are in the midst of the biggest economic meltdown in
world history…and what do the great powers that be in
Huntington Beach decide to consider? Yep, up to 20
Lockheed-Martin (type) redlight cameras may be coming
to the intersections of Huntington Beach should the HB
City Council decide in favor this week. Yuck, Yuck,
Yuck! Eckee, Eckee, Eckee….NO REASON Foundation
Solutions please!
These are the same redlight cameras that shorten the
Yellow lights to catch the poor and unsuspecting right
in the middle of the intersection on a left turn light.
These are same redlight cameras that require constant
calibration and monitoring to be sure they work correctly.
These are the same redlight cameras that literally kill
local business because “locals” do not want to go
through these intersections and pillars of technology
nightmares every day.
The main argument for installation of redlight cameras
is “safety”. “Let’s stop those evil redlight runners
killing our kids and grandma’s in busy city intersections.
Let’s get big bucks from tourist and unsuspecting locals
that don’t see the cameras. Let’s not even put signage
up, warning of redlight cameras ahead…until we get a 1000
complaints! Let’s charge upwards of $425 bucks if any
part of your mini-van gets stuck behind some weenie that
will not go completely through the intersection to the
other side, either because of traffic or because they
are not paying attention, or tht they want a ’safe zone’
between their vehicle and the one in front of them!”
Hey, “automating the process” is a lot easier than putting
motorcycle cops out there watching what is going on.
What they need are cameras in the Huntington Beach -
Beach Parking areas….so that Homeless and Criminals don’t
break into cars during the hot summer months or during the
less traveled winter emptiness, or even the Main Parking
structures. But then, that would require “dispatch”, that
would require “sending out the troops to find out what is
going on!” With Redlight Cameras, you just get the photo,
look up the license number on the DMV website and then
automatically send the ticket. Hey, this is safe for the
enforcement people - “no contact with people” and people
just send in their money….or they won’t get to renew their
car license the following year, or when it comes due.
In the UK, these cameras are endemic. They have them
on all the highways to monitor speeders, erratic drivers
and parked vehicles. All good “Cash Cows” for government.
The cameras monitor illegal right turns, left turns or
anything they can determine goes against the vehicle
code….and then just send the tickets…..lots of tickets!
They don’t even require signage in the UK for any cameras;
which is a good reason for living in America! Remember
those terrorists, with their burning van - "You Tube";
camera photos outside the airport in Dublin? At least
something good came of that….they found the nerds and
arrested them. But who are they planning to arrest in
Huntington Beach? Grandma’s with bad eyesight? Teenagers,
fully text messaging or on the cell phone in direct
contravention to the CA Vehicle Code? Who knows?
One thing is for sure……when the word gets out…and they
put the info on every GPS software program in the US
and the world…..well, you can bet that increase in and for
tourism in Huntington Beach may be affected negatively.
The Huntington Beach City Council might want to put this
item “on the back burner” until the economy makes a
comeback. No need to just try to kill tourism outright
or to insure that new City Council members will be voted
in during the next election cycle…….ya think?
Finally, don’t we always find it interesting that when
“Redlight Cameras” are suggested….it is never just “one
or two Major problem intersections”. No it is always
multiples of 10 like in this case 20! Why is that?
Because the vendors are not in it for “Public Safety”…
they are in it ….for the buck they make on servicing and
supplying the equipment involved. Who would want to
provide “low cost cameras” for two problem intersections?
The members of the Huntington Beach City Council and the
HB Police Chief might want to answer that question before
they “move on” to approve prolific electronic monitoring
and surveillance throughout the City of Huntington Beach!
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