Taking on the Government

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_385c5896-a455-11e0-8cb9-001cc4c002e0.html

Traffic camera opponents 'plugging along' with petition
 

By Amy M.E. Fischer / The Daily News The Daily News Online | Posted: Friday, July 1, 2011 9:15 pm |
 
 
Opponents of Longview’s red-light and speed cameras have until 6 p.m. Tuesday to submit 890 valid signatures to the city clerk to qualify their initiative petition for a November ballot measure.

For the last couple weeks, the petition’s sponsors, Longview residents Mike Wallin and Tim Sutinen, have raced to gather the additional signatures after learning that almost half of the 3,675 signatures they’d already collected for the petition were invalid. Many of the signers either didn’t live within city limits or weren’t registered voters, according to the Cowlitz County auditor.

On June 23, the Cowlitz County auditor certified the official count: 1,940 of the signatures were valid and 1,735 weren’t. To force a public vote on using red-light cameras and school speed-zone cameras in Longview, the petition needed 2,830 signatures, representing 15 percent of the voters in the last general election.

By law, the petition sponsors had another 10 days following the certification to submit the required signatures. That put the deadline at July 3, a Sunday. Monday is a national holiday, and so the amended petition is due Tuesday, according to City Manager Bob Gregory.

Meanwhile, the city has filed a lawsuit asking a Superior Court judge to invalidate the petition, which the city argues falls beyond the scope of local initiative power. The city also is asking the judge to prohibit the county auditor from including the initiative on the August or November ballots. The hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. July 11.

Thursday, Wallin said his signature-gathering team was "keeping our heads down and moving forward and plugging along."

"It’s tough," he said. "We’re going door-to-door, right down the voter registration list and making sure we get good, good signatures."

They’ve gathered several hundred signatures so far, he said, unsure of the exact tally. However, the city’s lawsuit has hurt their efforts, he said.

It’s been a struggle getting volunteers because they "don’t want to waste time on something we’re getting sued over," Wallin said. And when residents answer their doors, they say, "Isn’t the city suing you over this?" he said.

Then the volunteers must spend precious time educating people about the issue, he said.

"Hopefully, we’ll make it," Wallin added.

Even if the petition effort fails, voters will have a chance to voice their opinions on the cameras — but the results will be non-binding. On June 23, the Longview City Council voted 6-1 to place two advisory measures on the November ballot. One measure asks voters if they want to continue using red-light cameras at intersections after May 1, 2012. The other asks if voters want to keep speed cameras in school zones.
 

No More Red Light Cameras In Murrieta:  Signature Location 7/1/2011

July 1 - Come sign the petition or register to vote at Stater Brothers on Hancock in Murrieta. 8 to 2 and then 4 to 6 pm.

http://heraldnet.com/article/20110629/NEWS01/706299818

Published: Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Monroe initiative would repeat objections to traffic cameras

By Scott North, Herald Writer

MONROE -- If at first you don't succeed, file another initiative.

The people behind Monroe Initiative No. 1 aren't taking kindly to the Monroe City Council's decision last week to head to court to block a vote on traffic-enforcement cameras.

On Wednesday those who supported Initiative No. 1 announced a new measure that, if it becomes law, would require an advisory vote on the cameras during each election cycle.

The advisory votes would continue as long as Monroe decides to use the cameras to ticket people who roll through red lights or speed in school zones.

Tim Eyman, the Mukilteo initiative activist who helped the first Monroe measure land enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot, said city officials could not be compelled to listen to voters, "but there is nothing to stop the voters from continually telling (them) what they want."

The new initiative is a means to "give the voters of Monroe the opportunity to register their frustration with their elected officials" and to force votes, several if necessary, on the idea of using traffic-enforcement cameras in Monroe, Eyman added.

The form for the proposed new initiative features on its reverse side photographs of Monroe city leaders, and suggests they supported traffic-camera companies, not voters. The language of the measure says in part: "The voters want the Mayor and City Council to employ the same zeal and determination they displayed when they sued their own citizens and utilize their lawyers to find every way possible to get out of the contract with the red-light camera company and if necessary, to pay off the company now so the cameras can be removed immediately."

Eyman said that backers plan to mail copies of the initiative to everyone who signed Initiative 1.

Copies of the new proposed measure can be found at: http://bancams.com/petition/monroe2/

The city council June 21 unanimously approved a resolution declaring Monroe Initiative No. 1 is in conflict with state law. The city also is bound by a contract signed in 2009 with the camera company, Arizona-based Redflex Traffic Systems. The contract runs until 2013.

They planned this week to seek a judge's approval to keep the measure off the ballot.

The first initiative sought to remove enforcement cameras that already have been installed in Monroe, and to reduce fines from camera-generated tickets. The initiative also would require voter approval before any more enforcement cameras can be installed.

