Opposition to red-light cameras

Santa Monica's efforts to bring red-light cameras to town earns an impassioned critique from David Quick. Writing in the SM Mirror, Quick suggests other traffic safety measures the city can try that do not -- in his view -- invade privacy:

Santa Monica distinguished itself as a national  innovator in traffic safety with creative improvements such as blinking crosswalks (my favorite), speed humps, traffic islands, medians, roundabouts and other ways to save lives.  In New York City, 147 intersections are being tested with “walk signals” that go green eight seconds before the traffic light turns green to create a traffic pause and give pedestrians better position in the intersection.  Maybe we should try that?  Or how about an enlightened education campaign addressing all types of intersection users – mailed with city utility bills?  Nine states have made red light camera surveillance illegal.  Lives can and should be saved without compromising our civil liberties.

What do you think of red-light cameras. Hit COMMENT and speak out!

Comments

[PhotoEnforced.com]

I am not sure how to avoid the the flood of photo enforced cameras coming. Big money is now investing in the U.S. (ie. Goldman Sachs invests $50M in ATS). We have all of the locations listed in a database at http://www.photoenforced.com. Lots of cities surrounding Santa Monica have them.

[Pete]

Red light cameras are not for safety, they are to generate revenue. They are just another creative way for the government to steal money from us. We have some in Arizona, and I found out some interesting facts. They are listed at this website:

http://phoenix.about.com/od/car/a/photoradar.htm

Honestly, We the People need to tell the government to get out of our personal lives, our homes, and yes, our cars. Police need to be fighting real crime, not trying to generate it with cameras and traffic citations. Anything that sounds like a sign of totalitarian government needs to be struck down immediately. Red light cameras and "photo enforcement" sounds too much like the eye of Big Brother. That may be fine in some communist or fascist regime, but it's not fine in the United States of America.

[Mike]

Red light cameras do not violate your "civil liberties" if you don't run the red light! If you are running a red light, a ticket and a camera should be the least of your worries - how about the cross traffic! How about the person you are about to kill because you couldn't wait? No, the fines aren't high enough, the penalties aren't severe enough, there aren't enough of the cameras!

[Neal DeHaven]

I don't like them - they make me more aware of them than on driving. I have actually jacked up to stop and that is dangerous for the car behind me.