Traffic camera alert - corporate law enforcement

[wilsonpwt]

Yellow lights in intersections equipped with "red light cameras" are often set to last only 3 seconds, according to data from court cases. In one recent case in Glassboro, New Jersey, a motorist who had been issued a ticket discovered that the yellow light duration was only 3 seconds, while New Jersey law says that the minimum yellow light time must be 4 seconds. As a result, a reported 12,000 tickets worth $1 million were thrown out.

[cleveland391]

I may or may not agree with the camera's, but you seem to be a very paranoid man. What "right to privacy" do you expect when you are in public?. If you want privacy stay at home. Have you done any research to see if the camera's have had any long term benefits, such as slowing red light running?

The thing about high school kids copying plates to get people in trouble is silly. When the plate is run and doesn't match the car, no citation would be issued. Look at both sides of the issue.

[PaintSlinger99]

This is a big issue right now, thanks for making this video

[UnoRaza]

These should be beatable in court with basic commerce non-contracting tactics.

We should be marking these locations for our GPS devices.

[fastacker2]

Fight the power!

[BourneAccident]

I have heard of some people breaking these cameras. I don't know how they do it, but they get revenge I guess.

[universalknac]

I see alot of street signs (especially in the turning lanes) that are bombarded with bumper stickers. Whoever these sticker vandals are...do us all a favor and stick them on the camera lenses...problem solved! You think law enforcement would put cameras to film/protect the street cams?? nah, we have stickers for those too.

[hollywoodartchick]

People rush to get into intersections before the camera goes off. the company that the city holds the contract with only wanted to put its lights up at intersections where they could maximize profits. They assumed, if 40 cars ran a red/day, they would KEEP getting 40 citations/day. Once drivers noticed what was going on, it dropped to, say 5. But the company had contracts for the amount 40 citations/day would yield. So the price of tickets went UP to compensate for less tickets! $400!!!

[lopytube]

that is F@#4 up beyond belief.

You dont know what I would do if I had a ladder...

how many of you guys out there would give these cameras a lesson if you had the proper team with you.

[aaronlovespot]

car

[aaronlovespot]

the red light cams do more than you think . for one thing they track and trace every can that passes by it. and you will find a tracker box every 2 blocks or less .

[wilsonpwt]

Keep in mind, many corporations and governments either maintain their own print and Internet Reputation Management gurus, or hire someone to do so. This IRM can cost millions, and there are a lot of people who are paid to post disinformation without having a real opinion of their own. It is a form of spam, but insidious, since these people don't have to identify themselves as paid IRM posters.

Check out my video, "To Tell The Truth About SHILLS".

[chechnya]

Red light cameras are great. The city here installed them about a year or so ago and they've worked out well. They actually made the yellow light a second longer.

[TexanCyclist]

Funny how supporters all seem to feel their lives are above reproach when the objective of the police state is to ensure compliance even as laws become ever more restrictive & freedoms ever more scarce.

[WoodzEntertainment09]

i couldnt agree more

[WoodzEntertainment09]

A lot of the Federal appropriated spending funds will be spent on appropriating more funds from the average citizen.

[vannahsmommy]

We have red light cameras in my town, and they don't even give us the courtesy of posting signs to let us know! They're just sitting up there waiting for you to mess up. Talk about a police state!!

[RodneyHampton]

Paul, this is an excellent video. This isn't about public safety. This is about revenue and control. Some brits have thrown old tires over some of the cameras and burned them. Seems an old tire will burn pretty hot for quite a while.

[Revgirl5]

very informative...thanks for the vid!

[wilsonpwt]

The use of traffic enforcement cameras has tripled in the United Kingdom between 2001 and 2007. There are growing numbers of UK citizens who at one time supported these cameras that are now actively fighting against them. Redflex and ATS are a private enterprise and a lot of the funds raised goes to them. Do we really want corporate interests enforcing our laws?

[admiralcrash1]

I think I'm going to start taking some camera out. This is crap.

[kcolumbusgirl]

And if the car does not match the description in the registration for said tags, there should be no ticket or fine - THAT is what you should be worried about. Changing the policy, not negating it all together.

There is no invasion of privacy when you are OUT IN PUBLIC.

[admiralcrash1]

You know I can legally film you in your home when I'm in public, and you couldn't do shit about it. Think about that.

[kcolumbusgirl]

Feel free. I would, however, have the ability to publicize what you did, and most likely learn to keep my damn curtains shut. - anyone with any common sense knows that if someone can SEE in your house, they can FILM in your house as well...

[TexanCyclist]

I have an infra-red cam that can record through your flimsy walls. Still not concerned? Not saying I will, but I can.

[kcolumbusgirl]

If you don't like the cameras, don't drive.