The city sent the council's resolution to the Snohomish County Auditor's Office last week. Its lawyers have since been drawing up legal paperwork to seek a Snohomish County Superior Court judge's ruling challenging the validity of the initiative.
 

http://blog.photoenforced.com/2011/06/do-all-red-light-camera-intersections.html

Do All Red Light Camera Intersections Have Warning Signs?
by DeadZones.com | Monday, June 27, 2011 | California, Laws, red light cameras, warning devices, warning notice | 0 comments »

Every Camera Enforced Intersection DOES NOT Have Warning Signs

The California Vehicle Code only requires that warning signs be posted to notify drivers of camera enforced intersections and that these signs be posted either at all approaches to the intersection or at all main entrances into a city including (freeways, bridges, and state highway routes).

Have you ever wondered why there are photo enforced warning signs for red light cameras at some intersections but not all them? The vehicle code VC§ 21455.5 says (a) (1), “Warning signs must be posted at each camera-equipped intersection and visible to traffic approaching from all directions, or at all the main entrances to town including, at a minimum, freeways, bridges, and state highway routes." The purpose of this law is to make sure that drivers are warned in all instances where there is red light camera enforcement.

Many times you will see warning signs posted right next to the traffic signal light, however not always. Sometimes warning signs might even be posted at the previous, non- camera enforced intersection which can be misleading or cause confusion. So while a City may not be in violation of the Vehicle Code requirements if they don’t have warning signs placed at the intersection (since they have a choice in the placement), if any signs you do find are blocked or damaged in a such a way you can’t see them, then you may have something that can help you in getting your ticket dismissed because warning signs do have to be reasonably visible. Be sure to take pictures of the signs to show they are not visible and take them to court with you or include them with your Trial by Written Declaration if you choose to fight your ticket in writing using form TR-205 (available at your local courthouse).

Read more: Do All Red Light Camera Intersections Have Warning Signs

http://www.skepticaljuror.com/2011/06/interview-with-ace-foreman-annotated.html

The Skeptical Juror Archive
 
Monday, June 27, 2011
My Interview with Ace Foreman, Annotated
 
I previously presented an email interview with Will Foreman. http://www.skepticaljuror.com/2011/06/i-interview-speeding-ticket-ace-will.html  If you will recall, (even if you won't), Will Foreman has received 40 automated speeding tickets from Forest Heights, Maryland. When Maryland eventually grants him his day in court, sometimes after more than a year's delay, he acquits himself so well that the judge has acquitted him each time. With five or more victories, Will Smith is now an ace at beating automated speeding tickets.

Will's defense consists of overlaying the two images of "his" car that are provided with each of his tickets, and showing that "he" could not have been speeding because of the distance covered in the time difference between the photographs. I put "his" and "he" in quotes since the cars typically are his Eastover Auto Supply company car and the drivers are his employees.

The tickets are clearly a state-sponsored bunko racket that suck millions of dollars out of the pockets of the Maryland citizenry while the city, state, and device manufacturer get rich. The authorities know (or absolutely should know) that the automated system fails frequently and egregiously. Out of the 40 tickets Will Foreman has received, for example, he believes he can successfully defend all 40 in court.  The photos will show that he was travelling near 35 when the laser system claimed he was travelling as fast as 70 mph.

Maryland will make Will Foreman pay for his insolence, one way or the other. Make no mistake about that. They will threaten to withhold the registration on his vehicles, since he has unpaid tickets, though they won't hear his case in court. They will make him go to court to fight one or two tickets at a time, losing at least one-half day's work each time. They will charge him court fees well beyond the cost of the ticket, assuming he was willing to simply pay the ticket by mail.

I've been interested in this situation since I first heard of it. To me, these small-time wrongful convictions are a microcosm of our country's big-time wrongful conviction problem.  While people can't envision themselves being wrongfully convicted of robbery, rape, or murder, they can envision themselves being ripped off by The Man for a speeding ticket.

Read more: The Skeptical Juror Archive: My Interview with Ace Foreman

East Cleveland and Cleveland, OH PETITION DRIVE Location on June 29, 2011!

http://cameraremovalteam.wordpress.com/2011/06/25/east-cleveland-wants-the-cameras-down/

East Cleveland Wants the Cameras Down!

East Cleveland and Cleveland petitions to get on the November, 2011 ballot will be in circulation at the corner of Lee Rd. and Euclid Ave. from 5PM-7PM on Wednesday, June 29, 2011. You will see us on the corner under the shadowy presence of a red light camera. Just pull into the parking lot at McCall’s Hotel and sign the petition. We have petitions available from East Cleveland, Cleveland and South Euclid. If you haven’t had the opportunity to sign the petition for your community yet, be there Wednesday night. It takes a minute to sign the petition and you will be glad you did.

