Taking on the Government

Ban the Cams note: Regardless of the outcome, Diana Serafin has done a AWESOME JOB in bring attention to the city that the VOTERS WANT TO DECIDE THIS!  Not Democracy Denying ATS!

(Special thanks to www.stpetecamers.org for the link!)

http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/murrieta/article_c5e7360a-2125-59b6-99bf-857cb96bbdc6.html

MURRIETA: Red-light camera petition due Tuesday
 

Story Discussion MURRIETA: Red-light camera petition due Tuesday
By NELSY RODRIGUEZ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. North County Times | Posted: Saturday, September 17, 2011 5:00 pm

 
 
Red-light camera activist Diana Serafin stands in front of a red-light camera at the corner of Murrieta Hot Springs and Whitewood roads in Murrieta. Serafin has collected signatures on petitions seeking to ban use of the cameras in the city. JAMIE SCOTT LYTLE | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Petition signatures due Tuesday
Murrieta resident Diana Serafin is collecting signatures to qualify for the ballot an initiative that would ban the use of red light cameras in the city.

To sign the petition, contact Serafin at 951-677-7884 or 951-526-9575.

Just days before Murrieta resident Diana Serafin must submit nearly 4,500 signatures to qualify for a ballot an initiative that would ban red-light cameras in the city, Serafin said Thursday that she is bracing herself for as many as one-fourth of the more than 6,000 signatures she's collected to be disqualified.

In checking the signatures she's collected over roughly six months against Riverside County registrar of voters office lists, Serafin said she found that many people who had lost their homes to foreclosure had not changed their address, and therefore may not be registered voters in the city.

"I've gone through probably 900 voter registrations now," Serafin said of the extra step she's taken to register residents to vote before they sign the petition to ensure the initiative qualifies for a ballot. "I know I got over the minimum (number of signatures required on the petition), but there were probably 1,000 people that swore they were registered, but they're not."

By Tuesday, Serafin must submit at least 4,470 signatures of people who are registered to vote in Murrieta to the City Clerk. The signatures will then be verified by the Riverside County registrar of voters office.

Read more: MURRIETA: Red-light camera petition due Tuesday (over 6K to be handed in).

Thnaks to www.stpetecameras.org for the link!

http://redmond.patch.com/articles/guest-opinion-redmond-officials-must-follow-mukilteos-example-and-let-people-vote-on-cameras

Guest Opinion: Redmond Officials Must Let Residents Vote on Cameras

By Tim Eyman

12:00pm  

   
This Tuesday at 7:30 pm, Scott Harlan, me, and other supporters of Redmond Initiative #1 will use the open comment period at the beginning of the city council meeting at city hall to thank the voters of Redmond for helping Scott achieve something truly extraordinary:  being the first in Redmond city history to qualify a citizen initiative for the ballot.

“LET THE VOTERS DECIDE ON RED-LIGHT CAMERAS IN REDMOND” needed 3,845 voter signatures but because of the popularity of the initiative, over 6,000 were turned in. That’s nearly half of active voters in Redmond. Amazingly, more citizens signed initiative petitions than voted for the mayor or members of the city council.

As the mayor and city council wait for the county to validate the signatures, they should consider what Mukilteo's officials did (and the courts approved).

Faced with the same initiative and also a record number of voter signatures from its community, Mukilteo’s mayor and City Council unanimously approved a resolution putting the initiative on the ballot for a public vote. The mayor and City Council sided with the citizens and not the for-profit, out-of-state red-light camera company. They followed the law (RCW 35.17.260 requires certified initiatives to be approved by the council or put up for a public vote) and won the respect and appreciation of Mukilteo's citizens.

Redmond’s officials can and should follow in Mukilteo's footsteps and adopt a resolution just like theirs.

In response to the city of Mukilteo’s decision to let the people vote, the red-light camera company sued to City.  Mukilteo, defending its decision, wrote in its legal brief: "The Mukilteo City Council desires to hear from its electorate." They concluded:  "... the number of signatures on the petition for the subject initiative indicated the citizens' desire to be heard. The only controversy here is that Plaintiffs desires to deny voters the chance to be heard." The Plaintiff was the red-light camera company.

Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Michael Downes wasted no time and sided with the city: "This is a unique situation where citizens want to vote but also the city council, the duly elected representatives, also want to hear from the electorate." He went on: "A lawsuit at this point is premature. I don't know how voters are going to vote on this but I see no harm in letting them vote. If it is approved, plaintiffs or those with interest in this issue can file a legal challenge afterwards, but again, I see no harm in having this proceed." 

The red-light camera company, upset with the ruling, appealed, asking the State Supreme Court for an emergency stay to keep the initiative off the ballot. The High Court sided with Judge Downes and refused to prevent the people from voting. Thanks to that unanimous vote by Mukilteo's mayor and City Council, there was a public vote on the initiative last November.

Read more: Guest Opinion: Redmond Officials Must Let Residents Vote on Cameras

http://blog.motorists.org/corruption-of-government-police-officials-by-camera-industry/

The Corruption of Government Officials (and Police) by the Ticket Camera Industry
 

Posted on September 13th, 2011 in Red-Light Cameras, Traffic Tickets

By Stephen Donaldson, NMA Florida Member

Money sometimes brings out the worst in people — even police officers and government officials — and it’s clearly happening in the case of red-light cameras.

One example is Lynnwood, Washington Deputy Police Chief Karen Manser asking American Traffic Solutions (ATS) for a job , even as she opened negotiations for the renewal of Lynnwood’s red-light camera contract with ATS.  http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110818/NEWS01/708199929

Here is an excerpt from Manser’s letter to ATS:  http://www.heraldnet.com/assets/pdf/DH94169818.pdf

Our city contract with ATS is set to expire in November.  Let me know when you might be available to chat about it on the phone.   I would like to get ahead of the game on getting it ready for renewal.

PS
I saw the article in the AZ Republic a week or so ago that said the company is doing very well.  I am looking for a job in AZ so I can move soon.  If you have any idea if I might quality for something with ATS lets talk.

Another officer actually offered to market on behalf of ATS in other states!

These are just the latest examples of the ticket camera industry’s unethical activities. Other problems involve police, government officials and legislators receiving cash, gifts, free hotel rooms and meals paid for by the camera companies.

Read more: The Corruption of Government Officials (and Police) by the Ticket Camera Industry

http://www.facebook.com/abolish.redlight.cameras.in.longview

Abolish Red Light Cameras in Longview

fyi, we've decided we'd rather not allow the local court to decide the issue of the city's illegal SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) and other acitivities against us, we've decided to appeal to the state supreme court.

(Thanks to www.stpetecameras.org for the link!)

http://redmond.patch.com/articles/anti-camera-activists-turn-in-signatures-to-city-hall

Anti-Camera Activists Turn In Signatures to City Hall
The petition to put Redmond's camera enforcement program on a ballot will next head to King County for verification.

By Caitlin Moran 4:45pm 

Redmond activist Scott Harlan (left) and Tim Eyman address members of the media outside city hall on Wednesday afternoon.Credit Caitlin Moran

 
Tim Eyman (middle) and Scott Harlan (right) lead their supporters into city hall to hand in the signatures.

Scott Harlan (left) and Tim Eyman (middle) present the signatures to city clerk Michelle McGehee (right).Credit Caitlin Moran 

Redmond activist Scott Harlan joined Washington state initiative guru Tim Eyman in making local history Tuesday afternoon as the two men and a small group of supporters handed in a petition calling for the city's first-ever voter initiative.

The moment capped several months of signature gathering on the part of Harlan, a resident of unincorporated Redmond, and his supporters. Harlan and Eyman said they were turning in 6,050 signatures, an amount well ahead of the 3,845 that they were required to collect to put the initiative on the ballot.

Harlan said he hopes his efforts send a message to city leaders that Redmond residents are opposed to the city's red-light and speed camera pilot program, which went into effect in February and has generated more than a half-million dollars in fines.

"I think there is a symbolic point to be made, and we've made it," Harlan said while addressing members of the media at Redmond City Hall. "There is no way to ingore the fact that six thousand signatures have been put in front of you."

