Photo Enforcement – the “Safety” SHELL GAME!
The sales pitch of many scamera vendors and towns is that they want photo enforcement for “safety”.
They go out and use some terrible accident (or incident) to claim that this is the “reason” they “need” photo enforcement. The problem with that SALES PITCH is that it is a lie.
PHOTO ENFORCEMENT IS A SHELL GAME.
They claim scameras are about stopping dangerous drivers, but in reality most of the “violations” will be technical, NON SAFETY RELATED “violations”.
(IN FACT PHOTO ENFORCEMENT DOESN’T Pull over DANGEROUS DRIVERS, IT JUST SENDS BILLS!)
Here are some examples:
1. RLC, claim the scameras are needed to stop dangerous RLR. The reality, most of the “violations” are right turns, stop line and split seconds. In fact scamera vendors are suing in TN because the law there banned right turn on red RLC tickets! http://www.timesnews.net/article/9038202/red-light-camera-vendor-sues-over-new-tennessee-law-limiting-citations
2. Speed scameras. Claim it is about “protecting” the “children”. But you find them changing the “definition” of a school zone to keep the money rolling in. Favorite scams, creating what can best be described as FAKE “school zones” on roads shortly after scameras were allowed in MD. http://www.stopbigbrothermd.org/search/label/Fake%20School%20Zones
See more: http://www.banthecams.org/2020-9-school-park-zone-speed-scams.html
3. School Bus scameras, claim it is about stopping people passing a bus. But if you look closely at what was passed in places like Rhode Island, the DEFINITION of a “violation” can be within 50 feet. http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/24/2436.asp
Quote: "When the machine detects a vehicle moving within 50 feet of the bus a second after the bus driver activates a red flashing light, then the vendor will mail a $300 ticket to that car's owner."
Wonder how soon before this “definition” will be used by the vendors. Or will it be stopping too "close"???
See: http://www.banthecams.org/2044-school-bus-scameras-in-ct.html also http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/6/the-school-bus-shakedown/
4. Railroad scameras. http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/08/804.asp
Quote: Proponents of the technology explain that a $250 ticket is mailed to the registered owner of a car that drives around the crossing gates in an attempt to beat the train. The ticket doubles to $500 for a second offense, deterring violators.
According to a 2003 Federal Railroad Administration report describing the Los Angeles, California rail cameras, 96.5 percent of violations are issued before the twelve seconds it takes for the crossing gates to come down. "Metrolink concluded that most motorists are racing against gates and not trains," the report stated.
You notice a pattern here. The sales pitch of the Shell Game is “Safety”, the reality is quite SOMETHING DIFFERENT!
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