Thenewspaper.com reports that Aussie photo enforcement firm Redflex has announced record profits after camera-issued tickets jumped by 50 percent in the U.S. this year. In fact, $71m of Redflex's $88m annual revenue comes from the states where camera enforcement is taking off. In 2003, Redflex operated fewer than 200 cameras, a number that now stands at 1305 and will hit 1745 by the end of next year. Redflex is on top of the world, bragging there's no end in sight for growth in its business. Except that there is. Some five percent of Redflex cameras have been shut down by court rulings, and cameras are banned from several states. Furthermore, Redflex sold radar units to the state of Arizona which were not approved for use by the FCC, and faces civil penalties as a result. In the course of that investigation, Arizona's Secretary of State found that a Louisiana notary employed by Redflex had falsified certifications for her employers speed cameras. This comes on top of revelations that municipalities are manipulating yellow light times to increase camera revenue. Once again, government and business take whatever measures they deem necessary to extract maximum revenue for minimum effort. Your tax (and fine) dollars at work.
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Bastards.
If redflex could just come up with a way of ticketing bicyclists here, their revenue would double overnight.
I’m predicting a strong positive correlation between the rise in numbers of photo units and the number of paint ball guns and bb guns sold in the U.S.
the is a classic collection action problem. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Logic_of_Collective_Action
1. The economy’s in the cesspool, politicians don’t want to raise taxes.
2. Speed cameras are cheap and convenient, especially in the name of public safety.
3. Most people who really care about/vote in municipal elections are old people and the “Ned Flanders-types” who drive 5mph below the flow of traffic.
So of course the cameras are only going to continue to flourish.
Either a: vote the bastards out of office (collective action problem) or
b: everyone heed the red-light cameras so that the beast is starved of fines or
c: live with it, be careful and say it’s a tax on the hoons of the world.
What’s the cut-off for getting a ticket with these things? I saw signs for them in a construction zone around Chicago, and I was going about 10 over at the max but was being passed.
I would think in most places I drive, well over half the cars would be issued tickets at every camera.
I don’t like the possibility that these systems have of an innocent person getting a ticket or fine due to an electrical or mechanical error in the equipment.
And I think if they are decreasing yellow-light times, especially if they are below the state or federal safety reqirements, then SOMEBODY should be going to jail for fraud and wanton disregard for public safety.
People need to start demanding justice. Real justice. Don’t settle for less.
The Walking Eye these are red light cameras not speed trap cameras. Is there any city in the US that has speeding cameras in use?
I hate people running red lights but the way local governments are abusing these things it just makes things worse. How about fixing the lights to manage the flow of traffic so people have to stop less. Then we could get to work earlier, earn more money which gives you assholes more tax dollars to fritter away on useless projects and wasteful spending.
mercerandthird:
Thanks for the helpful link.
Might explain the “somebody should do something” dynamics of why we all had to endure 55 for so long, even though it was almost universally hated.
Thanks James Baxter !
License plate covers. Preferably remote controlled. Everyone’s driving the same car now a days so when you approach intersections with red light cameras press a button to shield the plate. half way through the light changes and you have nothing to worry about. The UK has a big problem with false plates.
Sure, it’s not legal. But how constitutional is it to have a machine act like a cop anyway.
The photo devices are getting roughed up in the UK. Americans can be even less forgiving.
GS650G
Sure, it’s not legal. But how constitutional is it to have a machine act like a cop anyway.
It’s more legal than covering your license plate. If cameras were uncontitutional, they wouldn’t be anywhere. Most legal challenges I’ve read about have been based on changing the lights’ timing and who gets the ticket (driver or registered owner).
Even more legal than the cameras is not running red lights in first place.
I would be interested to know the amount of revenue this generates for cities vs. other forms of income. While, say, $20 million may sound like a lot, if the cities bring in $800 million from other income, it doesn’t sound like much of a money-maker to me. I have yet to see red-light or speed cameras go up on little towns, so I am speaking of bigger cities that have budgets that can support buying the equipment in the first place.