City clerk Michelle McGehee verified the amount of signatures handed in totaled 1,883 pages but King County will need to verify the number of valid signatures. Harlan said it's possible some of the signatures came from people who do not live in Redmond city limits and are therefore invalid, but he's confident the total number of valid signatures still exceeds the 3,845 required to put the matter on the ballot.

Once the signatures are verified by the county, City Council members would need to pass a resolution calling for the initiative to appear on a ballot during a special election on Feb. 14, 2012. McGehee said the city's deadline to send this resolution to the county is Dec. 30.

Before then, however, the City Council must decide whether to renew its contract with its camera vendor, American Traffic Solutions. Council member Hank Myers, who is also chair of the council's public safety committee, said ATS must be notified of a decision by Dec. 1.

Myers said council members are examining a variety of data, including violation and collision numbers, as well as input they've received from the public on the camera program. But he said it's difficult to look at the amount of signatures turned in today as a complete resident consensus against the cameras because he believes at least some signatures probably came from people who like the program but would still like there to be a vote on the matter.

“They’re doing their thing; we have to do our thing,” Myers said regarding the council's review of the pilot program. "We really have to do our own work first."

Redmond Mayor John Marchione offered a statement Wednesday that suggested the signatures would be a factor in the council's decision.

“As I indicated on this issue last month, the Traffic Safety Program has always been a one-year pilot program and the City continues to gather data and community input to make the best decision by Dec. 1 of this year,” Marchione stated. “As part of our open, transparent pilot evaluation process, we welcome residents' opinions at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . This fall we will review our residents’ feedback, along with Mr. Harlan’s efforts, in the context of recent court rulings in this area as we consider next steps for Redmond.”

The special election is expected to cost the city between $70,000 and $80,000.

(Thanks to www.stpetecameras.org for the link!)

http://redmond.patch.com/articles/anti-camera-activists-turn-in-signatures-to-city-hall

Anti-Camera Activists Turn In Signatures to City Hall
The petition to put Redmond's camera enforcement program on a ballot will next head to King County for verification.

By Caitlin Moran 4:45pm 

Redmond activist Scott Harlan (left) and Tim Eyman address members of the media outside city hall on Wednesday afternoon.Credit Caitlin Moran

 
Tim Eyman (middle) and Scott Harlan (right) lead their supporters into city hall to hand in the signatures.

Scott Harlan (left) and Tim Eyman (middle) present the signatures to city clerk Michelle McGehee (right).Credit Caitlin Moran 
 

Redmond activist Scott Harlan joined Washington state initiative guru Tim Eyman in making local history Tuesday afternoon as the two men and a small group of supporters handed in a petition calling for the city's first-ever voter initiative.

The moment capped several months of signature gathering on the part of Harlan, a resident of unincorporated Redmond, and his supporters. Harlan and Eyman said they were turning in 6,050 signatures, an amount well ahead of the 3,845 that they were required to collect to put the initiative on the ballot.

Harlan said he hopes his efforts send a message to city leaders that Redmond residents are opposed to the city's red-light and speed camera pilot program, which went into effect in February and has generated more than a half-million dollars in fines.

"I think there is a symbolic point to be made, and we've made it," Harlan said while addressing members of the media at Redmond City Hall. "There is no way to ingore the fact that six thousand signatures have been put in front of you."

City clerk Michelle McGehee verified the amount of signatures handed in totaled 1,883 pages but King County will need to verify the number of valid signatures. Harlan said it's possible some of the signatures came from people who do not live in Redmond city limits and are therefore invalid, but he's confident the total number of valid signatures still exceeds the 3,845 required to put the matter on the ballot.

Once the signatures are verified by the county, City Council members would need to pass a resolution calling for the initiative to appear on a ballot during a special election on Feb. 14, 2012. McGehee said the city's deadline to send this resolution to the county is Dec. 30.

Before then, however, the City Council must decide whether to renew its contract with its camera vendor, American Traffic Solutions. Council member Hank Myers, who is also chair of the council's public safety committee, said ATS must be notified of a decision by Dec. 1.