Haven’t gotten a red light camera ticket yet? It’s just a matter of time. Help us, help you. With enough signatures, the voters of Cleveland, East Cleveland and South Euclid will have the chance to vote on this issue.

Remember, we are 15-0 when this issue is placed on the ballot.

15 communities across the United States have already voted to ban the cameras. Here is some older data on the first 9 communities that banned the cams.

Join us!

If you can assist with petition circulation, please call 216-503-2238 and leave a message.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/06/25/cops-try-to-muzzle-photo-radar-watchdog

Cops try to muzzle photo-radar watchdog
By Ross Romaniuk ,Winnipeg Sun
First posted: Saturday, June 25, 2011 6:26:49 CDT PM 
 
 

Wise-Up Winnipeg claims city police officers are hassling its volunteers to keep them from alerting motorists to the presence of mobile enforcement units and photo-radar vans. One volunteer says a cop even threatened to try to charge him.

(BRIAN DONOGH/Winnipeg Sun files)

A group opposing Winnipeg’s use of what it calls predatory photo-radar tactics claims city police are intimidating its volunteers who use signs to warn drivers about speed cameras.

After Wise-Up Winnipeg recently stepped up its efforts to warn motorists about mobile enforcement units and the city’s “entrapment” to boost fine revenue, the group said Thursday that it’s being hassled by police in an effort to keep the revenue pouring in.

“This is simply the Winnipeg Police Service’s reaction to Wise-Up Winnipeg’s ‘taking it to the street’ campaign,” Chris Sweryda told the Winnipeg Sun of an incident on Tuesday in which an officer confiscated two of the grassroots organization’s signs that say, “$low down, photo enforcement ahead.”

While Sweryda, 23, used the signs on Sturgeon Road to warn motorists of a camera-equipped vehicle parked north of Ness Avenue, a cop riding a motorcycle pulled up and talked to the photo-radar van’s driver. The officer then talked to Sweryda, who videotaped much of the encounter, about the signs. The cop seized the signs before leaving.

“He took my licence and registration, and said he is going to go through bylaws and try to figure out if he can charge me with something,” Sweryda said, accusing police and ACS Public Sector Solutions — a contractor providing the mobile camera units — of working together against Wise-Up to keep the “cash cow” going.

“It’s obviously a joint effort. (The officer) spent as much time talking to the photo radar operator as he spent talking to me. If this was simply an issue of me putting signs on the road, what has it got to do with the photo radar?”

Wise-Up Winnipeg has long pointed to a wider problem surrounding the city’s placement of speed limit signs where drivers don’t easily see them, such as one along southbound Moray Street that is high and well hidden behind trees just north of Ness Avenue.

But the police attempts to keep Wise-Up’s signs off the streets, said group spokesman Dave MacKay, go across an ethical and legal line.

“We see it as harassment,” MacKay said. “And intimidation — no question.”

Police did not return a call for comment.

Ban the Cams note:  WE WONDER WHY.  Maybe it is because the police BROKE THE LAW THEMESELVES!

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ghhZpe3hySojm8widX9VZeWkYrwg?docId=848f53578c0c44b2a939087658a5c8b9

Wash. teen crusades against ticketing traffic cams
By MIKE BAKER, Associated Press – 15 hours ago

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Josh Sutinen isn't old enough to vote and only got his driver's license last month, but he's already among the leaders in a growing national backlash against cameras that issue traffic tickets.

The 17-year-old has worked for most of this year — frequently on school nights — pushing an initiative to ban Longview's new red-light and speed cameras. He's now in the final stages of a signature-collection effort that has him fighting city council and asking fellow citizens to join his crusade.

"These cameras are really just another big government attack on our rights," Sutinen said in an interview. "It's just taxation through citation."

Sutinen's plan is one of four similar ballot proposals around Washington this year. Voters in more than a dozen cities nationwide have passed referendums banning the cameras while nine states now prohibit them.

Officials in Los Angeles, where a single ticket can cost hundreds of dollars, moved this week to end a camera program there. Opponents question whether the cameras actually improve safety, noting that many citations are issued to drivers who simply don't fully stop as they take free right turns at red lights. They also believe governments are largely using the cameras as a revenue source.

Washington's activists hope to repeat the local success that state initiative guru Tim Eyman had in his hometown of Mukilteo last year. A group in Bellingham turned in nearly 7,000 signatures this week, and a movement in Redmond is still collecting.

Some city leaders are fighting to save the programs: On Tuesday night, Monroe officials moved to block an initiative from the ballot after promoters got enough signatures validated.

The Longview plan led by Sutinen needs about 2,800 signatures and to win a legal battle against the city. Supporters have turned in 3,628 but believe they will need hundreds more in the coming weeks after officials finish sorting through which ones are valid.

Longview has about a dozen cameras covering three intersections and two school zones. Mayor Kurt Anagnostou said he is sensitive to the concerns about the cameras and initially opposed them himself — until he got feedback from the public about red-light runners and intersection accidents.

