Protests

INGLE: Red-light camera poll seems more like sales pitch

http://www.app.com/article/20110713/NJOPINION03/307130012/INGLE-Red-light-camera-poll-seems-more-like-sales-pitch

(Ban the Cams note:  If the Public really "supports" traffic cameras, THAN  WHY ARE THE VENDORS Denying Democracy  (like in Houston)????  Why do they have in some of their RLC contracts provisions allowing them to SUE VOTERS (like in Bellingham, WA)?????  Why are the VENDORS TRYING TO PREVENT THE PUBLIC FROM VOTING (Towns in WA, TX)?????????)

INGLE: Red-light camera poll seems more like sales pitch
8:03 AM, Jul. 13, 2011  | 

 
Written by
BOB INGLE | STATEHOUSE BUREAU Filed Under
Opinion
Commentary

TRENTON — Polls are given way too much attention by media and the public, but they can be fun to read and even enlightening if done well and objectively. Too often they are neither.

The National Coalition for Safer Roads (ATS FRONT GROUP http://againstallclods.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/the-missouri-red-light-camera-scam-part-4/) tells us that New Jersey’s registered voters overwhelmingly support the use of red-light cameras — the ones that snap a picture at intersections, and if so much as an inch of tailpipe is in the road when the light turns red, a ticket is sent to the car’s registered owner. They’re controversial because unlike a police officer, cameras can’t make judgment calls, and some cop looking at a picture days later in a room far away doesn’t know the whole situation, either. The cameras have been banned in some states but not here, where the auto is a cash cow.

You have to ask, why would anyone poll likely voters on this? Questioning likely voters makes sense if you’re looking at an election or testing message or strategy, but not when studying a topic or policy issue that should include a wider base. It’s not like the cameras are running for office. Why not poll pedestrians or registered drivers, people who actually use intersections?

David Kelly, president of the outfit paying for the research, said, “Drivers, pedestrians, cyclists have made it clear they want cameras in their communities.” An accompanying press release notes the poll was done by a guy who polls for Gov. Chris Christie.

Let’s dispense with the notion this is about safety. It is not. It is about collecting as much money as municipalities can get.

The Daily Record looked at some of the state’s red-light camera installations and found no proof they make intersections any safer. In Brick Township in Ocean County, reporters found that the number of accidents went up the first year. But the private companies that run the cameras — and keep part of the fines collected — and the towns where they’re located did all right. Brick got $500,000 out of it. Statistics from towns with cameras running the longest did not show a significant decline in accidents with cameras.

Steve Carrellas of the National Motorists Association points out the obvious — cameras don’t contribute to safety. They just provide a means for government to collect more revenue. In Michigan, AAA worked with Detroit city engineers to make changes that reduced accidents at troublesome intersections. That’s what you do if safety really is your focus.

Getting back to the poll, as important as the right base being polled is how the questions are worded. An introductory question to gauge awareness describes the intersections as “dangerous.” That can create a mind-set for the remainder of the questions. The poll describes the role of the cameras as a “monitor” of people who run red lights, which sounds innocuous.

The poll seems to do everything in its power to increase support for the cameras with every sentence. It looks more like a strategy or messaging poll rather than an attempt to gauge support. That said, I think most people would support the cameras, just not at the level this poll tries to show. Handled as it was, it makes camera supporters look desperate.

 

 

Selden, NY: Memorial Day Red Light Camera Protest and BBQ

http://www.meetup.com/LILiberty/events/19901121/

Selden, NY:  Memorial Day Red Light Camera Protest and BBQ
Monday, May 30, 2011

4:00 PM

Selected By: John
 Selden Red Light Camera 2

Middle Country Road and Marshall Drive Selden , NY


How to find us: We will be on the south side of the road.

The Selden/Centereach area is inundated with these s-Cameras. There are seven cameras in this area and they're barley one mile apart from each-other. Not to mention, Suffolk County is in the process of getting state approval for 50 more cameras, they have not even completed putting up the first 50.  We're going to get out there and show that we mean business.  So this Memorial Day, we will be doing a sign wave protest, for one hour, and then going back to my house for Memorial Day BBQ.

 

-John

   
   
   
   

Protesters eye a new red light camera in Boca Raton

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Protesters had their eye on an intersection in Boca Raton Tuesday evening.

The county has put up a camera at the intersection of Palmetto Park and Powerline  to catch drivers who run red lights.

As part of a statewide protest, the Libertarian Party of Florida urged the state legislature to rescind their law that allows for the cameras, which passed last year.

Now, both houses are considering a measure that would ban the cameras.