Get rid of them now anyway you can – they’re like cancer – if you don’t stop it early you never will – do you really want the US becoming as watched/photgraphed as the UK?
BTW – biggest thing with numberplates in the UK is inside the M25 (London orbital carpark/ motorway). You stop to get something and when you come out of the shop you’d better check your plates are still attached, if not, get to the police immediately or else you’ll get a penalty notice for not paying the London “congestion charge”
It’s all about safety, folks. Now buckle up!
I-39/I-90 south of the Wisconsin/Illinois border is undergoing major reconstruction, along which are many signs saying Work Zone/Speed Limit 45/Max Fine $375. At either end of the construction zone, there is a sign warning that the speed is controlled by an automated camera system. Thing is, I haven’t seen one camera along the entire stretch the several times I’ve been through it the past few days. Might as well put up the signs I say, for it’s pretty clear that there is no safe way for even a motorcycle cop to monitor traffic.
But speaking of safety, it’s more lucrative to muck up the timing systems and enrage impatient drivers (like myself) to run the yellow/red lights then to do the safe/environmentally-responsible/courteous thing and time the lights to optimize the free flow of traffic. They don’t even time the lights properly when there are no speed cameras here in Wisconsin, so I hate to imagine how it is where they are used.
Well, the municipalities are going to be slow to change. Perhaps go to the state legislature and propose a law preventing corporations from getting paid a percentage due to this being a severe conflict of interest.
When the revenue is not guaranteed (IOW, the city has to pay the camera company whether the tickets roll in or not), I suspect less of the cameras will go up in the first place.
Redbarchetta : Is there any city in the US that has speeding cameras in use?
Denver, Colorado uses speed cameras.
Johnster really do you know where they are at? My brother lives there and I bet he doesn’t even know they are using them.
Traffic cameras>
I have been to Brazil several times, and the small (sub 1 million people) cities I’ve been to have tons of motorcycles and usually 1-2 “token” speed/red light cameras.
it’s quite common to see guys on their little 125-250cc (upright sitting position bikes) simply lean back & put their hand over the plate before they pass through the intersection.
Legal? Probably not….but a lot simpler & harder to catch than installing an illegal console activated license plate cover.
With the 125-250’s being dual sports, they cruise over speed bumps at 30-40mph without a problem while cars slow down to 10mph or less.
Redbarchetta : Is there any city in the US that has speeding cameras in use?
Here in Cleveland, OH, the police have portable units, hooked up to a car battery, that they use intermittently and send tickets in the mail.
The government just wants money anyway that they can get it. It’s not about stopping someone from breaking the law, it’s having enough people break the law to pay a fine. Where would they be if everyone obeyed the law?!
Redbarchetta : Johnster really do you know where they are at? My brother lives there and I bet he doesn’t even know they are using them.
I think they’re mounted on the back of trailers that they can move around. I was nailed on Alameda Avenue, east of the Cherry Creek Mall. Got the ticket in the mail about 3 weeks after the offense.
Redbarchetta: Is there any city in the US that has speeding cameras in use?
Scottsdale, Az, and Chandler, Az both use intersection mounted speed cameras; I believe they also double as red light cameras.
Scottsdale also put up speed cameras on Loop 101, but I don’t know if they are still active.
Just about all the cities here use van or trailer mounted speed cameras, and DPS has been using them on the freeways.
Welcome to 1984.
I don’t so much mind traffic cameras at troublesome intersections if they truly encourage safer driving by reducing accidents. But, at least here in Seattle, they have not really reduced collisions. However, local police and politicians have still hailed them a “success” since they’ve generated tons of revenue for the city.
Personally I don’t mind them to much. People can vent about getting tickets or what not all they want, but it’s still fairly reasonable to assume the only people likely to have issues with these are those who don’t follow the rules. It’s fairly simple, go through a red light, get a ticket. In my city fender benders fell by a good percentage (I think the official data put it at half) and traffic accidents in general fell by a statistically significant amount. Which is good considering we have the worst traffic/ accident rates in the state of NC.