"I heard from enough citizens that we have a problem in Longview," Anagnostou said. "They changed my opinion."

The city began a one-year trial of the cameras this year, and Anagnostou said the program has made people more aware at intersections.

Sutinen is certainly aware. He avoids the traffic cameras at all costs, taking detours that extend his three-mile commute to five. Even before he had a driver's license, Sutinen said he hated the idea of the cameras and sought help from Eyman, who provided the initiative's wording.

Comparatively, local initiatives in Washington can be more challenging that statewide ones because they typically require activists to gather signatures equaling 15 percent of voters registered in the area during the previous election. Statewide initiatives require signatures totaling 8 percent of the number of people who voted for governor in the previous election.

Supporters believe the proposals in Longview, Monroe and Redmond would be the first local initiatives to reach the ballot in those cities.

Longview leaders are looking to block the proposal, contending that the issue is not subject to the initiative process. They have instead proposed that the public take an advisory vote on the matter.

The nine states that have banned red-light cameras are Arkansas, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, West Virginia and Wisconsin, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Arizona did not renew its speed enforcement camera program last year. Several other states have passed laws limiting the use of camera enforcement.

Sutinen's father, Tim Sutinen, said his son approached him late last year asking if he wanted to sponsor an initiative on the street cameras. The older Sutinen declined, saying he didn't have the time to pursue it.

So Josh Sutinen took it on himself.

Tim Sutinen said he was proud of his son for taking a stand but also felt sorry for him during the weeks he spent standing outside of stores in freezing, wet weather trying to gather signatures.

"It's miserable, and there's not much thanks for it," Sutinen said. "But he did it. He has the tenacity and the perseverance to do it."

The younger Sutinen said he hopes others will see that the initiatives are possible and consider additional ones in the future as a way to keep local government in check.

"I would love to have more of these," Sutinen said. "It would be awesome."

Mike Baker can be reached at http://twitter.com/MikeBakerAP

BREAKING NEWS:  Longview, WA might be caving.  Might allow "advisory" vote.

special thanks to the National Motorists Association www.motorists.org for the link.  A Beacon in dark times!

Ban the Cams note:  Seems Longview politicians are strating to realize that ignoring the voters is a BAD IDEA.  (see earlier link on it:  http://www.banthecams.org/201105261254/Longview-WA-to-Voters-YOU-DON-T-MATTER-Longview-is-NOT-DEMOCRACTIC.html)

(Ban the Cams note 2, wonder what ASTRO TURF ATS will put out on this one!)

http://tdn.com/article_3aa94b68-9d43-11e0-8496-001cc4c002e0.html

City Council vote

Posted: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 7:47 pm

At 7 Thursday night, the Longview City Council will formally decide whether to hold a November public advisory vote about continued use of traffic enforcement cameras.

The council will consider adopting two separate resolutions for the advisory votes, one for red-light cameras and one for school-zone speed cameras. In both cases, Longview voters would be asked whether the city should keep the cameras after their trial period ends in May 2012.

The council previously directed staff to prepare for a traffic camera advisory vote in November; tonight's action would formalize that decision.

In addition, the council will be asked to confirm the retention of Seattle attorney Stephen DiJulio to help represent the city in legal actions involving the cameras.

At a hearing at 9:30 a.m. Monday in Cowlitz County Superior Court, a judge will consider the city's request to invalidate a citizens' initiative petition regarding the cameras. The city contends the measure is invalid because it falls beyond the scope of local initiative power. The city also is asking the judge to prohibit the county auditor from including the initiative on the August or November ballots.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2015386912_bruce22.html

Bruce Ramsey / Times editorial columnist

Democracy in action: Mukilteo's success gives green light to efforts to stop traffic cameras
 

Seattle Times Columnist Bruce Ramsey writes of the movements in six Washington cities to take down automated traffic cameras.

 
By Bruce Ramsey

Seattle Times editorial columnist

A year ago, Tim Eyman and his allies were collecting signatures for an initiative to stop the traffic cameras in Mukilteo. On Nov. 2, their effort, Mukilteo Initiative 2, won 71 percent of the vote.

The fight has moved to other cities.

In Longview, it is led by Michael Wallin, 27, a real-estate broker, and in Monroe, by Ty Balascio, 37, a program manager at Microsoft.

In Wenatchee the enemy of cameras is Matt Erickson, 49, who dresses in Revolutionary garb and sells "Freedom Franks" from a sidewalk cart.

In Redmond it's Scott Harlan, 49, a former executive with First Mutual Bank.

In Bellingham, the effort is led by Johnny Weaver, 27, a student at Whatcom Community College and Ron Paul supporter who fancies a career as a community organizer.