Although popular with police, the Libertarian Party says the cameras aren't catching people legitimately.

Police say the cameras work and that statistics show that safety improves when people take extra care not to run a red light.

   
   

Statewide Red Light Camera Protest.Orlando Florida

Residents protest red light cameras

Published : Saturday, 26 Feb 2011, 9:26 PM EST
By Valerie Boey
FOX 35 News

Residents protest red light cameras: MyFoxORLANDO.com

 

   

Missouri Group Protests Red Light Cameras

http://www.kctv5.com/news/26864441/detail.html

Missouri Group Protests Red Light Cameras

POSTED: 4:53 pm CST February 14, 2011

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Members of the Liberty Restoration Project were out at 39th and Southwest Trafficway Monday protesting the cameras which they say represent a loss of freedom.

The city has installed cameras at several intersections across the metro to catch people running red lights. Anyone caught on tape would be mailed a $100 ticket.

Members of the group said they will continue to protest until all the lights are brought down.

   

Traffic Camera Attacks on the Rise in US

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/33/3366.asp

Traffic Camera Attacks on the Rise in US
Vigilantes strike speed and red light cameras in California, Louisiana, South Carolina and France.

Over the past several years, vigilantes in Australia and Europe have destroyed hundreds of speed cameras. Until recently, such attacks remained rare in the United States. Last week, however, photo enforcement devices were taken out in California, Louisiana and South Carolina compared to a single camera in France.

In New Orleans, Louisiana vigilantes on Thursday used a favored tactic of bending the traffic cameras used by American Traffic Solutions (ATS) so that they faced the ground. The devices were located at Canal Boulevard and Harrison Avenue as well as Harrison Avenue and Marconi Drive, according to WVUE-TV. The same tactic has been used in Arizona http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/31/3114.asp, Australia http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/21/2163.asp, California http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/24/2407.asp and England http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/25/2548.asp. For good measure, the vigilantes also spraypainted the camera lenses black. ATS employees were dispatched to repair the devices, but officials have no idea who might be responsible.

In Vista, California, just north of San Diego, vigilantes on Friday used a large rock to knock over a red light camera, the North County Times reported. The automated ticketing machine was located on North Santa Fe Avenue and Vista Village Drive.  http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/vista/article_d5f913d3-5f90-5d9f-bfff-34534d36d315.html

On Monday, a motorist rammed one of the two renegade speed cameras operated by the private company iTraffic in http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/dec/29/wreck-ruins-camera Ridgeland, South Carolina, the Beaufort Gazette reported. According to the state attorney general, Ridgeland is violating a state law passed specifically prohibiting the town from mailing citations (view opinions). http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/32/3226.asp   Mayor Gary Hodges remains defiant, claiming a "top legal mind" http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/33/3352.asp told him the system was legal. Although Hodges claims an operator sitting in the recreational vehicle personally witnesses each alleged violation, the officer paid by iTraffic did not see a motorist scatter the speed camera all across Interstate 95. The driver got away unobserved.

In Maleville, France, vigilantes hit the speed camera on the RD1 between Villefranche and Lanuejouls, Midi Libre reported. The lens of the device was obscured, in an attack similar to one carried out at the same location in October.  http://www.midilibre.com/articles/2010/12/31/VILLAGES-Le-radar-de-Maleville-encore-degrade-1496586.php5

   

RIDGELAND, SC I-95 ILLEGAL SPEED CAMERA TICKET TEA PARTY PROTEST!

TOSS YOUR ILLEGAL I-95 RIDGELAND, SC Speed CAMERA TICKETS IN THE TRASH TEA PARTY!

Ban the Cams feels it is time to call Ridgeland on their illegal practices of using SPEED SCAEMRAS on I-95.  The usually claim is it is for “safety”.  But if the drivers were acting unsafe, WHY ARE THEY NOT PULLING THEM OVER!  Because the SAFETY EXCUSE IS A LIE!
In fact in the UK a few years ago a study was done (AND HIDDEN BY THE UK GOVERNMENT!) THAT PROVED THAT THE SPEED SCAEMRAS CAUSED MORE WRECKS!
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/06/602.asp
Effect on Personal Injury Accidents
Enforcement Type Construction Zone No Construction

Even groups like Camerafraud and others have even showed that the safety claims of camera vendors are more propaganda than fact!  http://camerafraud.wordpress.com/2010/01/09/dps-2009-numbers-not-all-they-are-cracked-up-to-be/   Earlier this year a article published by www.thenewspaper.com looked at the US fatality rates (PUBLISHED BY NHTSA) and found that towns without speed cameras DID BETTER THAN PHOENIX!  http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/32/3268.asp 
 

Quote: "During 2008, accidents dropped an impressive 31.5 percent. According to BLS data, however, the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale area experienced the third-largest drop in employment in the country -- 86,800 jobs. Other areas, such as Greenbay, Wisconsin and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina saw greater accident reductions, 52.6 percent and 47.7 percent respectively, even though photo enforcement is banned in both states."

