While some politicians are using things like taxes and bond issues to woo voters, traffic cameras are moving up in campaign issue popularity. Some liken them to hidden taxes for citizens, with their troubles outweighing their supposed benefits. Others state they are an invasion of privacy and a money maker that does little to increase road safety.
The New York Times produced an article this week looking at traffic cameras as a political platform. These cameras, placed at intersections, were installed to catch red light violators and speeders in the act—when patrol cars aren’t around to see the violations. They were sold as a way to keep the roads safer and people more accountable.
But, as the article shows—their effectiveness is highly questionable. The Federal Highway Administration studied seven communities with the cameras and found that while broadside collisions were reduced by 25%, rear end collisions actually went up 15% as drivers slammed on their breaks to avoid tickets.
Some question of city governments are actually concerned with the public safety, or if the real motivation behind such cameras is money. Putting cameras at busy intersections that haven’t shown a pattern of danger seems to indicate the latter.
As a matter of fact, the government isn’t the only one generating serious income from the cameras. In addition to paying to have them installed and maintained, many private companies responsible for the cameras equipment itself, receives a contingency fee per ticket issued. This means, the more tickets issued, the more money they make.
Drivers are racking up tickets without even realizing it and while the motivation behind the cameras may or may not have their safety in mind, the effectiveness of these cameras is questioned by many people within the communities and by the politicians running for office.
“Ban the traffic cameras!” has become a sort of a campaign slogan as people running for local officer attempt to appease voters with their agreement on the issue. Like other seemingly worthless laws and costs, this one seems to have great appeal at the polls.
When you’re caught on camera violating a traffic law, there typically isn’t a whole lot that can be done. However, depending on the circumstances, we may be able to work something out. Whether you are facing a citation caught on camera or even criminal traffic charges for reckless driving or a similar offense, a local, experienced criminal defense lawyer can make all the difference in your case.
About David Matson