Ban the Cams! Latest News

Posted in: Red Light Camera News  | Add a Comment(0)

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/32/3250.asp

Red Light Camera Firms Raise Stakes in Court Battle
Redflex and American Traffic Solutions step up legal battle against one another.

While red light camera firms are facing significant legal peril as vehicle owners in California http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/32/3249.asp  and Florida http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/30/3006.aspare fighting citations in court through class action lawsuits, the stakes are even higher when the companies themselves battle one another in the courtroom. The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is now reviewing a number of issues brought in the suit filed by American Traffic Solutions (ATS) against its Australian rival, Redflex Traffic Systems.

ATS had sued Redflex for advertising speed camera operations using radars that were illegally imported into the country. As reported by TheNewspaper in May, lost the case on all counts before a jury http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/31/3154.asp with the judge expressing the view that the ATS argument was "weak at every point." Nonetheless, ATS has filed an appeal to the Ninth Circuit. Meanwhile, Redflex is attempting to recover the $4.3 million it spent on the litigation after the firm's lead attorney, E. Jeffrey Walsh, claimed he had spent 12,782 hours on the case. Redflex insists it is entitled to attorney's fees because ATS filed the lawsuit in bad faith.

"ATS chose to use the courtroom as a forum to embarrass Redflex by, under the guise of proof of willfulness, accusing Redflex officials of lying to federal and state authorities," Walsh wrote in a July 27 filing. "ATS provided salacious fodder for bloggers and other media personnel who attended the trial and damaged Redflex's reputation and integrity... ATS unleashed a crusade against Redflex, its biggest competitor in the photo traffic enforcement industry, to damage it."

Read more: Red Light Camera Firms Raise Stakes in Court Battle

Posted in: Speed Camera News  | Add a Comment(0)

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/fixed-cameras-proving-futile/1919984.aspx

Fixed cameras proving futile
MICHAEL INMAN

22 Aug, 2010 12:00 AM
FIXED speed cameras are failing to reduce accidents at Canberra traffic hot spots, with accident rates actually increasing since nine new cameras were installed in 2007-08.

But ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has defended their use and flagged the possibility of installing more fixed speed cameras throughout Canberra.

Figures obtained by ACT Liberal MLA Alistair Coe showed accidents at eight camera sites increased from 58.7 per year prior to installation to 67.9 after while pumping an extra $7million each year into government coffers.

Data for the ninth camera was unavailable.

The largest increase in the number of accidents occured at two camera sites along the Tuggeranong Parkway.

Accidents jumped from an average of 20.3 to 24.4 per year at the camera placed near the Cotter Road underpass.

To the south, accidents leapt from 21.4 to 31 per year at the Hindmarsh Drive overpass.

Figures show the two cameras reaped almost $125,000 in the three months from October to December 2008.

However, the number of accidents declined slightly at several sites.

Mr Coe said the increased accident rate, paired with fines, shows revenue-raising was the driving force behind the expansion.

''[This] evidence suggests that the current methodology, the current strategy the ACT Government has, is much more about revenue than about making our roads safer,'' Mr Coe said.

''What we're seeing here is road safety being used as a cover for a revenue-raising method for the ACT Government because of its inability to manage expenditure.''

Read more: Fixed cameras proving futile

Posted in: Speed Camera News  | Add a Comment(0)

http://camerafraud.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/paradise-valley-town-council-a-simple-solution/

Paradise Valley Town Council: A Simple Solution
Paradise Valley Town Council is holding their normally scheduled meeting on Thursday Afternoon, starting at 3 pm. If you’re wondering, the address is 6401 E Lincoln Dr, Paradise Valley, Az 85253. CameraFRAUD volunteers will be there to collect signatures for the initiative to ban photo ticketing in Paradise Valley.

Oh and what a coincidence, it seems that very initiative is on the the slate for the meeting:

We have a very simple solution to this issue: Let’s do the right thing and take the cameras down in Paradise Valley. That would save the most time, money and is the safest option. However, if it needs to go to the voters, we’ve already seen how popular our initiative is at the polling places. 1,500+ signatures isn’t that far away!
 