Ban the CAMS thinks it is time for a TEA party protest of the ILLEGAL RIDGELAND, SC I-95 tickets. So for those of you who intend not to pay this ILLEGAL CAMERA PROGRAM! DO WHAT OUR ANCESTORS DID WHEN THE KING TRIED TO TAX US TOO MUCH IN BOSTON, TOSS THE OFFENDING ITEMS OVERBOARD!  

TOSS THE ILLEGAL SPEED CAMERA TICKETS IN THE TRASH!

 LET THE TEA PARTY BEGIN!

(Note this is not legal advice, but a protest, if you want legal advice
see an attorney. http://attorney.motorists.org/South%20Carolina/ or
 http://www.scbar.org/public_services/find_a_lawyer/ )

 AG Opinions indicating the Ridgeland, SC camera is illegal:
 http://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2009/sc-cameraag.pdf and
 http://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2010/sc-julycam.pdf

 

Read more: RIDGELAND, SC I-95 ILLEGAL SPEED CAMERA TICKET TEA PARTY PROTEST!

   

CHICAGO RLC PROTEST 10/16/2010

http://theexpiredmeter.com/?p=7339

October 15th, 2010
Northwest Side Red Light Camera Protest Saturday
Cook County Campaign For Liberty will hit the streets again for their fifth red light camera protest this Saturday.

This time the anti-RLC crew will be at the intersection of Montrose & Milwaukee Ave. from 11:00 to 1:30 PM.

This protest is the fifth of a series of protests against the much hated red light cameras.

“Our strategy for this fall is to conduct several protests around the county throughout September and October to spread the word about Red Light Cam issues and call attention to the Cook County Board for passing the recent
RLC Ordinance,” explains protest organizer Scott Davis.

For more information check out ChicagoBanTheCams.com, and to RSVP, check out the group’s Facebook page.  http://www.campaignforliberty.com/profile.php?member=BanTheCams

 

   

Washington Times: O'Malley's spy cameras

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/6/omalleys-spy-cameras/

EDITORIAL: O'Malley's spy cameras
Maryland governor uses tax dollars to track your every move
By THE WASHINGTON TIMES

With great fanfare, Gov. Martin O'Malley on Wednesday announced his use of your tax dollars to track every move made by Maryland motorists. The Democratic chief executive will spend $2 million in federal grants to double the number of roadside and mobile spy cameras, with the data centrally collected at a "fusion center" accessible to government bureaucrats.

Like speed cameras and red-light cameras, Mr. O'Malley's license-plate recognition cameras photograph the plates of passing motorists. Within a matter of seconds, a computer system looks up the vehicle owner's identity and cross-references it against a "wanted" list after recording the time, date and GPS coordinates of the vehicle. All of this information will be stored at the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center located in Woodlawn, just outside Baltimore. Mr. O'Malley's plan is unique insofar as it allows tracking of persons of interest using cameras located in dozens of local jurisdictions. "We believe it's the first," Maryland State Police spokesman Gregory M. Shipley told The Washington Times. "It's certainly one of the first to network police [agencies] together like this."

In theory, the cameras could serve as an important crime-fighting tool. Mr. Shipley explained that the system could identify stolen cars, missing persons, wanted fugitives, violent gang members and terrorist suspects. Unfortunately, we know from the British experience that the system inevitably will expand to become a revenue-generating tool that tracks everyone. The previous Labor government advanced a plan that would have a camera watching every road in the country with travel records centrally stored for at least seven years. The purported crimes most often targeted by Britain's electronic Big Brother included use of a cell phone behind the wheel and failure to wear a seat belt - hardly the serious stuff claimed in justification of Mr. O'Malley's plan.

