hat on television told you Red light....you slammed down your
milk on the wood table and milk went flying. Then he would
say Green Light and you would grab the glass of milk with both
hands and start guzzling. Then it was Red Light again and
the glass is slammed down again and the milk goes flying all
over the kitchen floor. Engineer Bill Stulla showed a variety
of cartoon features every afternoon on Channel 9 - KHJ Television
way back in 1954! Mom's around Southern California were both
happy that their kids were drinking their milk...as well as
quite disturbed that the kids made such a mess!
Red Light cameras in Orange County cause the same dismay. There
isn't one person that drives through Costa Mesa...that isn't
totally paranoid that they are going to be nailed by Red Light
Enforcement Cameras. The price for violating the restraining
line is roughly $500 bucks..by the time they add in all the little
goodies. Based on the initial thought that rear end and deadly
intersection collisions would diminish with Red Light Enforcement
Cameras...a series of unintended consequences has continued
unabated. The first big flap was the shortening of the Yellow
light under State standards to nail people with more frequency.
As much as a second and half were removed from the normal cycle
which caused a whole bunch of illegal tickets. Most drivers and
their insurance carriers paid the freight. Those that fought
the City of Costa Mesa got the tickets overturned....but that took
a class action suit and months of effort.
The worst part of Red Light Enforcement Cameras is the fact that
until they were challenged...there wasn't even any signage which
would warn the uninitiated of impending doom! How about those
nagging details....and possible exemptions? In Costa Mesa, they
have a $500 dollar Blocking the Intersection provision at some of
these same intersections. What happens when you enter the light
on green and the person in front of you stops for whatever reason
and doesn't proceed? Will the Red Light Camera nail you for
Blocking the Intersection? In the City of Los Angeles they get
you for turning right on red. They can get you for not proceeding
on a left turn into traffic.....the list goes on and on. The
big difference is that in Los Angeles...if you enter the light
on Green or Yellow....you don't get the ticket if you are blocked
from going through even when the light turns red.
The whole funding mechanism for Red Light Cameras has been a
serious bone of contention since the beginning of Red Light
Cameras. In the beginning, Cities were given Cameras...free.
Now sweet heart deals include some questionable pricing and
acquisition issues. Initially they were installed by the
manufacturers with the concept that they would "share" whatever
revenues that are accrued over years. Sounded good on paper.
That was then...this is now! So, how much does an average
intersection cost for Red Light equipment? How much does it
cost to maintain and operate that equipment per year? How much
revenue does each camera create? Let's just say that Red Light
Cameras are gold mines that can direct revenue into General
Funds rather than Public Safety budgets without much
accountability! In many cases, Red Light Cameras that don't
make big revenue - even though they improve safety; are removed.
Who makes those decisions?
In the United Kingdom...they had been sold a bill of goods that
not only included Red Light Cameras, but Highway Enforcement
Cameras and Suburban Surveillance Cameras. The citizens are
suffering ticket shock..as now Congesting Pricing is charged each
vehicle wherever they go. That means that one day you could be
driving on Harbor Blvd. and you would be charged say $1.00 for
using the road. The next day might be more congested and they
would charge you $3 dollars. This is a Big Brother world....which
if it were "efficient and equitable" might even be a consideration.
The problem is - that it isn't!
Cities need strict oversight of any Electronic Surveillance
and Enforcement Programs. As much as we are opposed to Big
Government, this area requires a responsible Program Director
that is totally and completely responsible to City Councils,
City Finance, Public Safety Officials and the Public at large!
This process needs to be transparent and every Camera should
be mapped..with the ability to view the locations from any
City website. The costs and the annual revenue should be out
there in plain sight for all to see! Red Light Cameras are a
big deal that need responsible and open acquisition and clear
operation. Contact your City...find out how many Red Light
Cameras you have and where they are. Demand that mapping and
signage be established for each and every piece of Government
or Private Industry provided Equipment!
If we don't...we might find that the our milk will be spilled
all over the kitchen! Green Light.......Red Light kids!
No comments:
Post a Comment