Posted in: Red Light Camera News  | Add a Comment(0)

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/32/3249.asp

California: Red Light Camera Programs Face Class Action Suit
Experienced class action law firm takes on red light cameras in California.

A team of experienced class action lawyers is taking on California's red light camera industry, and photo enforcement companies are expressing unease. Last month, the law firm of Pearson Simon Warshaw and Penny, LLP filed suit in San Mateo County Superior Court arguing that tickets issued throughout the Golden State since January 1, 2004 should be refunded where the photo enforcement contracts violated a state law mandating flat-rate compensation to companies like Redflex Traffic Systems. Redflex referred to the case as a particular business risk in an August 25 filing with the Australian Securities Exchange.

"The level of litigation industry‐wide has continued to be widespread with the majority of suits testing the constitutionality or administrative legitimacy of road safety enforcement programs," Redflex explained. "A number of class action lawsuits involving others in our industry and Redflex have been filed challenging the pricing models used in several states alleging violation of cost neutrality laws as well as the admissibility of business records in court. We continue to aggressively defend against these claims."

An aggressive defense will not come cheap. The firm spent $4.3 million to fend off a lawsuit filed by competitor American Traffic Solutions (ATS), even though the Australian firm won the case. Should this class action make it to trial, Redflex and co-defendant ATS could end up financially responsible for contracts in the fifty-nine jurisdictions identified as having the questionable language.

In the city of San Mateo, for example, Redflex is paid $120 for each $446 ticket issued at each red light camera intersection up to a monthly cap of $6030 per intersection. This so-called cost neutrality arrangement allows the city to have a guarantee that the cameras will never under any circumstances lose money. The class action suit argues that such clauses violate a state law prohibiting per-ticket compensation arrangements for automated ticketing contracts.

"Through their employees and agents, RTS, ATS and the Doe defendants, as defined below, entered into illegal contracts with public entities in California, operated automated traffic enforcement equipment in California and caused tickets to be issued to plaintiff and class members throughout California," attorneys Bruce L. Simon and William J. Newsom wrote in the court filing.

The suit does not ask that existing convictions be overturned, but that Redflex and ATS pay damages for the amount of revenue the companies have collected from their unlawful business practices. The appellate divisions of both Orange County (view ruling) and San Mateo County (view decision) courts have already ruled "cost neutral" contract provisions are illegal, but the decisions have not been published. Only a handful of cities like San Mateo and San Carlos have dropped the cost neutral provisions. Contractors in these cities would still be sued for the amount of revenue generated prior to the contract revisions.

The lawsuit asks the court to declare all cost neutral contracts illegal and issue an injunction against all programs operating under such arrangements. It also asks for a full refund of all fines paid, plus appropriate punitive damages

Posted in: Presentations  | Add a Comment(0)

http://blog.motorists.org/another-ticket-camera-success-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=another-ticket-camera-success-story

Another Ticket Camera Success Story
Posted on August 31st, 2010 in James Baxter, Red-Light Cameras | Comments (0)

By James Baxter, NMA President

The report is in from Baytown, TX, on the results of the city’s red light ticket camera program.  http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/32/3236.asp

The camera proponents are going to be hard pressed to lavish praise on the results:

•40 percent increase in total accidents
•75 percent increase in injury accidents
•37 percent increase in “t-bone” right angle crashes
•83 percent increase in rear-end collisions
These disastrous results should really be no surprise. Independent studies http://www.motorists.org/red-light-cameras/studies (no financial interest) of the automated intersection ticketing programs have repeatedly shown an increase in rear- end collisions, more injuries, and contrary to the claims of ticket camera proponents, no reduction in right-angle crashes.

But, tomorrow, just as sure as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west there will be a government official or clueless reporter making the claim that red light cameras improve traffic safety.

Baytown officials are being presented with a petition to put ticket cameras to a vote in November.

If these officials are really concerned about the well-being of their constituents they won’t wait until November to put the cameras down the road.

If they do wait until November, the voters would be well served to treat incumbent officials as they do the red light camera program and put them down the road too.
 