 

Read more: Washington Times: O'Malley's spy cameras

   

Quote of the Day: Jay Leno

http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/bldailyfeed3.htm

 

"The city of Los Angeles now rethinking its boycott of Arizona because the city's red light cameras are all owned by an Arizona-based company. See, red lights and speed cameras are a big source of revenue for the city. And the boycott of Arizona could mean no more red lights, no more cameras, no more tickets. I'm willing to make that sacrifice." –Jay Leno
 

   

Eyman to council: It’s your move

http://www.snoho.com/stories/June/061610_eyman.html
 
Eyman to council: It’s your move
MUKILTEO - Six-year-old Elijah Sherwood, son of Nick Sherwood from BanCams.com, wearing a camera on his head and a bright blue “Let Voters Decide” T-shirt, led the walk into City Hall in an effort to get the issue of red-light cameras before voters.
Initiative campaigner and Mukilteo resident, Tim Eyman, said he has enough signatures to put the issue of red-light cameras on the ballot. Eyman presented Mayor Joe Marine last week with 1,908 signatures, more than the required 15 percent of registered voters, to get the issue on the ballot.
The initiative would ask voters whether they want red-light cameras, would repeal the May 24 decision to allow them and would require a vote of the people if a future council brings the issue up again.
Eyman said he only needed 1,804 signatures to qualify for the ballot.
The signatures were collected during a two-week signature drive initiated by Eyman, Nick Sherwood and Alex Rion with Washington State Campaign for Liberty.
 

Read more: Eyman to council: It’s your move

   

Ban the Cams Video of Protest in Apopka Florida!

Banthecams.org, the National Motorist Association, and the Florida Civil Rights Association came together May 23rd to protest the Redlight Camera Scam! This video includes interviews with the protesters where they tell you plainly why they gave up a beautiful summer day in Florida to protest this government revenue scam. The interviews give excellent information about why these cameras are a bad idea, and why the people themselves should be allowed to vote on their use. If you want a quick and easy introduction to what is wrong with these cameras, then watch this video!

   

Temple Terrace Florida Protest Video Released

We have finally finished a compilation of some of the footage from the Temple Terrace Florida protest. The cops showed up after only 5 minutes at this protest, and eventually managed to shut it down. The police lied to us, and those lies are documented in the video. Take a look below. Be sure to visit the links to read more about the protest, and to make sure you know your rights in the event of a police confrontation.

Original article on the Temple Terrace protest.

Click here to read about your rights at a protest.

   
   

WARM WELCOME BY TEMPLE TERRACE PD AND ADVISORY LADY!

Ban the Cams got a warm and loving welcome from Temple Terrace PD and one Advisory Member! Us 4 protesters caused quite a ruckus in Temple Terrace.  (We didn’t even know we were so loved!)
WE all had quite a fun time.  We even have a video too that will be posted soon.

We would like to thank the Temple Terrace Advisory member who tried to argue with us on “reviewing” (*SEE NOTE BELOW) RLC tickets and the best she could do was call me an “idiot”.  Since we believe she made the call, if she did, we would like to thank her for calling the police on the PEACEFUL PROTEST!

This Police officer proceeded to tell us to remove our signs or hold them.  Even moving the signs off of right of way was verboten eventually.  He even told us we were not allowed to hand out flyers to motorists.  (NOTE according to the ACLU, WE CAN!) He told one of the protesters it was panhandling even though WE WEREN'T ASKING FOR A DIME!  Too bad we didn’t have bumper stickers, last week in Lakeland we handed out over 150 of them!

It got even better, we were asked to move our cars, CVS supposedly called and asked us to move our cars.  (One of the officers was nice enough to show us where we could park, THANK YOU BY THE WAY)..  Note, we are planning on asking for the police call record on CVS.  We just want to make sure they actually called the police complaining about our cars parked on their land (which they can do) and not pressured by the police to “do something” about our peaceful protest.

In all we had a lot of fun.  WE LOOK FORWARD TO GOING BACK WITH EVEN MORE PROTESTERS IN THE FUTURE!

Thanks for the WARM WELCOME TEMPLE TERRACE!  WE LOVE YA!

*Note:  (If you want to see the “accuracy” of such reviews or more to the point LACK.  Here are THREE EXAMPLES (All from towns THAT ATS operate in!)
1.   Baton Rouge, LA  http://blog.motorists.org/red-light-camera-tickets-innocent-driver-yet-again/   “The station eventually had to go to American Traffic Solutions (ATS), the ticket camera manufacturer, to get the citation dismissed for Mr. Carter.

So how do you fight an undeserved red light camera ticket in Baton Rouge? Unfortunately, the news station wasn’t able to get that answer for their viewers. Apparently the only way to do it is to embarrass the ticket camera company through the local media.

2.   St. Louis cited someone who SHOULD NEVER HAD BEEN CITED, but the “REVIEW” Process missed it. http://www.banthecams.org/20100420150/Driver-not-breaking-law-receives-ticket-because-of-red-light-camera.html 

3.   http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090925/COLUMNIST/909251022/2055/NEWS?Title=Sarasota-woman-s-red-light-camera-ticket-wrong-car-wrong-city   WRONG CAR, WRONG DRIVER, CITY REFUSED TO ADMIT IT MADE A MISTAKE UNTIL DMV CALLED!