Myers said council members are examining a variety of data, including violation and collision numbers, as well as input they've received from the public on the camera program. But he said it's difficult to look at the amount of signatures turned in today as a complete resident consensus against the cameras because he believes at least some signatures probably came from people who like the program but would still like there to be a vote on the matter.

“They’re doing their thing; we have to do our thing,” Myers said regarding the council's review of the pilot program. "We really have to do our own work first."

Redmond Mayor John Marchione offered a statement Wednesday that suggested the signatures would be a factor in the council's decision.

“As I indicated on this issue last month, the Traffic Safety Program has always been a one-year pilot program and the City continues to gather data and community input to make the best decision by Dec. 1 of this year,” Marchione stated. “As part of our open, transparent pilot evaluation process, we welcome residents' opinions at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . This fall we will review our residents’ feedback, along with Mr. Harlan’s efforts, in the context of recent court rulings in this area as we consider next steps for Redmond.”

The special election is expected to cost the city between $70,000 and $80,000.

Thanks to Gary de Montigny for sharing the article on www.wiseupwinnipeg.com

http://www.thestar.com/wheels/article/1053592--would-you-let-your-insurance-company-spy-on-your-driving?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Would you let your insurance company spy on your driving?

GM recently announced a trial run of Family Link, a pilot program OnStar customers can subscribe to in order to “stay connected to their loved ones when driving an OnStar-equipped vehicle.”

General Motors photo
 
By Lorraine Sommerfeld
 Living Reporter
You might think as the mother of two teenage boys I would love all the new nanny systems becoming available from many manufacturers.

You might think I’d be rigorously on board with technology that allows me to remotely monitor my sons’ actions while they’re driving my car, and to even limit what they can and can’t do while driving without me along for the ride.

You might think that. And you’d be wrong.

For the sake of argument, I’m not going to single out any specific system. All manufacturers are introducing similar options; some are calling them precisely what they are, others aren’t. The fact we’re not driving cars anymore — we’re essentially driving computers — makes this type of technology not only easy, but predictable. Surveillance used to be for spies. Now it’s for everyone.

Insurance companies are rolling out pilot programs that allow people to trade their privacy for lower rates. A company can monitor your every driving move, and reward you for being obedient.

Consider this: “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Ben Franklin said that in 1755. He obviously wasn’t talking about strapping a GPS to a horse’s butt to see how his kids were riding. But while I’m on board with safety advances that are saving more and more lives each year (if not creating better drivers, which is another column), I see a clear and distinct difference between an airbag and a dashcam.

If you’re not doing anything wrong, you shouldn’t be concerned. How many times have you heard that? Are you okay with that argument? I’m not. It’s a slippery slope that ends in a pile of lost freedoms that I thought we cherished, and asked generations to fight for. I’m not okay with it in theory, and I’m not okay with it in practice.

Read more: Would you let your insurance company spy on your driving?

Abolish Red Light Cameras in Redmond

http://www.facebook.com/No.red.light.cameras

Major Campaign Announcement - 2:00pm on Wednesday at City Hall.

Come join us at Redmond City Hall on Wednesday as we make a major announcement concerning the signature drive for Redmond Initiative #1.

The citizens of Redmond are speaking loud and clear. They want to vote on our city's very controversial automatic ticketing camera program.

Please come join us at the front of city hall as we make this big announcement and make history in our city.
 

http://www.skyvalleychronicle.com/FEATURE-NEWS/HOW-BADLY-DOES-MONROE-S-RED-LIGHT-CAMERA-COMPANY-WANT-THEIR-PRODUCTS-ON-CITY-STREETS-BR-It-is-willing-to-finance-citizen-voter-initiative-768256

HOW BADLY DOES MONROE’S RED LIGHT CAMERA COMPANY WANT THEIR PRODUCTS ON CITY STREETS?

It is willing to finance “citizen” voter initiative

September 12, 2011

A stationary mounted high-speed camera, one of Redlex’s speed monitoring and ticketing products. Photo: Redflex.