All of these men lean right. All say, however, that their issue cuts across political lines. Weaver wins support in lefty Bellingham by noting that the municipality is joining forces with a for-profit corporation (bad!), American Traffic Solutions, which is based in Arizona (bad!) and partly owned by Goldman Sachs (really bad!).

Longview doorbeller Josh Sutinen, 17, says folks in tonier neighborhoods are divided over machines that send out $124 tickets, "but in poorer neighborhoods, almost 100 percent of the people are against them."

In most Washington cities, voters have never used the initiative power. Now they discover how much their leaders hate it. Several cities have tried to keep the measure off the ballot, and the rest of them might.

In Wenatchee, the city sued Erickson, the hot-dog vendor, who didn't have an attorney. American Traffic Solutions' attorney, Vanessa Power of Stoel, Rives in Seattle, intervened and won a ruling from Judge John Bridges of Chelan County Superior Court that Initiative 1 was "beyond the scope of the initiative power" and could not be on the ballot.

In Longview, the City Council voted not to turn over the signatures for Initiative 1 to the county auditor for verification. The activists sued and last week the city turned in the signatures. It continues to claim in Cowlitz County Superior Court that the measure is "beyond the scope of the initiative power." Meanwhile Wallin and several allies are running for City Council.

In Monroe, Initiative 1 was certified for the ballot Friday. At press time, the City Council was about to decide what to do about it.

In Bellingham, the signatures were turned in Monday. Mayor Dan Pike has signed a contract that allows American Traffic Solutions to sue for a declaration that the measure is illegal. Pike is in a re-election contest with former state Rep. Kelli Linville, Democrat, who has said the initiative should be allowed to proceed.

In Redmond, Harlan is collecting signatures.

Meanwhile, on May 24, Mukilteo was at the Washington Supreme Court, where Vanessa Power was arguing against the city on behalf of "Mukilteo Citizens for Simple Government," a group nobody had ever heard of, and that Justice Jim Johnson suggested might be shielding "a hidden client."  (ATS, read more here from last year:   http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/32/3260.asp, on the bottom was the judges ruling against MCSG just before the public vote BANNING TRAFFIC CAMERAS!)

Mukilteo's law against red-light cameras is invalid, Power argued, because it is beyond the scope, etc. The city, which never wanted the law but is obliged to defend it, argued that Mukilteo Initiative 2 is valid because it was not really an initiative, but only an advisory measure.

And democracy rolls on.

http://murrieta.patch.com/articles/movement-to-ban-red-light-cameras-in-murrieta-gathers-steam

Movement to Ban Red Light Cameras in Murrieta Gathers Steam
More than 3,800 residents have signed a petition, asking city officials to take down the cameras.

By Maggie Avants | Email the author | June 21, 2011

Those milling around the Father's Day Car Show in Murrieta on Sunday might have been approached to sign a petition.

Murrieta resident Diana Serafin is leading an effort--Ban the Cams--to get the city's red light cameras taken down.

"We plan to be at the Birthday Bash, too," said Serafin Monday, referring to the City of Murrieta's 20th Birthday Bash, scheduled for Sunday at California Oaks Sports Park.

She can also be seen most days in front of Walmart, Stater Bros. or Albertson's, or walking door-to-door gathering signatures. She also offers voter registration as part of the signature drive.

Serafin must gather 4,500 signatures by September in order for an initiative to remove the cameras to appear on the ballot. By Sunday, Serafin said she had reached more than 3,850. Once all the signatures are verified, the initiative will be passed on for a decision by City Council, which can approve or decide to add it to the next election.

Read more: More info on Murrieta Movement to BAN RLC! Also usually PR from city and ATS!

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/06/20/1713912/bellingham-anti-camera-initiative.html

(While ATS and others say people "support" the RLC scam", more revolts continue to grow).

Bellingham anti-camera initiative backers submit nearly 7,000 signatures

FACEBOOK ACTIVITY  JARED PABEN; THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
Published: 06/20/11 6:17 pm

  
BELLINGHAM - Supporters of the initiative restricting traffic-enforcement cameras turned in nearly 7,000 signatures Monday, June 20.

They need 3,880 valid signatures from Bellingham voters to qualify for the November ballot.

"I'm really excited we got just shy of 7,000," said Johnny Weaver, a member of Transportation Safety Coalition, which backed the initiative. "I think that sends a really big message to the City Council and all of the politicians to allow it to go to the vote."

The group submitted the signatures to the city, which will give them to the Whatcom County Auditor's Office for signature verification. They submitted 875 signature pages, said city spokeswoman Janice Keller.

They had until Friday to submit the signatures.

The initiative, similar to those in other cities also backed by initiative activist Tim Eyman, would require removal of any red-light cameras and school-zone speed cameras that have been installed, and would require voter approval if the city wanted to install them in the future.

It also would restrict the dollar amount of fines to the equivalent of the least-expensive parking ticket, which is currently $10.

