Dallas Shutting Down some Red Light Cameras
03-21-2008, 11:35 AM
#1
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Dallas Shutting Down some Red Light Cameras
Here is the link to the article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23710970/?GT1=43001
Basically the article states that the number of accidents at intersections from these cameras has not decreased, but the number of injuries have dipped slightly. However, the city is shutting down some of these cameras since motorists have gotten wise to them and are no longer running the red lights, thus generating no fines for the city.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23710970/?GT1=43001
Basically the article states that the number of accidents at intersections from these cameras has not decreased, but the number of injuries have dipped slightly. However, the city is shutting down some of these cameras since motorists have gotten wise to them and are no longer running the red lights, thus generating no fines for the city.
03-21-2008, 11:46 AM
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Yeah, I heard about that a while back. Just goes to show you - red light cameras are ONLY about revenue generation, and have nothing to do with public safety.
03-21-2008, 12:41 PM
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Their have been studies showing an incresed in rear end MVA's and this link shows a decrease in severity of injuries. So those studies might be considered inconclusive. However, ALL studies have shown a decrease in revenue and thats what matters the most to the city council!!! 
03-21-2008, 12:43 PM
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I think they get people to slow down by smacking 'em in the ass. But then yes, they do turn into revenue generation devices.
Regardless of what Dalles or anyone else does, Arizona is drunk of the speed camera koolaid. They've already put some up along non-urban 2-lane highways in Prescott, Phoenix is RIFE with them, it's starting to rub off in Tucson and Albuquerque, and of course, Scottsdale was the first place to use them on inner city freeways. And in Chandler, they converted many normal permanent speed limit signs to electronic ones that measure your speed as you drive and show it beneath the posted limit.
Things legislatively in this state are still old-west hammer-and-nail.
Regardless of what Dalles or anyone else does, Arizona is drunk of the speed camera koolaid. They've already put some up along non-urban 2-lane highways in Prescott, Phoenix is RIFE with them, it's starting to rub off in Tucson and Albuquerque, and of course, Scottsdale was the first place to use them on inner city freeways. And in Chandler, they converted many normal permanent speed limit signs to electronic ones that measure your speed as you drive and show it beneath the posted limit.
Things legislatively in this state are still old-west hammer-and-nail.
03-21-2008, 12:48 PM
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Read that article last night. Good to know these damn things arent doing as well as they hoped. With any luck they will shut some down here in AZ cuz we're loaded with em
03-21-2008, 02:16 PM
#6
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NC has had almost all its cameras shut down for about four years now. The NC legislature stipulated that 90% of revenue had to go to NC schools, but the companies that run the cameras were taking as much as 98% profit in some counties, and municipalities were taking the rest, so a judge ordered them all shut off in the biggest cities at least.
So if they lose money but benefit safety, why wouldn't cities take the finincial hit?
Its all about money, not saftey.
There's a great way to make intersections safer thats free - make yellows longer. Studies show this reduces red light runners, but it doesn't make money....
the law of the land in North Carolina is that ninety percent of the fine revenue collected by automated enforcement systems must be handed over to the school system for use in educational programs. Instead of making money as hoped, the cities using cameras would lose at least $30 for every $50 citation issued. Several cities dropped their ticketing programs as financial prospects began to look bleak. So far, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville and High Point have shut down ticketing operations.
Its all about money, not saftey.
High Point must now pay Guilford County Schools $1,453,703 while Charlotte owes about $4.6 million to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The North Carolina move follows the Minnesota Supreme Court ruling that struck down red light cameras as a violation of state law (read opinion) and the California Supreme Court's decision not to review a appellate ruling that found a city operated its red light camera program in violation of state law. Automated enforcement cases are currently pending in the supreme courts of Iowa and Ohio.
There's a great way to make intersections safer thats free - make yellows longer. Studies show this reduces red light runners, but it doesn't make money....
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03-21-2008, 07:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Saki GT,Mar 21 2008, 02:16 PM
There's a great way to make intersections safer thats free - make yellows longer. Studies show this reduces red light runners, but it doesn't make money....
03-21-2008, 10:56 PM
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Oh wait, You mean the cameras are not there to improve the publics safety?
Isn't that what was spouted over and over again by city officials when the started installing them?
Isn't that what was spouted over and over again by city officials when the started installing them?
03-22-2008, 09:36 AM
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Originally Posted by ZX11,Mar 21 2008, 07:03 PM
I have read in car magazines that the red light camera companies specify that the yellows have to be kept short otherwise they wouldn't make money. Its in their contract.
The worst of both worlds. Change the laws so we have to pay more to a company whose business model otherwise would likely fail.