(MONROE, WA) -- A campaign to convince Albuquerque, New Mexico voters to support those controversial red light ticketing cameras on the October 3rd ballot has been bankrolled by the same company that profits millions from the fines, a New Mexico TV station has discovered.

It is the same red light camera company that Monroe’s city leaders signed a contract with for the cameras to be deployed on Monroe streets.

KOB-TV Channel 4, New Mexico's first TV station discovered from campaign finance reports that Redflex, the company that operates the cameras, donated $45,000 to the initiative “Safe Roads Albuquerque.”

Safe Roads Albuquerque recently mailed a flyer asking voters to support the red light cameras. The station reported that all but $50 donated to the campaign came from Redflex.

This would appear to be consistent with what citizen activists in Monroe and other cities are saying: namely there is virtually no local grass roots support for the cameras, and whatever support there is for the cameras must be generated by city councils who are more interested in money than safety issues, they say, and the camera companies themselves.

In every city in Washington State where voters have had a chance to express their opinion they have registered an overwhelming no vote on the cameras.

Redflex took in $17.5 Million in the last five years from red light runners in Albuquerque, according to the KOB-TV report.

MONROE SUES VOTERS OVER CITIZEN SPONSORED INITIATIVE

In Monroe, the mayor and city council decided to sue local voters who are opposed to the cameras, rather that let Monroe Initiative No. 1 be voted on by the public.

The lawsuit asks a judge to find Monroe’s Initiative No. 1 invalid on grounds it is beyond the scope of what a local initiative can legally do.

Defendants are Tim Eyman’s group, VotersWantMoreChoices, as well as the Monroe based Seeds of Liberty, BanCams.com and Washington Campaign for Liberty.

On the Monroe council’s move to go to court rather than give voters a say on the cameras, local anti-camera activist Brian Kohn – a co-sponsor of Monroe Initiative No. 1 - said he was, “Disappointed to say the least. These individuals, the council and mayor of Monroe were elected to represent the citizens of Monroe. These very same citizens, over 1,000 registered voters, have demanded, and legally earned a binding up/down vote on automated ticketing cameras in Monroe. This mayor and council, to a person have instead chosen to listen to their attorneys and represent the Arizona red light ticketing company.”

”The initiative (Monroe Initiative No.1 ) isn't asking voters "are ticketing cameras good or bad," it's asking "who should decide: the people or the politicians?" The outpouring of support for Monroe Initiative No. 1 shows that the people want to be the decision-makers on ticketing cameras in Monroe,” said another anti-camera activist Tim Eyman.

REDFLEX DOES NOT RESPOND TO QUESTIONS ABOUT FUNDING NEW MEXICO'S MEASURE

KOB-TV in New Mexico tried to contact Redflex on the initiative funding story but did not get a response. The station also put a call into Safe Roads Albuquerque with no return call forthcoming and when a KOB-TV reporter e-mailed the organization, the message was returned back to sender.

While Monroe city officials have decided to fight their own citizens in court over the camera vote issue, other cities around the country are getting rid of the controversial cameras or are in the process of getting rid of them.

In August in Bellingham, The Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions (ATS), which supplies various cities with the red light ticket cams, was itself given a red stoplight by a Whatcom County Superior Court judge.

Judge Steven Mura ruled that ATS should be denied a request to keep a citywide initiative off the Bellingham ballot because ATS had not demonstrated it would suffer immediate and irreparable injury if the initiative goes forward to the voters.

The initiative, similar to two initiatives filed in Monroe, would restrict those red light cameras in Bellingham. ATS did not want voters to be able to vote on the issue.

Read more: HOW BADLY DOES MONROE’S RED LIGHT CAMERA COMPANY WANT THEIR PRODUCTS ON CITY STREETS?

http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-kansas-city-activists-want-green-light-to-remove-red-light-cameras-20110912,0,367008.story

Activists Want Green Light to Remove Red Light Cameras

Topics
Activism
Rob Low, FOX 4 News
 
Christie Walton Web Producer
 
4:15 p.m. CDT, September 12, 2011

KANSAS CITY, Mo.— Some Kansas City activists are hope to eliminate Red Light Cameras. About 29 intersections in the Kansas City area have cameras waiting to record pictures of drivers who run red lights. Now, some hope to use a petition process to run red light cameras out of town.

