Red Light Camera Protest Chicago, Feb. 14, 2010

[allgoo19]

What a nice way to raise a revenue!! I don't have to pay for it.

Red light cams don't bother me but drivers running red lights do, in fact , piss me off so bad I can't even describe it.

[nmlkjihg]

The shorter lights require drivers to focus on traffic signals and make certain they do not run the red lights. Driver's need to spend more time looking at those lights and less time scanning intersections for student's running in front of you to catch their bus. Children don't vote! Ignore the people on the street and do not look at anything but the light. Your important city officials aren't running for the bus, they are just kids!

[RAWagner]

In the competition of red light cameras vs patrol cars I will select red light cameras every time. Cameras are cheeper to maintain then it is to pay for enough police to cover the same number of lights. In addition the cameras are significantly more accurate then the human eye.

I wish there were more cameras at every intersection checking speed and light infractions. Maybe then drivers would obey the speed limits more often and we could stop wasting police power on trivial infractions.

[BestTits]

red light cameras suck

[NewAmericaNow]

If you don't like them, tear them down, legally or otherwise. Destroy the cams anyway you can. The streets belong to the people not the police state. The people will remain free one way or another. Freedom is never free it must be fought for.

[samten10a]

So what if it is a revenue maker. It helps two ways keep my taxes down. One By not having to hire 30 % more cops, cars and office space, to write traffic tickets for stop sign violations. Cities share of the fines goes to general fund.

[samten10a]

Having said that where I live the city did this to all traffic lights flash amber for 2 sec then solid for 2 more sec before going to red, all lights hold red for at least 5 sec. before the one goes to green. That has stopped a lot of accidents. The city has not put the camera in but the proposed way it will work is if they do, red light cameras will not function until one of lights is green for 1 sec.

[robopaladin]

@samten10a Sounds like a fair approach. Running a red after the other side is green is precisely the dangerous maneuver that ought to be ticketed. Not that "right turn a split second after it turned red" stuff like Chicago goes after.

Still, will your city write enough tickets that way to afford the camera company's monthly bill? Or will shortening the yellows be needed to break even?

[Elinitsam]

4th Amendment, U.S. Constitution: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." Did the SB 2466 pass? Was it called for a vote yet? These cameras make me angry like nothing else does. I feel violated by them!

[IBMeddling]

Wow! All this time I thought I was the only one fighting "big brother" in Chicago!

Thank you by the way!

[billdc31]

Do they dig up the camera and bring it to court when someone wants to exercise their constitutional right of facing their accusers?

[22popuser]

Freedom DIES in a Surveillance Society; Guilty until proven Innocent. Our children will live without the Freedoms we SURRENDER today, that generations fought to preserve. People are suffering, doing without, losing their jobs, as government hands out $100 tickets, exports our jobs, taps our phones, tracks our movements and purchases and subjects us to naked body scans. Study the Constitution, "We the people are sovereign not government!"

GET ACTIVE!

Politely but firmly, Demand your Rights!

[LandofDaFree]

Thank you to the great people that held this protest and thank you, Chicago News Bench for your coverage.

I'll be burning the phones Monday morning.