For any idiot who thinks it's about safety

[terry251]

Check your jurisdiction, but I'll bet you will find that the red light and speed camera systems in place are operated by private companies. They process the film, send out the notices and collect a major fee on each ticket, and pass on the small remainder of the fine to the local government. In most cases, if you ignore the summons they send a collection agency after you...not the cops. Their summonses and notices of adverse action look very official, but they are, in fact, a collection notice, not a threat to arrest from the local law enforcement agency. They don't personally serve the original ticket or the failure to pay notification, and they can't arrest you for ignoring them.

In my experience, if the private company doesn't see the expected amount of revenue from a particular location (speed camera or red light camera) they lobby for shortening the yellow light or lowering the speed limit. That is garbage. Our elected officials should be setting these parameters based on advice from their traffic engineers, not a private company that profits from the decision.

By the way, I don't dispute the potential effectiveness of the technology. I just don't think a private company should profit by using tax payer supported law enforcement to enrich themselves. If the technology and results are effective as purported - government should purchase and operate it themselves. The reason they don't...because they collect a fee without expending any resources.

Rant Off.

Terry