Red light cameras are expected to generate $9.7 million for Kansas City in their first three years of operation. Nearly half of that will go to the vendor who installed them.

"We're simply supplying a means for someone to get out there and make a living on the backs of the drivers and taxpayers of Kansas City," said KC resident Sean O'Toole.

O'Toole wants to put the brakes on red light cameras. He and fellow supporters hope to collect some 3,500 signatures to put the issue before Kansas City voters in February of 2012. Even if they get the green light and succeed at the ballot box, the city council could simply repeal the measure.

"I think in time, it may take a couple of runs through this," O'Toole said." I think in time the city council will be worn down. I think motorists are tired of this sort of thing and taxpayers are certainly tired of it."

"The police perspective on the red light cameras is to keep intersections safe," said Sgt. Stacey Graves with Kansas City Police.

Sgt. Graves says the Kansas City Police are convinced red light cameras are reducing accidents. She points out every intersection that uses the cameras one has a warning sign. The police board recently announced that accidents are down in 28 of the 29 intersections.

"We're looking for the people that are blanatly running red lights, recklessly driving through intersections," Graves said.

Red light camera critics say city engineers could reduce accidents without imposing $100 fines.

"Either extending yellows, or overlapping the red lights so that you've got a period of time where there is no traffic in the intersection," he said.

Kansas City Police issued more than 41,000 red light tickets in the past year. That's after officers tossed out a third of the incidents because they weren't blatant enough.

(Ban the Cams note:  Increasing the rejection rate???  Will Kansas City try to claim "success".  WE have seen this stunt before in Baytown you know just before a vote!)

See Red Cleveland---Ban The Cameras

Your help is needed! Please donate to the campaign and help us ban the traffic cameras in South Euclid! Your credit card will not be charged until the campaign pledge amount is reached. Please feel free to promote this donation drive to others as we need to get materials soon.

Redflex lobbyists are calling South Euclid voters and spreading disinformation...your help is needed to combat Redflex!

http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/campaign-0-3120
Ban the Traffic Cameras in South Euclid, OH | The Point

http://kgmi.com/Lawmakers-Refuse-To-Block-Traffic-Camera-Initiativ/10854855

Posted: Friday, 09 September 2011 12:23AM

Lawmakers Refuse To Block Traffic Camera Initiative

Mike Curtiss Reporting

KGMI News

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- The Bellingham City Council is allowing the citizen initiative limiting red-light cameras to stay on the November ballot.

After Thursday’s closed council session, council president Stan Snapp says the city wants to “wait and see” whether or not voters approve the measure.

“As far as council goes, we’re going to just stay out of it,” he said.

“We stayed out of it initially to let it go to the ballot. The finance director then requested that it go to the ballot for the initiative, and that’s going forward.”

He says the initiative is in the voters’ pamphlet and it’s on the ballot at this point, and the city will be curious to see what the voters have to say.

Red-light camera company American Traffic Solutions asked the State Court of Appeals to reconsider blocking the measure, but the court Thursday denied the request.

ATS spokesman Charles Territo released a statement saying that if the measure moves forward, “the people will be asked to participate in, and the taxpayers of Bellingham will be asked to pay for, an election that the court has already ruled has ‘no legal force.’”

(just like Tokyo Rose, eh Tokyo Charlie.  "just give up solders",  HMM SORRY CHARLIE, WE ARE AMERICANS!  NOT SCAMERA SNAKE OIL SALES MAN!)

Bus Lane Scamera Rakes in £20,000 a DAY due to "warning signs close to it are far too small"

(Thanks to CameraFraud for the Heads up!)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2034749/Is-Britains-lucrative-camera-Bus-lane-snoop-rakes-20-000-DAY-fines.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Is this Britain's most lucrative camera? Bus lane snoop rakes in almost £20,000 a DAY in fines

By Martin Robinson

Last updated at 6:59 AM on 8th September 2011

One of Britain's most lucrative road traffic cameras has issued £600,000 of fines in less than a month, it has been revealed.
 

