Here comes the Red Light Camera SCAM to Austin, TX.
Do you think red light cameras help safety? Well, then let me tell you, "you don't know Jack squat". Austin will install the first red light cameras by May 24, says the Statesman today.
The revenue hungry City Council of Austin unanimously voted to install red light cameras for downtown intersections last winter. The $15.8 million contract went to Redflex Traffic Systems.
How does the red light camera scam work?
1) Slippery politicos say that Red Light Cameras create safer roads while numerous studies across the country prove they cause MORE accidents.So, is there a real way to reduce accidents and red light runners?
2) Once the camera's are installed, and council members get campaign contributions from the Red Light Camera company profiteers, they shorten the timing of the yellow light to make more money (SEE BELOW!).
3) The Contractor and Politicos gets paid first. Taxpayers pay for the machines and maintenance. Taxpayers also pay via tickets and more accidents after the timing of the yellow lights are reduced.
YES, It's simple, but NOT profitable. Lengthening yellow lights to 5-6 second does more to reduce accidents than Red Light Camera's.
AND, remember when Legislators pushed for half the funds of RLC's were to go to emergency rooms and trauma centers? That money is being diverted too, says many new reports!Also, read this new article below...
Dallas, Texas Cameras Bank
on Short Yellow Times
By TheNewsPaper.comon Short Yellow Times
A local news investigation has found that the city of Dallas, Texas depends upon short yellow timing to maximize red light camera profit. Of the ten cameras that issue the greatest number of tickets in the city, seven are located at intersections where the yellow duration is shorter than the bare minimum recommended by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), KDFW-TV found.
The city's second highest revenue producing camera, for example, is located at the intersection of Greenville Avenue and Mockingbird Lane. It issued 9407 tickets worth $705,525 between January 1 and August 31, 2007. At the intersections on Greenville Avenue leadding up to the camera intersection, however, yellows are at least 3.5 or 4.0 seconds in duration, but the ticket producing intersection's yellow stands at just 3.15 seconds. The yellow is .35 seconds shorter than TxDOT's recommended bare minimum.
"For 30 miles per hour, if your yellow time was less than three and a half, you would not be giving that driver enough time to react and brake and stop prior to getting to the intersection," TxDOT Dallas District office transportation engineer supervisor Chris Blain told KDFW.
A small change in signal timing can have a great effect on the number of tickets issued. About four out of every five red light camera citations are issued before even a second has elapsed after the light changed to red, according to a report by the California State Auditor. This suggests that most citations are issued to those surprised by a quick-changing signal light. Confidential documents obtained in a 2001 court trial proved that the city of San Diego, California and its red light camera vendor, now ACS, only installed red light cameras at intersections with high volumes and "Amber (yellow) phase less than 4 seconds."
Read the rest of the story HERE.
7 comments:
Why Are Red Light Cameras Installed In the First Place? The Intersection of Strategy and Measurement--The Red Light Camera provides an interesting insight into the evaluation of that question!
I'm going to avoid those intersections at all costs. I want to avoid getting rear ended when I'm forced to slam on my brakes. When I drive to lifetime fitness it will be via 360 and Mopac where there's no camera. NOT from mopac and 290 where there will be one. And I won't shop at the stores near the camera'd intersections. Heck- I may even write those stores and tell 'em why. One of those stores is Wal-Mart. Until businesses complain, nothing will change.
What I want to know is, are the cameras placed in busy intersection, or are they placed in intersections where the most accidents happen. This is being marketed as a saftey measure, but in reality its about money. I see officers every single day running radar on 183N in the morning and 183 South in the evening. One of the few spots where commuters can even approach the speedlimit during heavy drive time. When was the last time you heard about accidents on this stretch of road? Never, it doesnt happen, so why isnt this man power placed on MoPac, and I-35 wher most of the accidents take place? The accidents are caused for a reason, so shouldnt they be protecting the public by enforcing the laws to prevent these accidents...oh wait, its not as profitable. Thanks APD, keep up the good work, by not solving problems, but creating them. One more for them, one less for us. I cant wait till no one can sell there house thanks to the mayor wanting us all to have green houses. This city has lost touch!
Sal,
Is there a list posted anywhere of which intersections have these cameras up and working?
Absolute avoidance of the intersections is a great idea to spread around and implement. Once the MOMO'S at city council see the "change" they are implementing flop they will realize how stupid they are. Unfortunately there will be the typical wannabee aristocrats that do it because they have too much disposable income that will spoil it for the rest of us.
I did want to know if anyone had a legal answer on something. They said if you get a ticket it will not go on your driving record. How is it possible they can legally refuse to renew your license if you refuse to pay or tell them who was driving your car if you were not?
news8austin.com lists the intersections. There are 6 so far. Off the top of my head, mopac and 290, ben white and lamar, 11th and I35, 15th and I35, and two up north where I thankfully don't have to go these days.
To: Anon 11:50 AM:
List of intersections link..
http://tinyurl.com/6hc8ef
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