, in general. They're just a bad idea which negate a critical feature of American Justice...

60 posted on 12/05/2016 1:55:41 PM PST by sargon (The Revolution is ON! Support President-elect Trump!)
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