Astonishingly 10,000 drivers have been caught using a bus lane in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, a number which equals around an eighth of the total population of the town.

Currently it is raking in a staggering £16,000 per day but local MP Mike Penning says the reason for this is that the warning signs close to it are far too small and the lane should be painted red.   

Lucrative: The bus lane camera in Hemel Hempstead (pictured) has issues £600,000 in fines in just 38 days
 

Hertfordshire County Council, who installed it at the beginning of August, is refusing to suspend its enforcement despite Mr Penning being 'inundated' with letters from angry constituents.
 

The local authority says the signs in Moor End Road are legal but the MP disagrees, and he is the under secretary for transport in the current Government.
 

'I have been inundated with letters. Ignorance in the eyes of the law has never been a defence but some of the signage is clearly wrong,' Mr Penning said. 
 

'The thing to do surely is suspend any enforcement against people while they sort this out.'

Stuart Pile, Executive Member for Highways and Transport at the council, said they would not stop using it.

He said: 'The county council has no plans to suspend enforcement at Moor End Road or refund motorists who have been fined for illegally using the bus lane.
 

'The signs in place follow the Department for Transport guidance and are the approved size, and the necessary authorisation for the enforcement site has been obtained.
 

'Motorists who believe they have grounds to appeal a fine will find more information on their penalty charge notice.'

http://alerts.motorists.org/nma-e-newsletter-139-faulty-photo-enforcement

September 6, 2011
 

NMA E-Newsletter #139: Faulty Photo Enforcement

We present two stories of traffic injustice by camera. Of course, the ticket camera is just an inanimate object used as a tool to perpetrate the injustice. It is the camera companies and municipal/state bureaucrats who trampled on the rights of the motorists involved.

The first tale may seem like a red-light camera urban myth, but as reported by a Miami, Florida television station, the story and the consequences were very real.

This past May, Pedro Dominguez laid his mother to rest, but only after the funeral procession was ticketed by a red-light camera at the intersection of 135th Street and 27th Avenue in Opa-Locka, Florida.

Video evidence showed three police officers, hired by the Dominguez family, stopping traffic and waving the procession through the intersection. No matter. Five vehicles received photo tickets at $158 apiece, including the limo transporting the grieving family members.

Mr. Dominguez appealed the tickets with the camera company, American Traffic Solutions (where have we heard that name before? http://alerts.motorists.org/nma-e-newsletter-137-houston-we-have-a-proble), and received a curt response: “The affidavit of non-responsibility did not establish an exemption and will not result in a dismissal or a transfer of the violation at this time.”

A South Florida investigative reporter got involved and verified that local law permits vehicles to pass through a red light if directed to do so by a police officer.

After the case became highly publicized, an Opa-Locka police sergeant took another look at the video, agreed that the police officers directing the funeral procession were clearly visible, and dismissed the tickets.

The second tale occurred about as far away from Opa-Locka as is possible while still being within the continental United States. A Beaverton, Oregon resident forwarded his tale of frustration to the NMA.

Read more: NMA: Ticket Camera Horror Stories!

Thanks to www.abd.org.uk twitter for the heads up!

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway_messenger/news/2011/september/2/the_great_5p_parking_con.aspx

The great 5p parking con
 

EXCLUSIVE

by Jenni Horn

Motorists in Medway have been duped into paying more for their parking.

Pay and display machines across the Towns clearly state they do not accept five pence pieces - but the Medway Messenger can exclusively reveal they do.

The discovery comes after we reported last week that the council was spending £400,000 replacing all 129 ticket machines across the Towns.

Both the old and new machines have signs on them which state 'Do not use 5p coins' and 5ps are not included on the list of accepted coins.

However, we have tested both the old and the new models and found 5p pieces are accepted.

The machines do not give change, so many drivers will be paying out more than they need to for parking by being forced to put in a larger amount even though they have 5p coins in their pocket - or risk a fine if they insert a lower amount.

