Chicago, $45 million in traffic tickets from red light cameras in 2008!

[JR6ooo4]

I am in favor of them, at every intersection. I follow the rules. In fact I would like a transponder in every car to ticket for every violation like non signaling, speeding, etc....

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/most-back-red-light-devices-but-not-near-their-homes.html


the article says, "people are for them, but don't want them in their area..."

Mikeeee

 

[ChrisFL]

In fact I would like a transponder in every car to ticket for every violation like non signaling, speeding, etc...

That would be incredibly bad for a number of reasons.

 

[JR6ooo4]

That would be incredibly bad for a number of reasons.

ok.
So, do you know any of the reasons and care to share them with me?

Mikeeee

 

[mikehn]

Because they do nothing but generate revenue for the state, a tax in disguise if you will.

 

[etoiles]

I just saw a news article about this on our local (Chicago area) news. They found that the cameras were not being placed at lights where the most accidents were, they were being placed where they seemed to generate the most revenue. Lights where frequent accidents were occuring do not have cameras. This indicates to me that they were not using these cameras primarily for public safety.

 

[Becky2005]

In fact I would like a transponder in every car to ticket for every violation like non signaling, speeding, etc....

I would not like that. No way for it to take situations into account. It would either be black or white for everything and that's not always the case with driving.

I just recently found out that if you are going UNDER the speed limit, even being the only car on the road can get you pulled over. I would hate to get a ticket due to a thing on the car because I wasn't going up to posted speed limit without knowing the entire circumstances (i.e. snow, fog, traffic back-up, being lost -- these are all reasons I can think of for going much slower than what the speed limit says). It wouldn't be able to take into account all situations.

What if you swerved to avoid an accident -- according to a transponder that would be turning without signaling and BAM you would get a ticket. All it would know is that your wheels were turning say right and you didn't use your right turn signal.

 

[Golf4food]

I just saw a news article about this on our local (Chicago area) news. They found that the cameras were not being placed at lights where the most accidents were, they were being placed where they seemed to generate the most revenue. Lights where frequent accidents were occuring do not have cameras. This indicates to me that they were not using these cameras primarily for public safety.

They have never been about public safety - they are always about generating revenue from fees. They don't cut down on accidents, or at best reduce one type of accident while increasing another.

I drive the speed limit and don't run lights, so it wouldn't affect me either way, but as a general rule I oppose this sort of hidden tax disguised as being in the best interest of the public.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I feel the police should be concerned with crime, not sitting around waiting to catch one speeder every 20 minutes.

what government does not need more revenue, especially now.

 

[LaurenLC]

I too follow the rules, but I also think that there are instances where you can't stop and I don't think the cameras allow for any explanation.....
I am not pro-cameras. If the city of Chicago wants to make money off of red light violators, then they should have their officers patrolling those intersections.
And for the record, I have not received a traffic violation in the six years that I have lived in Chicago... Knock on wood!

 

[SpecialK]

So - you realy think all of the unlicensed, uninsured drivers in the Chicago metro area are going to pay any attention to tickets generated by a transponder? Instead of being on the street, the police will end up chasing down violators who haven't paid up on "x" number of tickets. In theory it might be a good idea, in practice not so much.

 

[manning]

I was in favor of them, but not now.

There is one intersection that I go through frequently. I know if I am at a certain spot when the light turns yellow I can make it before red. Matter of fact I am 3/4 the way through the intersection before it turns red. At that spot if I were to brake it would be a very sharp stop.

Well they put a camera there and when I was at my spot the light turns yellow. I brake hard to a stop. All of a sudden I hear screeching brakes behind me. I almost got rear ended. Unlike the days of old if that car had maintained a safe distance there would not be any problem in stopping. However it seems to be cool these days to tailgate.