Posted in: Red Light Camera News  | Add a Comment(0)

Ban the Cams note:   I find it funny that the scamera side uses the "if you have nothing to hide, than you should have nothing to fear" BS argument YET THE POLICE CHIEF OF PORT RICHEY CLEARLY WANTS TO HIDE A RLC CONTRACT FEE! 

As a post I left on the St. Pete Times (I DON'T hide who I am unlike ATS Front Groups do), I WONDER IF THE CHIEF EVER HEARD OF THE SUNSHINE LAW!

 http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/police-chief-says-port-richeys-budget-for-red-light-cameras-is-confidential/1118774

Police chief says Port Richey's budget for red-light cameras is confidential
By Drew Harwell, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Wednesday, September 1, 2010 

PORT RICHEY — The question seemed simple enough: How much will the city pay per camera each month to the company that provides red light cameras?

Council members asked Police Chief Dave Brown.

That's confidential, he answered during Monday night's meeting, pointing out that the contract with American Traffic Solutions, an Arizona company, forbids discussing it.

"We entered into this contract," council member Terry Rowe said, "yet we can't talk about it?"

City officials, according to budget estimates, expect to issue about 9,600 camera citations next year, totaling $1.5 million in fines. A large chunk must be paid to the state and ATS. Knowing the exact amount would help city leaders with their budget. 

(Ban the Cams, SO MUCH FOR SAFETY, IT REALLY IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY, but you know that already don't ya!)

"I don't believe there is anything such as confidential when it comes to city finances," council member Bill Colombo said Tuesday. "That's the first time I've heard anything like that."

Read more: Port Richey Police Chief "forgets" about FLORIDA SUNSHINE LAW! Claims RLC Contract "confidential"

Posted in: Blogs  | Add a Comment(0)

LONG TERM DANGER IN MICRO MANAGING POLICE OFFICERS AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL

Recently Ban the Cams have had some post on emergency personnel being cited by photo enforcement.

I can understand why most people would love to hammer those on the photo enforcement side for being hypocritical.  In fact a most entertaining example was when ATS President Tuton and ATS Executive John Petrozza Ignored PHOTO TICKETS THEMSELVES! (Tuton dealt with it after  it was posted all over the web by www.camerafraud.com  and Petrozza claimed “he never received the ticket and he would never have intentionally ignored a citation.”).    http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/25/2597.asp

But it is important to remember that not all Law Enforcement Officers support photo enforcement or are even part of the SCAM! 

In fact a vote by The St. Louis, Missouri Police Officers Association STATED THEIR OPPOSITION TO PHOTO ENFORCEMENT:

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/27/2714.asp

Quote:  The St. Louis, Missouri Police Officers' Association on Monday spoke out against the use of red light cameras as a revenue raising tool. The police union adopted a resolution opposing automated ticketing as state lawmakers consider measures that would authorize use of the devices statewide. The group representing rank-and-file police officers stands in opposition to the high-ranking officials represented by the Missouri Police Chiefs' Association.

"Police chiefs serve at the pleasure of the mayor -- they're political jobs," said Jesse Irwin, co-founder of Missourians against Red Light Cameras. "I'm not surprised that the Missouri Police Chiefs' organization would be for the cameras. I'm also not surprised that the men and women out on the street enforcing the law would be against them -- they don't work."

It is important to remember that most Officers are hard working people who put their lives on the line protecting the public!

That is why I want to POINT OUT THE LONG TERM DANGER IN MICRO MANAGING POLICE OFFICERS AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL TOO (in addition to drivers). 

DO WE REALLY WANT THEM BECOMING PARINIOD to the point that Ambulance drivers are afraid to run lights or speed WHEN A LIFE MIGHT DEPEND UPON IT for fear of being cited for a technical foul in the MAIL? 

Do we want police officers having to enter in to their decision process whether to break a technical law in responding to a call BECAUSE OF THE PAPERWORK IN DEALING WITH ALL THE PHOTO TICKETS IT MIGHT GENERATE?

