(Ban the Cams note:  Thanks to Paul Henry for sharing the link).

LETTER: Cameras at red lights aren't the solution

TuscaloosaNews.com

May 20, 2012 10:19 PM

Dear Editor: While some may believe that red-light cameras will lead to fewer accidents around town, residents of many cities have found just the opposite. We must remember how people surprise us as they adapt quickly to change. Without red-light cameras, some drivers will run the red light as others quickly learn to wait an extra second or two after their own light turns green. With red-light cameras, the prospect of flash bulbs levying fines causes drivers to brake hard on a yellow light in order to avoid a ticket. This increases rear-end collisions at red-light camera intersections.

Houston, Plano, Peoria, Ariz., Tempe, San Diego and many other cities have already been through all this, most disconnecting the unpopular red light cameras after hurting the credibility of their local leaders. Soon after the cameras go up, accidents typically go up and the lawsuits against the city begin. In San Diego, the red-light camera contractor received a portion of every ticket. A lawsuit proved the cameras were ticketing drivers in violation of state traffic laws. In one city, police reviewing camera footage found 40 percent of the “violations” actually were not.

Peoria City Councilman Ron Aames said, “To me, the red-light cameras are kind of like a fool's gold. They sound like something that would really have an effect on accidents, on driver behavior, on safety, but they don't.”

We all know running red lights is a problem, but cameras aren't the solution.

Sam Thompson

Tuscaloosa

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