Medway Council made almost £1.3 million in parking fines last year, with enforcement officers and CCTV cars issuing 45,783 notices in 2009/10 - up from 44,836 in the previous 12 months.

The car park where most tickets were issued was Blue Boar Lane, Rochester, where 1,835 tickets were dished out.

Motorist John Vane, 67, from Chatham, said: "I dread to think how many times I have put too much in those machines when I might have had 5ps I could have used. I think it's disgraceful. The council has basically been lying to us."

Read more: UK: Scamera Enforced Parking Town LIED to citizens. The great 5p parking con

Walnut, CA Mayor Canidates Fight each other over RLC even after article is done!

CameraFraud National made this comment on it on Facebook!

Check out the comments. These California candidates face off about scameras even after the article is done.

http://walnut.patch.com/articles/old-foes-poised-to-square-off-again-in-walnut-council-fight

Old Foes Poised To Square Off Again in Walnut Council Fight
Mayor Nancy Tragarz will likely face off against bitter political rival Michael West in 2012, for one of three contested seats on the Walnut City Council.

By Aldrin Brown, September 2, 2011  

 Less than two years after helping lead a failed attempt to recall current Mayor Nancy Tragarz, marketing manager and engineer Michael West said he’s very close to throwing his hat in the ring to challenge her for one of the three Walnut City Council seats up for grabs in November 2012.

West, who plans to make his intentions known by mid-September, would become the first known challenger for the coming council race.

“I ran in 2008 and I had a decent showing for a relative unknown,” West said. “For 2012, I’m really thinking about it…I’m about 80 percent (likely to run).”

West’s candidacy would rekindle one of Walnut’s rare political dustups of recent years. In 2009, West was the treasurer behind an effort to recall Tragarz and Councilwoman Mary Su, after accusing them of failing to vigorously oppose a plan to build a new professional football stadium in City of Industry.

West is also opposed to the operation of automated red light cameras in city intersections, a program that received renewed council support after a review in August.

Read more: Old Foes Poised To Square Off Again in Walnut Council Fight

(Thanks to www.stpetecameras.org for the link!)

http://www.theledger.com/article/20110901/NEWS/110909929?Title=Red-Light-Cameras-Lawsuit-Moves-Forward-&tc=ar

Red-Light Cameras Lawsuit Moves Forward
Published: Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 11:46 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 11:46 p.m.

Lawyers moved one step closer Thursday to determining if a red-light camera lawsuit filed in 2009 will be certified as a class action suit.

In a status hearing Thursday afternoon, lawyers and Circuit Judge Michael Raiden discussed how they think the case should proceed in the coming months.

Once the lawyers in the case file additional documents with the court, Raiden will rule in what order the case will progress.

The case, which argues Lakeland's red-light camera program was illegal, is being handled by Lake Wales lawyer Bob Young. Mark Miller is defending the city.

The case only argues the time when the cameras were operated under Lakeland's city ordinance, which ended June 30, 2010 when the state's law took effect.

Abolish Red Light Cameras in Longview

The “Section 3″ advisory vote on Red Light Camera ordinances in the city of Longview stays on the November ballot, after a ruling yesterday in Cowlitz County Superior Court. A “motion to reconsider” the August 15th ruling by Judge Stephen Warning had been filed by the city, claiming that the section improperly bound the city to conduct elections that could only be called by the City Council, but Warning says that state law doesn’t actually prevent that from happening.

KANSAS CITY RLC REPEAL PETTION!

Thanks to Wrong on Red for the info:

WrongOnRed
Here is the Kansas City Red Light Camera Repeal Petition for those that need to make copies: http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/63656615?access_key=key-1m2weo594teifdxb3s3s

BREAKING NEWS:  East Cleveland City Council voted 5-0 to put the traffic cam issue on the ballot for November 2011.

See Red Cleveland---Ban The Cameras
SUCCESS #2!!!

East Cleveland City Council voted 5-0 to put the traffic cam issue on the ballot for November 2011. Way to go residents of East Cleveland as well as to their city council who put it on the ballot based on the fact that the residents should be able to vote on the issue.