Yet photo enforcement MAKES PEOPLE PARINOID.  Photo enforcement’s main bread and butter are TECHNICAL FOULS!  Not safety ones.  That is fact.  Go look at the many towns that write over 50% of their RLC tickets for right turns on red.  (SOME EVEN AFTER FLORIDA law was supposedly changed to outlaw the practice of citing for safe right turns on red).

I DESPISE PHOTO ENFORCEMENT as well as the players WHO DARN WELL KNOW PHOTO ENFORCEMENT IS BEING DONE FOR CASH!  But what we don’t want is making Emergency personnel AFRAID to do their job because they might “get a ticket” for a technical foul in the mail.

Quote from this 2008 article:    “Officials in charge of ambulance services believe the situation is making drivers concentrate more on saving their jobs than the well-being of the patients under their care, even when they are not responding to an emergency call. Receiving just a few speed camera tickets can result in a driver losing his license.”  http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/12/1202.asp

Bottom line PHOTO ENFORCEMENT IS A SCAM, more about generating long term tickets, than safety.  SAFETY IS PULLING SOMEONE OVER WHO DRIVES DANGEROUSLY.  NOT SENDING A BILL WEEKS LATER!

Making Police Officers and Emergency Personnel paranoid is just as bad as citing the general public for technical fouls too!   In fact it is more dangerous for it increases response time for the police and medical personnel.

TIME TO BAN THE CAMS!

Posted in: Speed Camera News  | Add a Comment(0)

(Ban the Cams note:  Go to the read more and see the Maps provided by StopBigBrotherMD showing what Mount Rainier did to CHURN TICKETS!)

Before

 
After

http://www.stopbigbrothermd.org/2010/08/mount-rainier-brentwood-lowered-speed.html

Sunday, August 15, 2010
Mount Rainier, Brentwood Lowered Speed Limits at Camera Sites
The town of Mount Rainier recently began using a speed camera on the 3700 block of Rhode Island Avenue (US Route 1). StopBigBrotherMD has discovered that the speed limit at that camera site was recently lowered by 10mph, from 35mph to 25mph. Photos taken in the first week of August by a concerned citizen show the 25mph speed limit just north of 37th street. The speed limit north of the current camera site is 35mph, with the camera site located about 45 yards south of the 25mph sign (marked on the photo below, partially concealed by trees and other obstacles).   An image extracted from Google street view shows the same site taken before the camera deployment. Notice that the 25mph sign is not present in these legacy images.

 
Before 
 

After

A 25mph zone did exist previously on Rhode Island Avenue southbound, but started south of 37th street, approximately 500 feet south of the point where it is at now. Before the new 25mph sign the speed the limit in the section around the camera was still posted as 35mph.

We also discovered that there was previously a 35mph speed limit sign just south of 37th street in the northbound lane, marking the (former) end of that 25mph zone. Now that sign was removed and has been replaced by a 25mph sign a short distance away.
 

Read more: MD: Games Speed Camera Vendors and Cities Play, ALSO TOWN DENIES FOIA AT SCAMERA SITE!

Posted in: Legislative News  | Add a Comment(0)

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/32/3247.asp

California Legislature to Authorize Photo Parking Tickets
California legislature approves parking ticket cameras while cracking down on municipalities issuing administrative traffic tickets.

The California state Senate last week gave preliminary approval to legislation giving local governments the green light to install automated ticketing machines on street sweepers to generate parking tickets. The measure, introduced by state Assemblyman Steven C. Bradford (D-Gardena), passed in the lower chamber in April by a 49 to 24 vote. It would go to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) upon a final vote by the Senate and an Assembly vote to approving the upper chamber's amendments. On Friday, the full legislature sent a related measure cracking down on municipalities that have been using an unauthorized civil fine system to bypass state traffic laws for speeding and red light camera tickets.

"Streetsweepers operating throughout our nation and the world remove from streets and roads unnecessary pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, trash, and debris, which provides significant environmental and sanitation benefits, thereby protecting the environment and contributing to the health of people in communities worldwide," Assembly Bill 2567 states. "It is also the intent of the legislature that this article shall provide a single statewide standard for the use of camera enforcement technology on streetsweepers to help ensure continuity in program implementation and enforcement by local public agencies that desire to implement camera enforcement systems."