The city plans to install four red-light cameras at intersections and two speed cameras in two school zones. The cameras haven't gone in yet, but officials have estimated they'd be installed around mid- to late-September.

If the city initiative qualifies, it first goes to the City Council, which could approve it. If the council rejects it, ignores it or passes a different version, then the original language goes to the ballot.

Pete Griffin, elections supervisor at the Auditor's Office, said that because they submitted nearly 7,000 signatures "it's very unlikely that they won't have enough."

The city plans to pass the signatures to his office Wednesday, and his office will begin processing them June 27, he said. He estimated they would finish checking signatures June 30.

Once they confirm the required number of valid signatures - those from registered voters living inside city limits - they'll provide a certificate of sufficiency.

Griffin estimated roughly 15 percent to 20 percent of signatures could be invalid, but it depends on how well petitioners communicated with people on the street, he said.

I got a Lynnwood Red Light ticket in the regular mail. My truck is currently registered in AZ. Redflex is illegal there and can not issue tickets because they don't have a Private Investigators license. ATS contracts with Redflex in Phoenix. I own my truck outright with a title in my name in Arizona. This is a unique case. No registerd or certified mail was sent to me. They sent teh notice to my brand new PO BOX in Renton. In Arizona that doesn't fly and you must be served by certified mail. Under the 10th Amendment, the State of Washington must obey Arizona laws while their state citizens are in Washington. The city of Lynnwood has no jurisdiction and therefore neither does the cop. I applied for a bz license recently in Renton, Wa. And, the light was green when I approached to turn right and turned yellow and never turned red while I went through. The photos show I am right. What does the Driver's Eduction manual for Washington say? The officer who was not present and did not personally pull me over is committing fraud when he states that I went through a red light or "steady." Steady what? Only a red light is considered a violation? And did Redflex or ATS working for Redflex give this officer my Arizona information? I got my driver's license in Az. and stated on the form not to have my information given out. Only Felonies violations can allow law enforcement agencies to exchange data. An Red light infraction from a damn city is not a Felony. This could be a landmark case to remove all Lynnwood redcams. I have a pre-law degree in Political Science from CSUS and have worked for several law firms.
> > Feedback?

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23961561-warden-parks-his-cctv-car-illegally-to-go-shopping.do

Warden parks his CCTV car illegally... to go shopping
Evening Standard   17 Jun 2011

Not so smart: the Westminster council Smart car is parked on double yellow lines so its driver can go shopping

This is the moment a London parking warden in a CCTV "spy" car parked on double yellow lines - to go shopping for his dinner.

Motorist Arben Kaba was astounded to see the man park his Smart car and disappear into a Sainsbury's in Mayfair only to amble out shortly afterwards with a carrier bag.

The warden, working for Westminster council contractor NSL, tried to hide in the queue for the till when he saw Mr Kaba filming him on his mobile phone.

Westminster council today promised to get NSL to investigate. Mr Kaba, 37, a chauffeur from Hampstead, said: "I noticed the car pulling up and saw the warden going inside the store. There's one law for drivers and another for these people who are supposed to uphold the parking rules.

"I feel these Smart cars generate money for Westminster council.

"A friend of mine was fined for just stopping for a minute to drop passengers on a single yellow line."

(Thanks to Ban Traffic Cameras in Washington State for the link!)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20110617/NEWS01/706179828

Monroe traffic-camera initiative gets enough signatures
By Alejandro Dominguez, Herald Writer
advertisement | your ad here
 MONROE -- An initiative that seeks to put traffic-enforcement cameras to a vote has received enough signatures.

Now, the Monroe City Council can decide either to adopt the ordinance's restrictions on cameras as new law, or put it on the ballot for voters to decide.

Monroe Initiative No. 1 -- the first initiative in city history -- seeks to remove cameras that have been installed and to reduce fines from camera-generated tickets. The initiative also would require voter approval before any more enforcement cameras can be installed.

The Snohomish County Auditor's Office on Friday determined there are more than enough signatures from Monroe voters for the initiative to be valid. More than 2,100 signatures were submitted by supporters. The auditor's office stopped counting at 1,009 valid signatures. The measure needed 999.

Stopping the count is common practice after the required number has been met, county elections manager Garth Fell said.

Supporters were ecstatic.

"The initiative isn't asking voters 'are ticketing cameras good or bad?' It's asking 'who should decide: the people or the politicians?'" Mukilteo initiative activist Tim Eyman said in an email. "The outpouring of support for Monroe Initiative No. 1 shows that the people want to be the decision makers."

Eyman helped with the Monroe initiative after spearheading a similar effort last year that was successful in Mukilteo.

On Thursday, Monroe police began issuing $124 fines to people who roll through red lights in front of traffic enforcement cameras. Through June 22, they also will be using cameras to issue speeding tickets in school zones in front of Fryelands Elementary School on Fryelands Boulevard and Frank Wagner Elementary School on Main Street.