 

   

5 RLC PROTEST IN WASHINGTON STATE on 4/24/2010! INITIATIVE PLANNED TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE!

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/24/1161296/the-common-mans-paparazzi.html
 
 
5 traffic camera protests planned today
Traffic cams: Groups form to protest governments raising funds with red-light, speed cameras
 
Dean J. Koepfler   THE NEWS TRIBUNE
Saying that traffic cameras, including red light cameras, are used to generate revenue rather than promote safety, members of Bancams.com, a local anti-traffic-camera group, bring their message to Lakewood in March. The man in the box is Pete Chamberlain of Lakewood.
MORE PHOTOS
 

TRAFFIC CAMERA PROTESTS
When: 1 p.m. today
Fife: Pacific Highway East and 54th Avenue East
Lacey: Pacific Avenue Southeast and Sleater-Kinney Road Southeast
Renton: Rainier Avenue and Southwest Grady Way
Bremerton: Kitsap Way and Marine Drive
Lynnwood: 196th Street Southwest and 44th Avenue West
Information: www.bancams.com

 
COLE COSGROVE; Staff writer
Published: 04/24/1012:05 am | Updated: 04/24/10 1:57 pm

To get the attention of passing drivers, Nick Sherwood covered his head with a giant cardboard box shaped like a traffic camera. A sign that hung from his neck said, “Will Flash For Ca$h.”
Nearby, others held signs with slogans such as “Honk if you hate cams” and “Safety before profit.”
Above them, they counted 11 photo-enforcement cameras that snapped away at passing vehicles in the intersection of state Route 512 and South Tacoma Way.
“We saw tickets being issued every minute, every time the light was changing,” said Tim Stocker of Tacoma, who was among two dozen camera critics who staged their first protest last month in Lakewood. “They’d get caught in the wide intersection, because the traffic would pile up. Boom, there’s another” $101 ticket.
This afternoon, protesters again will target cameras at five intersections in Western Washington. The protests are part of an organized effort to eventually get a statewide ban on the cameras, which aim to capture speeders or red-light runners.
Sherwood, 35, and wife Tiffany, 32, will be at Pacific Highway and 54th Avenue East in Fife. Other demonstrations are planned in Lacey, Renton, Bremerton and Lynnwood.
The Sherwoods, who are Puyallup residents, started the anti-camera group early this year.
“We had been discussing taking up the issue with some of our friends after watching the cameras increase in numbers and function,” Nick Sherwood said. “We heard many of our friends complaining about the cameras, so we decided to take a look at them. What we found was pretty unsettling.”
As their movement gained momentum, Tiffany created a website called “bancams.com.”
“I wanted to protest the cameras because the politicians don’t want to get rid of them since they are making money from them,” she said. “So maybe if they know how many people are against the cameras, they might not be so eager to keep them or put more in, or hopefully they would have a change of heart and remove them altogether. For instance, not one person on the Puyallup City Council opposed putting in the cameras. But if there is public outrage, they might think twice about it if it comes up for a vote again.”
Tacoma, Fife, Lakewood, Puyallup, Lacey and Federal Way all have traffic cameras. Municipalities split income from the cameras with the companies contracted to run them.
Bancams.com lists 17 reasons to ban the cameras, including the burden on the innocent, conflict of interest, and lack of audit and oversight.

Read more: 5 RLC PROTEST IN WASHINGTON STATE on 4/24/2010! INITIATIVE PLANNED TO LET THE VOTERS DECIDE!

   

Sykesville's, MD citizens GET TO VOTE ON BANNING SPEED CAMERAS!

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/mnsy_sykesville-speed-camera-referendum-set-for-may-around-town-876843.html

Mar 28, 2010 (Carroll Eagle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --

Start your engines: Sykesville voters will get the chance to say "yes" or "no" on the issue of speed cameras in their town.

On March 22, Sykesville's mayor and Town Council voted, 6-0, to schedule a referendum on the town's speed camera ordinance -- Ordinance No. 271 "Speed Monitoring Systems." The election will be May 4 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Town House, 7547 Main St., in Sykesville. The election is a result of resident Chris Martin collecting 401 petition signatures from town voters and delivering them to the town March 14, thus forcing a referendum on the speed camera measure.

 

Read more: Sykesville's, MD citizens GET TO VOTE ON BANNING SPEED CAMERAS!

   

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