Under the program, a private company would install and maintain the cameras set up on streetsweepers to prey on the owners of vehicles who may be confused by unclear signage or otherwise unaware of the sweeping restrictions. The private company would mail tickets to owners two weeks after the photographs are taken. A similar program failed in Chicago, Illinois after officials realized that the camera photographs needed to capture images of the vehicle and the parking restriction signs together for the ticket to hold up in court. For the California program, the for-profit vendor will have the final say when a motorist contests a ticket.

"If the person is dissatisfied with the results of the initial review, he or she may request an administrative hearing with the citation processing agency (which may be the same as the issuing agency or may be a public or private contractor) within 21 days following the mailing of the results of the initial review," the official legislative analysis of the bill explained.

Read more: CA Legislature lets FOR PROFIT COMPANIES be "enforcers" and JUDGE on parking tickets!

Posted in: Red Light Camera News  | Add a Comment(0)

Ban the Cams note:  This closes the door on the imaginary "loophole" some in the photo enforcement industry and cities use to try to get around CA state law on RLC FINES.

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/31/3158.asp

Quote:  "Senate Bill 949, strike down ordinances specifically designed to boost municipal profit margins. The state Senate approved this bill 28 to 0 last Friday sending a warning to jurisdictions like Alameda County, Long Beach, Oakland, Riverbank and Roseville which have set up their own traffic ticketing and red light camera ordinances that bypass the requirements of state law."

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15916964?nclick_check=1

Bill bars Calif. cities from keeping traffic fines
The Associated Press
Posted: 08/27/2010 05:09:07 PM PDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—A bill approved by the state Senate on Friday would prohibit local governments from keeping some of the money collected in traffic tickets written under local ordinances.
The bill sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Friday would bar local authorities from enforcing their own ordinances that regulate moving violations, such as speeding, if they are already regulated by state law.

Sen. Jenny Oropeza, a Democrat from Long Beach, cites at least half a dozen such recent ordinances by cites and counties struggling with budget problems.

She says the patchwork of local ordinances could lead to confusion among drivers and throw off traffic safety statistics, costing the state millions of dollars in federal aid.

Her bill, SB949, was approved on a 33-0 vote.

Posted in: Speed Camera News  | Add a Comment(0)

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1315435_road_safety_expert_in_storm_over_speeding_joke?all_comments=1

Road safety expert in storm over speeding ‘joke’
Deborah Linton

August 30, 2010

The man in charge of re-educating speeding drivers has been slammed for joking on Facebook about breaking the speed limit.

Lee Davies, manager of the Greater Manchester Driver Improvement Scheme, made the quip on the social-networking website where he posted pictures of himself on a quad bike during a trip to the Canary Islands.

When a pal asked if he kept within the speed limits, he replied: ‘Got it to go 63kph in a 40kph zone!’

Mr Davies has now apologised and said his comments had been a joke. But drivers’ groups said his words were ‘foolish and stupid’.

Mr Davies is in charge of speed awareness courses, which are offered to drivers caught flouting road laws as an alternative to penalty points or fines.

He used Facebook to share pictures of himself with two quad bikes during his holiday.

When confronted by the M.E.N, Mr Davies said he had hired only one of the bikes and had never driven on the highway.

He claimed he had not broken any speed limits and said his comments had been ‘foolish and thoughtless’.

He said: "I can confirm that during a holiday in Fuerteventura I hired a dune buggy for private use on sand dunes, within the resort I was staying.

Read more: "RE EDUCATION" (More like Brainwash to me) chief busted by the PC police for "joking" on speeding.

Posted in: Speed Camera News  | Add a Comment(0)

Ban the Cams note:  Thanks to Camerafraud Facebook for the link!)

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/196218/Ambulance-driver-could-lose-job-for-speeding-to-save-a-life

AMBULANCE DRIVER COULD LOSE JOB FOR SPEEDING TO SAVE A LIFE 

Paul Bex was carrying a liver when he was flashed by a speed camera in Lincolnshire
Sunday August 29,2010
By Chloe Thomas AMBULANCE drivers risk being charged for speeding because of a legal loophole that means their role in transporting organs is not recognised.