Mayor Robert Zimmerman has asked for an executive session with the city council Tuesday night to discuss the initiative. City officials say the discussion can occur behind closed doors because it involves legal matters.

Monroe has a contract with Arizona-based Redflex Traffic Systems. It earlier approved an ordinance allowing traffic cameras.

"We will wait until we hear from legal counsel and the council for direction" on what to do with the initiative, Zimmerman said.

The signatures were gathered by members of Seeds of Liberty, an activist group. Group founder Ty Balascio was happy the petition got enough signatures. He believes the issue will get even more attention now that the police are issuing tickets.

"It affects more people directly," he said.

Eyman is working with others in Longview and Bellingham who are pressing their cities for votes on cameras.

"Monroe is the first domino to fall," he said.

(Thanks to Ban Traffic Cameras in Washington State for the link!)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20110617/NEWS01/706179828

Monroe traffic-camera initiative gets enough signatures
By Alejandro Dominguez, Herald Writer
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 MONROE -- An initiative that seeks to put traffic-enforcement cameras to a vote has received enough signatures.

Now, the Monroe City Council can decide either to adopt the ordinance's restrictions on cameras as new law, or put it on the ballot for voters to decide.

Monroe Initiative No. 1 -- the first initiative in city history -- seeks to remove cameras that have been installed and to reduce fines from camera-generated tickets. The initiative also would require voter approval before any more enforcement cameras can be installed.

The Snohomish County Auditor's Office on Friday determined there are more than enough signatures from Monroe voters for the initiative to be valid. More than 2,100 signatures were submitted by supporters. The auditor's office stopped counting at 1,009 valid signatures. The measure needed 999.

Stopping the count is common practice after the required number has been met, county elections manager Garth Fell said.

Supporters were ecstatic.

"The initiative isn't asking voters 'are ticketing cameras good or bad?' It's asking 'who should decide: the people or the politicians?'" Mukilteo initiative activist Tim Eyman said in an email. "The outpouring of support for Monroe Initiative No. 1 shows that the people want to be the decision makers."

Eyman helped with the Monroe initiative after spearheading a similar effort last year that was successful in Mukilteo.

On Thursday, Monroe police began issuing $124 fines to people who roll through red lights in front of traffic enforcement cameras. Through June 22, they also will be using cameras to issue speeding tickets in school zones in front of Fryelands Elementary School on Fryelands Boulevard and Frank Wagner Elementary School on Main Street.

Mayor Robert Zimmerman has asked for an executive session with the city council Tuesday night to discuss the initiative. City officials say the discussion can occur behind closed doors because it involves legal matters.

Monroe has a contract with Arizona-based Redflex Traffic Systems. It earlier approved an ordinance allowing traffic cameras.

"We will wait until we hear from legal counsel and the council for direction" on what to do with the initiative, Zimmerman said.

The signatures were gathered by members of Seeds of Liberty, an activist group. Group founder Ty Balascio was happy the petition got enough signatures. He believes the issue will get even more attention now that the police are issuing tickets.

"It affects more people directly," he said.

Eyman is working with others in Longview and Bellingham who are pressing their cities for votes on cameras.

"Monroe is the first domino to fall," he said.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/06/16/1709141/bellingham-traffic-camera-opponents.html

Bellingham traffic camera opponents to collect final signatures Saturday

JARED PABEN; THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
Published: 06/16/11 5:01 pm

BELLINGHAM - The group backing the initiative that would restrict traffic-enforcement cameras is planning one last signature drive before they submit signatures.

Transportation Safety Coalition will gather petition signatures from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Chestnut Street. Then they'll gather them starting at 6 p.m. at Boulevard Park before the free concert by The Paperboys.

The initiative would require removing any red-light and speed-enforcement cameras, and it would require voter approval if the city wanted to install them again. It would also limit the dollar amount of tickets issued under the program.

They need 3,880 signatures from Bellingham voters.

Because the voters have to live inside Bellingham, they want to hold one last signature drive "to feel completely comfortable about turning in the amount of valid signatures we require," according to group press release. The group plans to submit signatures Monday, June 20.

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/35/3508.asp

Monroe, Washington Anti-Camera Referendum Advances

Effort to put photo enforcement on the ballot in Monroe, Washington turns in double the signatures needed to qualify.

Residents of Monroe, Washington are one step closer to having the opportunity to vote in November on whether or not they wish to continue using red light cameras and speed cameras. Monroe city officials this week handed over stacks of petitions to the Snohomish County auditor who will determine whether 999 valid signatures have been gathered out of the 2120 names turned in by Seeds of Liberty's Ty Balascio.  http://www.seedsofliberty.org/

Last month the group handed in the first batch of 1250 signatures, but the count came up short of the goal by 375. A total of 635 signatures came from voters just outside the city limits, and 48 from validly registered residents who had accidentally signed the petition twice -- under state law, both signatures are invalidated in the case of duplicates. On June 9, anti-camera activists supplemented the total with another 870 names, which they believe will be more than enough to qualify for the ballot.