If you legitimately run a red light, you should be ticketed. period. That's the consequence of your actions. It has to do with personal responsibility. The only place you have complete privacy is in your home.

[wilsonpwt]

Very good comments and thank you

maskedphrogg. The United Kingdom folks have a black market for doctored up tags and if it hasn't been done yet, I imagine some people will "get the #s for the reps that enacted this flawed system and have Demands for Fine sent to them" ;-)

[maskedphrogg]

Extending the PhotoShopped license concept a bit further...

Where would the authorities send the Demand for Fine for licenses that do not in fact exist, or are not valid for a variety of reasons?

Better yet, get the #s for the reps that enacted this flawed system and have Demands for Fine sent to them. Just the spike in the arse they may need to deal with this obviously flawed method of so called Justice.

[maskedphrogg]

I'll omit the virtually obligatory "Orwellian like nightmare" reference.

However, of course there is a "however" , I wouldn't bother commenting w/o the however being present :)

The Md student revenge concept is right out of Cory Doctorow's recent _Little Brother_ . Unfortunately I fear out of entirely different motivation. The kids in LB hack some RFID devices and manage to get some innocents prosecuted for some esoteric and too broadly written ID laws.

[maskedphrogg]

In retrospect the Md High Schoolers are just fsck-ing the system.

FSCK is the name for a unix system command to "File System ChecK" iow check the integrity of the file system. Telling is the comment from the Council President on these pranks.

"It will cause potential problems for the Speed Camera Program in terms of the confidence in it,"

Well Duh! The system has little to no integrity and a bunch of KIDS just proved it in Real Life implementation of this flawed system.

[EdaByrd]

A lot of the Federal appropriated spending funds will be spent on appropriating more funds from the average citizen.

[RP4409]

good reporting!

[mlang52]

But people would call you the "wacko" because you don't believe these cameras are just not right! We want the governemnt to control our lives more everyday. Is it any wonder someone is finding more ways to make money off of us, through the legal system. And, they can do this without any court , cops, or lawyers!

[kcolumbusgirl]

By the way - I'd much rather the cities use money from people breaking the rules than either have to raise taxes or do without necessary programs.

[mlang52]

To each his own. When the cops come crashing in your house one night, just because they can, we will see if you think government intrusion is such a good idea! Do you, really, think politicians and judges will have to pay the fines from these cameras? They just make sure they keep control of us, the little guys!

[kcolumbusgirl]

With which you revert back to my other comment about the personal responsibility aspect - something you conservatives like to SAY you're all for, but don't want to be held accountable for. If you get ticketed, pay it or fight it. Don't just sit on your thumb and expect them to NOT enforce it. That's their JOB. And again, PUBLIC and PRIVATE are opposites BY DEFINITION. When you are IN PUBLIC you HAVE no PRIVACY.

[mlang52]

It is your right to feel how you want. I have seen, most, people, on the road, going past stop lines, most of the time. Do you do that? It made me mad because I always tried to stop behind them, like I should. But, never did I see any of those drivers cause an accident. These cameras are supposed to be for public safety. They in fact, are just another form of government extortion. But, the cameras will enforce the tickets. And people will pay them, or else! Libertarian?-Yes Conservative-no

[kcolumbusgirl]

Well as a libertarian I would think that you would be supportive of people breaking the law (since those lines are there SPECIFICALLY to tell you where to stop) being fined and that money being used to support the city, as opposed to people having to pay more in taxes for OTHER people's mistakes...

[admiralcrash1]

The point went flying over your head shortee. i gues the best thing for you is to keep doing what Lemmings do.

[mlang52]

I don't know about that! I think she is just too perfect to be bothered by anyone, who might accidentally break the law. You know. Like, no one should ever get a break! It is a little authoritarian for me. I don't need a nanny or another mother, thank you very much! And I think my comments should viewed to be just the opposite of supportive. I don't believe in breaking the law. I just don't believe in unjust laws or excessive intrusion. Don't like the violators. Not worth a fine, though.

[admiralcrash1]

Exactly.

[Isawanangel1X]

damn how much is this gonna cost!! and is the revenue worth it!! whose got this contract, for pete's sake, more patronage, war on you

[wilsonpwt]

To kcolumbusgirl: Concerning the issue of, "When you are IN PUBLIC you HAVE no PRIVACY.", shouldn't this be a two-way street? New laws set to be passed in England and Canada would make it illegal to take photographs of police officers, moving us further away from the idea of police as public servants. I put a link in my sidebar if you want to know more.

[wilsonpwt]

kcolumbusgirl doesn't yet realize the loss of freedoms and liberties already imposed on all of us.

[wilsonpwt]

As the economic crisis worsens and municipalities become further squeezed for funds these private run traffic cameras will be increasingly used to raise revenue. Paul Turner