Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Red Light Cameras


We see them in an ever increasing number of intersections. We receive the tickets in the mail without any warning. Generating millions of dollars in revenue for cities across our nation, red light cameras have become a real force to be recognized and feared in our daily commutes. One side of the issue will argue that if you simply didn’t break the law, you wouldn’t be getting a ticket for a red light infraction. On the other hand, individuals argue that red light cameras are an injustice and have no object of safety, simply money and greed.


“According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 22 percent of all traffic accidents in the United States are caused by drivers running red lights” [1]. In order to help combat this issue an advancement in police technology was developed. However, this technology did not allow police officers the ability to be more efficient in catching individuals guilty of red light infractions. Instead, it negated the need for police officers all together, allowing police officers to focus on more important issues. Red light cameras started to appear on intersections throughout the country. A completely automated system that would take the picture of an individual, the make/model of the car, the license plate, and the infraction in process. Shortly there after a ticket complete with picture evidence would be mailed to the address of the individual guilty. These fully automated devices collect all of the evidence authorities need to prosecute red light-runners.

Red light cameras have proved to be incredibly successful in recent years, and across the country cities are simply looking to add more. “Los Angeles' red-light traffic camera program netted more than $6 million last year after expenses” [2]. Due to such success “Los Angeles will be looking to renegotiate contracts and eventually double the overall reach of the program to 64 intersections city-wide” [2]. Currently the LAPD red light camera system issues out approximately 3,600 tickets monthly [2].

Opposition to red light camera systems argue the usage of the cameras by stating success is not measured by safety and the reduction of traffic incidents, but simply by the amount of revenue earned. Unfortunately this argument can be recognized as valid when the Governor of California states “this [red-light cameras] is a revenue producer” for the state and has future sights set on modifying red-light cameras to catch speeders as well [2]. It is motives such as these that has pushed some citizens to call for the banned use of red-light cameras in their state, such as that in Illinois which will undergo a vote to determine the future of red-light camera use.


While the current intentions of red-light camera use may be far less than noble due to the obvious desire of easy money for the cities that deploy them. The technology and original intentions of public safety are worth not ignoring. Active Alliance Transportation acknowledges this in their statement to motorists that “red light cameras are one of many tools for traffic safety and an outright ban or limiting of them eliminates one of these tools” [3]. The truth is red-light cameras are a valuable tool that enable police officers to focus on matters of greater importance by taking the burden of red light infractions off of them. “Red-light and speed cameras can be a valuable traffic enforcement tool if properly focused on safety and altering driver behavior”, as opposed to a revenue generating machine for cities [2]. This is not that apparent truth of today, and until it is red-light cameras will be met with controversy and opposition of the general public.


Works Cited:

[1] Harris, Tom. "How Red-light Cameras Work." How Stuff Works. Discovery Communications, LLC., Web. 28 Feb 2010. .

[2] Connell, Rich. "Los Angeles might expand red-light camera program." L.A. Times. 03 Feb 2010. Tribune, Web. 28 Feb 2010. .

[3] "Red Light Camera Bill Faces Crucial Vote Today." The Expired Meter. 16 Feb 2009. Word Press, Web. 28 Feb 2010. .

[Image 1] http://tsnroundup.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/red-light-cameras.jpg

[Image 2] http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200706/man-sues-red-light- c_460x0w.jpg


[Image 3] http://theexpiredmeter.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/redlight-camera- 3.jpg







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