Paul Bex was carrying a liver from Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, to the North East when he was flashed by a speed camera in Lincolnshire.

He was driving at 112mph after being told by a surgeon that the liver was needed within three hours on July 7.

Pictured right in his vehicle, Mr Bex, 51, from Cambridge, was sent a letter by police telling him he would be prosecuted for speeding. Despite an appeal by Lifeline, his employer, he will have to appear in court.

Anyone caught speeding at over 100 miles per hour faces a 12-month ban.

Mr Bex, who has an unblemished 34-year driving record, said: “If I am charged I will lose my licence, which means I will not be able to work.

“The idea of going to court is very upsetting when I haven’t done anything wrong. I was merely doing my job.”

Dave Cooper, operations manager at Lifeline, said: “All our drivers have been trained to drive to the same standard as the police. Although I am confident that the magistrates won’t charge him, I cannot be certain.”

The law defining an ambulance hasn’t been updated since 1946, despite the fact that organ transplants have been common since the 1960s and 2,500 are now carried out every year.

It still refers only to “the carriage of sick, injured or disabled people”. That means a vehicle used to relay organs cannot be registered as an ambulance.

Even though cars used for the purpose are fitted with flashing lights, they are not exempt from speed limits.

Don Williams, president of the Ambulance Association, the drivers’ union, said: “The law as it stands is making life impossible for our drivers.

Read more: UK NEWSAMBULANCE DRIVER COULD LOSE JOB FOR SPEEDING TO SAVE A LIFE

Posted in: Speed Camera News  | Add a Comment(0)

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/32/3245.asp

France, Germany: Speed Cameras Burned, Boxed, Bashed, Blown Up
Two dozen cameras attacked in France while a photo radar unit in Leipzig, Germany explodes.

In Savoy, France over twenty speed cameras were covered last weekend by white cardboard boxes painted with the Cross of Savoy and the slogans "Free Savoy" and "Treaty Abrogated." A separatist movement believes that the French government has no right to set up speed cameras in the region. The group's members vow to continue the attacks on speed cameras, Caradisiac Moto reported.  http://moto.caradisiac.com/Radars-la-Savoie-libre-denonce-des-radars-illegaux-966

In Bel Air, France vigilantes set fire to a speed camera at around 4am Tuesday. This marked the sixth time that the automated ticketing machine on the N134 has been destroyed since being installed in the spring of 2009. The last attack in May cost officials 20,000 euros (US $25,000), Sud Ouest reported. Police have no idea who might be responsible.  http://www.sudouest.fr/2010/08/25/le-radar-automatique-qui-attire-les-foudres-168515-4140.php

In Charente limousine, a photo radar unit that failed to prevent an accident was destroyed when it was hit by a Polish truck. The device on route 951 was destroyed, Sud Ouest reported.

In Leipzig, Germany vigilantes used explosives to destroy a speed camera last Sunday at around 12:30am. The device had been located in the Sudvorstadt district between Paul-Gruner and High Street. Police have no idea who was responsible, Leipziger Volkszeitung reported.
 http://nachrichten.lvz-online.de/leipzig/polizeiticker/lauter-knall-schreckt-anwohner-in-suedvorstadt-auf--blitzer-gesprengt/r-polizeiticker-a-45761.html

Posted in: Taking on the Government  | Add a Comment(0)

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/32/3244.asp

8/28/2010
Cameras Falsely Accuse Motorists of Driving Crimes Worldwide
Cameras in the District of Columbia, Oregon, Virginia and France try to collect fines from innocent drivers.

Red light cameras have returned to Virginia, and Newport News kicked off its automated ticketing program by falsely accusing hundreds of innocent motorists of running red lights. The automated ticketing machine at Oyster Point Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue malfunctioned and bogus warning letters were sent out after the camera went live July 31. Officials blamed "wiring problems," according to the Newport News Daily Press.  http://www.dailypress.com/news/traffic/dp-nws-photo-safe-20100820,0,2665137.story

Bogus citations are nothing new in the Old Dominion. Salem resident Bob Archer owns a light green 1998 Volkswagen Beetle with the license plate BUG IN, but he continually receives red light camera and parking tickets from 240 miles away in Arlington, Virginia and Washington, DC. Archer's car has never been that far north.

