It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

[Bob in Calif.]

Another city here on the SF peninsula has announced it will start using camera's at controlled intersection's, to cite red light runners. <br /><br />The fine for runnig a red light is ....$351.00... <br /><br />The fine for parking in a handicap space without a permit,in my county, is almost $500.00. Mo money, mo money, mo money. <br /><br />It's all about revenue these day's. It's too bad the leaches in, city, county, state and the federal government's don't have to live on a budget, like us citizens do. <br /><br /> ...Bob in Calif...

 

[QC]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

I just checked on the NHTSA site and there is a study that showed that 2.6% of accidents were running red lights. It lumped it in with "Decision Errors" at 10.1% overall. Seems reasonably significant.

 

[jsfinn]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

We used to have red light cameras. They recently removed them all because they were causing accidents.

 

[deeep water]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

dam bob here it $75 on film ,,,as for the handicap parking ,,, im disabled ,but not to where i cant walk another 100' i have seen ppl with walkers park away from hp parking just so they will get up and walk farther ,,i do ,, it helpes my legs stay strong,,not to mention my willpower

 

[deeep water]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

i have found that there are only 2 ways to get someones undevided attention ,,, you take away their freedom or their money,, thats the only way

 

[dogsdad]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

Buncha crap.

 

[deeep water]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

oooooook

 

[EZLoader]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

Our City put traffic photo cameras in, despite vigorous public oppositiion and then later quit using them for traffic fines when it was revealed that they had also shortened the yellow light time in order to cause more photo violations. The yellow light time was put back to normal, the photo tickets idea dropped, and everything is ok again. <br /><br />The companies that sold most US cities on installing intersection cameras were caught red handed also shortening the yellow light time in order to increase the number of drivers "running red lights." <br /><br />I feel it was a devious ploy to get more photo traffic ticket revenue without the need for more manpower. And as a result, many drivers now try to avoid getting a photo ticket by slamming on their brakes upon seeing a shortened yellow light and are causing rear end accidents.<br /><br />Great idea...not! I look forward to hearing from our law enforcement officers on this forum for their opinion regarding this matter.

 

[Homerr]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

Yep..we got 'em all .. red light cameras and photo-radar vans.<br /><br />Can't wait to see the stats on accidents over the next few years.<br /><br />And as always... Oregon won't do crapola to change anything until there's been enough accidents or deaths.<br /><br />Speaking of shorter yellow-light times... I wonder if that's why they took our red light cameras down for a while? They are back now, but we were told that it was because the company that processed the tickets went belly-up or something... I'm betting it was the same company that shortened the yellow light time? Anyone know?<br /><br />H.

 

[JB]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

Sorry, guys. I support any method of catching and discouraging law breakers.<br /><br />Trivial fines do little to change driver behavior. Fines that really hurt work better.<br /><br />"Accidents*" that happen when someone stops at a red light are caused by bad driver behavior. . . .inattention, following too close, speeding.<br /><br />*"There aint no such thing as an accident. There is only premeditated carelessness." Brother Dave Gardner

 

[EZLoader]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

I disagree JB...by artificially shortening the yellow lights they took out the safety margin drivers need to either get safely though the light or to stop without causing an accident. <br /><br />The length of the yellow light time is critical to safety at intersections. This finding came out after all these photo systems were being put in all over the country and they started to shorten the yellow light time.<br /><br />I disagree. Cameras and shortened yellow light times aren't going to stop "bad driver behavior, inattention, following too close, and speeding.