"An outpouring of support from across the community enabled the success we achieved today," Balascio wrote in a message to supporters. "Concerned citizens with no history in activism volunteered time to knock on doors all across town. Businesses supported our efforts to collect signatures in front of their stores. Many businesses placed our initiative on their countertops to collect signatures directly! Over 200 of you took time to sign the initiative, gather signatures from your neighbors, and return your results through the mail. We have it on record that over 2000 people in this community care greatly about the issue of automatic ticket cameras in Monroe. With this achievement, there is no doubt that the voters in Monroe demand a say in this decision."

The initiative also repeals the existing ordinance authorizing cameras and sets the cost of a citation to that of the least expensive parking ticket. Cameras could not be installed in the future unless approved by a vote of the people. That assent is unlikely, as voters have never approved of the use of photo ticketing. Last year, 71 percent of voters banned cameras in Mukilteo http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/33/3311.asp.  Cameras were also banned in Houston, Texas; Baytown, Texas; Anaheim, California; and Garfield Heights, Ohio. http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/33/3311.asp  Photo enforcement has never survived when the question is put directly to voters. Last year, 61 percent of Sykesville, Maryland http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/31/3130.asp.asp voters overturned a speed camera ordinance. In 2009, eighty-six percent of Sulphur, Louisiana rejected speed cameras http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/27/2738.asp, 72 percent said no in Chillicothe, Ohio; Heath, Ohio and College Station, Texas  http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/31/3130.asp also rejected cameras. In 2008, residents in Cincinnati, Ohio rejected red light cameras  http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/25/2588.asp. Seventy-six percent of Steubenville, Ohio voters rejected photo radar in 2006  http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/14/1433.asp. In the mid-1990s, speed cameras lost by a two-to-one margin in Peoria, Arizona http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/26/2669.asp  and Batavia, Illinois  http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/28/2885.asp. In 1997, voters in Anchorage, Alaska banned cameras even after the local authorities had removed them.  http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/27/2788.asp
 

http://www.woio.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=5961206&h1=Camera+Controversy&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=131000&LaunchPageAdTag=Homepage&activePane=info&rnd=52429355

Anti RLC Petition Rally in Cleveland on CH 19!

BAN THE CAMS NOTE. WE believe the reporter got the petition site location wrong.  WE believe it is:  http://www.facebook.com/ban.the.cams.cleveland#!/ban.the.cams.cleveland?sk=info

We copied this from their site on the petition:

Petitions:
http://cc4l.org/files/2010/04/Cleveland-Red-Light-Camera-Petition.pdf

Petition Instructions:
http://cc4l.org/files/2010/05/Cleveland-Instructions1.pdf

COAST and CUYAHOGA COUNTY FOR LIBERTY are teaming up to launch an initiative to remove all the Red Light Cameras starting with cameras in the city of Cleveland and Garfield Heights AND now South Euclid too!!

We are looking for petition carriers to gather enough signatures to put the issue on the November 2011 ballot.

More details to follow!! For now, promote the initiative to all your friends to become a fan and a member of the Camera Removal Team

 
Website

http://www.gocoast.org
http://www.cameraremovalteam.wordpress.com/

http://www.swrnn.com/2011/06/14/petition-to-ban-red-light-cameras-in-murrieta-gaining-speed/

Petition to ban red light cameras in Murrieta gaining speed

By Rocky Salmon, on June 14th, 2011
A Murrieta woman’s push to put the brakes on the city’s red light camera program is gaining speed.

Diana Serafin explains her petition to get a measure banning red light cameras within Murrieta to a resident. (Rocky Salmon)
 

Diana Serafin has been outside supermarkets and walking streets to collects signatures to get a measure onto a ballot that would prevent Murrieta from operating red light cameras.

The decision to petition came after the City Council expanded the program from three to five cameras in January.

“There are a whole lot of issues with what the city is doing,” she said outside a Stater Bros. one weekend. “It violates our constitutional rights and it’s a money making generator.”

Her push comes as residents in other cities push back against similar plans. Los Angeles essentially ended its red light camera program when commissioners refused to renew a contract with American Traffic Solutions to continue running the program.

ATS is the company Murrieta uses to run the cameras and determine what pictures go to Murrieta Police for a possible violation.

In a past interview, Executive Director Gary Biller of the National Motorists Association said whenever the red light camera program goes to an election, the outcome is always to ban red light cameras.

“Motorists can see through to what the cities are trying to do. If the cities wanted to stop red light signal violations they would turn to other options,” he said.

Read more: Petition to ban red light cameras in Murrieta gaining speed