The Roanoke Times http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/257384 reported that the District sent the first ticket in May 2000. The photograph on the ticket showed a dark Beetle with the plate BUG 1N -- with the numeral one appearing where the letter 'I' is found on his plate. Neither the private vendor in charge of the program nor the city had any interest in clearing up their mistake. They just wanted him to pay up. He was forced to hire an attorney to prove his innocence.

A speed camera in Milwaukie, Oregon demanded that 65-year-old motorist Glenn Nickelson hand over $288 for allegedly speeding in February, The Oregonian reported. Nickelson lives in Vancouver and has not stepped foot in Milwaukie for several years. Although Nickelson drives a Kia, the vehicle in the photograph is clearly a Pontiac. Despite claims that every ticket is reviewed three times by a human being, no one bothered checking the accuracy of the information on the ticket itself.  http://www.oregonlive.com/milwaukie/index.ssf/2010/08/milwaukie_photo_radar_produces_13000_tickets_impact_on_safety_unclear.html

In Arnold, Missouri a man attending his sister's funeral on August 6 was mailed a $94.50 ticket for driving in a funeral procession that legally went through a red light, KSDK-TV reported. Arnold police ignored Michael Daniels, who called to have the citation canceled. Officials relented only after the local news became involved.  http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=213098&catid=3

In Toulouse, France someone changed the speed limit signs on a highway from 90km/h (55 MPH) to 110km/h (68 MPH), directly in front of a speed camera that ticketed people for exceeding 90km/h. After the change was discovered on Tuesday last week, officials were forced to refund the tickets issued, AFP reported.  http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iMeuIZ8IX9KF19V-SCxum1lEtpaQ

Posted in: Red Light Camera News  | Add a Comment(0)

(Ban the Cams note:  Don't think this is a "mistake" by anymeans!    Here is one out of TX:  http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/28/2827.asp

Quote:  "The shortened yellow helped boost violations, allowing American Traffic Solutions (ATS) to issue $222,587 worth of tickets in the month of April alone. Of this amount, ATS took a 55 percent cut, even though Texas law specifically bans per-ticket contract arrangements. Baytown cited a grandfather loophole clause in the law as the reason it has continued the practice.")

http://www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=12976216

Only 2 seconds to beat a yellow light? What the heck?
Posted: Aug 13, 2010 2:04 PM EDT
Updated: Aug 13, 2010 5:50 PM EDT
 
Now you see it, now you don't: the 2-second yellow left turn arrow at Kolb & Speedway
 

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Two seconds to beat a yellow light?  You're kidding, right?

That's what KGUN9 News was wondering.  The question arose after City of Tucson crews began tinkering with the lights at Kolb & Speedway, as part of the process of installing a new set of ever-popular speed and red light cameras.  When the crews left, the timing of the lights had changed.

In particular, when the left turn arrow now switches from green to yellow, it stays yellow for only about two seconds before turning red.  For a typical motorist, if you're entering the intersection at normal traffic speed just as the arrow turns yellow, you might not have time to clear the intersection before it turns red and the camera snaps a picture of your smiling face.  Even if you make it through, any cars behind you would definitely be hosed.

No fair!  What is up with that?

KGUN9 News' Allen Kath put that question the city.  The response from spokeswoman Linda Galindo:  don't worry about it just yet.  Galindo said the traffic unit is "aware of the issues with the yellow light @ Speedway/Kolb.  They are calibrating & it will be resolved before the 30-day grace period is up."

Galindo is referring to a 30 day notice period during which the traffic cameras are operational, but toothless - the city is not issuing citations.  That grace period ends for this particular camera on September 17.

Bottom line: don't panic yet.  KGUN9 News will keep on top of it for you.  In fact, the newsroom can't help but notice the situation with this particular light, which sits astride the route many KGUN9 News employees take to get to work.