Speed Camera Radar thoughts

[Bull Durham]

This weekend, I received a speeding "ticket" in the mail. I was just kind of curious what people feel about these new gizmos, pro or con.

I'm not posting this to see what you feel about me getting the ticket, that is beside the point. But how you feel about a the whole situation.

The camera ticket snapped a picture of me at 0200 hours, no traffic on road several weeks ago while I was in Washington, DC. Interstate 295 SW, southbound .7 miles of exit 1. 66 mph in a 50 mph zone. The ticket is $150.00 bucks if I pay right away, or $300.00 bucks if I don't pay within a certain amount of time. I think it's like two weeks. It also states "POINTS WILL NOT BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE REGISTERED OWNER OR THE DESIGNATED DRIVER FOR THIS VIOLATION".

It was taken from what is called a "mobile" camera, which from what I have found out, are camera's setup in some type
of vehicle, which is then taken out and parked alongside the road and left there to snap pictures all day / night.

As I said, kind of curious what people think. Do you think this type of technology is good from a safety point of view? Is being done purely for $$?

Thoughts?

[AlabamaNomadRider]

I feel it is done strictly for the monetary issue with no work having to be done. A lazy mans way of collecting money. They use them here for traffic lights but as far as I know not for speeding.

Probably not much you can do about it except pay the ticket.

[NRiderUSA]

(IMHO) Just another revenue making tool the states/counties are going to have to start using to keep paying those benefits out.

If it were about saftey only... they would add points.

[Loafer]

I don't think it gives the same impact of an officer handing you your ticket. Getting a photo 2 weeks later would ______ me off!

[cactusjack]

They have had them here in AZ for years. Some cities use them, some don't. You can usually find them on roads heading to the mountains from the Phoenix area, in small towns where they have become a source of revenue. By law, they have to warn you you with a sign that you are approaching a camera speed trap. If you get your picture taken, it's your own fault (at least here).

They actually installed them on freeways here in the valley, but took them out because they weren't generating enough revenue.

In AZ (I stress IN AZ) a ticket in the mail is not legal process service. If the ticket is ignored, they can send a process server to serve you in person, but most cities don't because that cuts into their revenue stream. After 120 days, the ticket is thrown out with no repercussions to the driver or vehicle owner.

I don't like them personally, and I have never been ticketed by one. I don't mind the red light cameras because we used to have a big problem with red-light running in Phoenix and they have really reduced the accident rate.

[canedriver]

I hate both speed and red light cameras. It's all about the money. I used to think red light cameras were an exception until I got rear ended twice at the same intersection in a 3 month period.

[usranger74]

When I lived in CA in the early 80s, CHP were not allowed to buy radar units with state funds. They were artist at "pacing" speeding vehicles. As some started getting radar units provide by pvt funding, many old times did not like using them. Not "sporting" some would say. When I moved back to CA in the late 90s. CHP has invested heavily in all sorts of radars. Time change, technologies change but I am not sure speeds have come down.

There is similar camera technology being used on the Toll road around the east side of Denver. There are no toll booths. As you get on the toll road the camera takes a pic of your license plate and when you get off the same. You then get the toll bill in the mail (you can buy a pass that will negate your bill). It worksfor residences of CO but if your out of state, it's a freebie.

[glwilson]

It is a technology that is likely to continue to grow.

Our tollways are now setting them up; and have been using them in construction-zones since Jan 1 this year. It has definitely slowed traffic in those zones.

[2x18wheeler]

They have nothing to do with safety and are only revenue generators for the jurisdiction who placed the cameras there. In most cases they are placed in areas where the road is posted at 55 mph, but the flow of traffic can easily do 65-70 mph.

[ringadingh]

I don't like them at all, its just a cash grab. Now if they warned you in advance by placing ads on radio, TV and newspaper of when the units will be active, when and where, as well as a flashing sign that you are approaching a active zone I would probably be ok with it.
We had photo radar here years ago but it was removed in an election promise. We now have some red light cameras on certain intersections.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

I don't like them at all, its just a cash grab. Now if they warned you in advance by placing ads on radio, TV and newspaper of when the units will be active, when and where, as well as a flashing sign that you are approaching a active zone I would probably be ok with it.
We had photo radar here years ago but it was removed in an election promise. We now have some red light cameras on certain intersections.

Isn't that a bit like advertising to bank-robbers when banks have their armed-guards on duty, or when they don't? I hope you see my point.

It seems as if you would be asking to be informed as to when you can break the law -- versus when you shouldn't.

The fact remains... speed-limits are the law -- thus technically everyone is supposed to follow the law 24/7; whether radar is being taken or not.

Hey... I have a heavy-foot just like a lot of others... but hopefully you see my point -- as "straight-laced" as it may seem.

[ray2]

Thay should get some cars from the junk yard paint them florsent orange with police painted on the doors and then just put cameras in one or two of these cars. Might not catch to many speeders.

[desertdog]

The city of Avondale placed red light cameras at 2 intersections where they had a significant number of accidents.

Only thing the cameras did was to increase the number of accidents in the intersection. It got so bad that during rush hours they had to station 2 police cars at the intersections to deal with the increased accidents.

They took them out a couple of years ago and the accident rates went way down.

I think the speed cameras can serve a useful function if properly used. But I have yet to see that happen.

And I do not trust the calibration of them. If a municipality is looking to increase revenue, all it takes is a tweak of the software to generate false readings.

I have been snapped when doing 45 in a 55 zone. Did not get a ticket, but it makes me question the premis of the whole process.

[deadant]

Holy crap. $150.00 for 16 over the limit. Ouch! Here in ND it would cost you a point (I think 15 mph over is 1 point, under 15 no points) but the fine would only be about $40-$50.

[Dave]

They have them a just about every major intersection here in Garden Grove and Westminster. With all the Asian drivers, they must be making a fortune because at night with all the flashes going off, you'd think you were at the red carpet at the Oscars.