 

[deeep water]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

we are a too fast paced ppl,, we need to slow down ,,juse a little,, when some ppl get behind the wheel they just dont care ,,your wife mine your child it dont matter they dont care if they hit you so wat they get another beater no ins and THEY DONT CARE,,ppl have to slow down

 

[BassMan283]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

JB, I could go along with you to a certain extent. A huge fine for running a red light usually deters people from runing them. <br /><br />The problem with the red light cameras is that they are provided and serviced by private companies who charge the city a fixed (and princely) sum for the service. The city expects to pay the monthly fee out of fines. However, people soon become aware of the camera intersections and stop running the lights. The city then is not making enough fine revenue to cover the monthly fee. The answer then is to keep shortening the yellow period to try to get more fines. Dumb as they might be, people begin to figure this out and go to full lockup when they see a yellow light.<br /><br />The most popular places to set these cameras up is on highways where the speed limit is 45 or 50 mph. The yellows are set up so that cars less than 150 feet from the intersection can just make it through if they redline it as soon as the see the yellow. Otherwise, they better be giving the antilock braking a full test.

 

[JRJ]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

I think the fine for running a red light should be $1000 and I'll be glad for the cameras if some moron runs a red, and hits me or mine. As far as parking in a handicap space when you aren't? $1000 fine and 3 month suspended license first time just to get your attention. Have a nice day

 

[deeep water]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

thanks JRJ,,back to the 2 ways to get someones attention

 

[demsvmejm]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

JRJ and JB, I agree 100%. There are two different issues here that everyone wants to lump together regarding the lights & cameras. The first is the total disregard for anyone else, and the second is the unscrupulous behavior of the municipalities and the inherent flaw of privatizing a service such as this. The shortened yellow lights does not and can not make running a red light acceptable. Teh residents in thses communities need to stand up and force the government to behave, have you ever heard of a recall election? Once facts are presented regarding the shortened yellow lights public outcry should be sufficient.<br /><br />Any selfish b*stard who vehemently opposes such a measure to compel observance of someone else's right to safety should be t-boned at an intersection and then see if they have a change of heart. I have seen four serious accidents caused by some SOB running the red light. With budgets tight all over there isn't enough manpower to police the intersections and enforce the laws so people don't care. I firmly believe that obeyance of the law is directly connected with the chance of getting caught. Little chance of getting caught, little chance of getting a driver to observe traffic laws.<br /><br />As for parking in handicap spots, get a life! It is your choice, and you have 100% control over that. No one is changing the rules halfway into the parking spot. My father is handicapped, my late mother was, and my brother is wheel chair bound. so I am acutely aware of the plight of those with impeded mobility. If you are so selfish that you are too inconvenienced by having to walk from the back of the parking lot, maybe you should let someone run a red light or blow a stop sign and paralyze you in a traffic accident. Then you could park closer and not be fined.<br /><br />It's time this country stops the "Me first, F you" attitude and occassionally put others first. Bob, I am sorry, but I have absolutely no compassion for those who disregard my safety, by running red lights. And evidently I should have no compassion for you.

 

[JB]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

Well, EZL. We don't disagree.<br /><br />A sufficient length of amber light is a critical comonent in reducing runners. I agree.<br /><br />Shortening the amber below a calculated time, depending on the speed limit on the street, sounds like entrapment to me. That can cause "accidents". If you make it dangerous to obey the law all bets are off.

 

[Rickfifty]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

The city next to mine,Union City, had to refund nearly $500,000 in fines due to shortening the yellow light times.

 

[Rickfifty]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

I was wrong. It's closer to $1,000,000. Check out this link. http://thenewspaper.com/news/06/670.asp

 

[AK_Chappy]

Re: It's all albout revenue.....dummy.....

I agree with the fact that it is disgraceful and wrong to "shorten" the yellow. I have been to some places where you have to slam on the brakes while traveling the speed limit to get stopped on time.<br />I also agree completely that the photo is a GREAT idea. I have sat at the light and watched someone run the light at 50 mph plus 2 seconds after the red!!! I have seen the aftermath of a red light runner. It isn't pretty. I have no sympathy for the "yellow means floor it" crowd. Jack the ticket up to $2,000 or your car!!! I would rather have an extremely stiff fine than be the poor sap that gets T-boned and someone has to tell my family that I am dead. Or worse yet, I don't want to be on the receiving end of that notification! I happen to love my family. <br /><br />AK Chappy