[JoeT]

Police Agree Speed Cameras Are For Revenue Raising

Australian Car Advice
11 April 2008
www.caradvice.com.au

Perhaps the most important victory for all car enthusiasts and anyone that has had to suffer from fixed or mobile speed cameras has come today, from no other than Victoria Police.

A recent survey by the Herald Sun has found that more than 70 per cent of Victorian police believe speed and red light cameras are more about revenue-raising than preserving road safety. A point we have tried so very hard to get across.

Out of the 3459 police officers questioned, only 6 per cent (207) strongly agreed speed cameras really do help save lives. Most interestingly though, the main duty of police officers - to serve and protect - is not shared by 42 per cent of the force, who strongly believe making money for the Government is their main role!

Nonetheless, Insp Richard Watkins, of Victoria Police’s major collision investigation unit, still claimed that traffic police strongly supported speed cameras.

“If the cameras are doing their job, then we spend less time at serious collisions and fatalities, members might want to come and spend a day with us to see the impact of speed.” he said.

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[Aych Es Vee]

They kind fvcked up there? Couldn't this ultimately lead to banning speed cameras?


That would be awesome.

 

[tomprice]

Hmm, certainly unsure.

This is highly unlikely to EVER change in the UK (which is already festooned with cameras), so I'd probably say the majority of speed cameras are for revenue raising - though I will alo say to dismiss all cameras as pointless piggy banks is a bit disregardless of the ones that genuinely do slow people down at accident blackspots etc.

Not that the camera issue matters any more in the UK because it's looking like we'll all get fitted with black boxes, so the government can interfere with us wherever we are, and with whatever we're doing..

 

[paul8488]

I'm not the biggest fan of speed cameras, but I love the people that say it makes driving more dangerous because they just accelerate like mad once they slow down and pass camera. I think that's a stupid way to think and to drive. That's like saying you stop stealing when someones watching but start again as soon as they leave. Agree with it or not, speeding is illegal and you're not allowed to do it. People that never speed don't worry about speed cameras.

 

[Old Dood]

You know you can set your NAV systems POIs (Points of Interest) to tell you when these are coming up.
Same for Red Light Cameras and Speed Traps.
A lot of this info is free on line to program your NAV systems.

 

[Uzzy]

My grandpa has a Speed Camera shot of him speeding in my Plymouth Reliant (when it was his) down the 401. That is proof positive that they are just for revenue, it's a K-car for crying out loud!

I need to find that pic.

 

[FamilyTruckster]

I'm not the biggest fan of speed cameras, but I love the people that say it makes driving more dangerous because they just accelerate like mad once they slow down and pass camera. I think that's a stupid way to think and to drive. That's like saying you stop stealing when someones watching but start again as soon as they leave. Agree with it or not, speeding is illegal and you're not allowed to do it. People that never speed don't worry about speed cameras.

You're right. Speeding is dangerous and causes death and injury to innocent people. They might bring in revenue but they also catch people doing something illigal.

If a speed camera catches your buddy speeding while driving your car and sends you a ticket, don't complain to law inforcement, send your buddy the bill.

I'd be fine with a camera every 500 yds. I'd be fine with a camera on every street corner.

 

[Puzzel]

You're right. Speeding is dangerous and causes death and injury to innocent people. They might bring in revenue but they also catch people doing something illigal.

If a speed camera catches your buddy speeding while driving your car and sends you a ticket, don't complain to law inforcement, send your buddy the bill.

I'd be fine with a camera every 500 yds. I'd be fine with a camera on every street corner.

Speeding can be dangerous. But these types of cameras are all about "free" revenue, ie they do not have to pay someone to work to generate the revenue.

And there is a burden of proof that these cameras do not meet, as you illustrated. If that speeding ticket has "points" attached, you can't pass those off to your buddy. Are you going to make your buddy pay your increased insurance rates too?

There have been news reports about "red light" cameras being turned off because they are not generating enough revenue: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23647272/. The same will eventually happen with speed cameras.

 

[61BelAir]

The city I live in has the traffic light cameras on a few busy intersections. Recently I noticed they removed them and I was wondering if maybe there was a legal reason why they had them removed?

 

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

You're right. Speeding is dangerous and causes death and injury to innocent people. They might bring in revenue but they also catch people doing something illigal.

If a speed camera catches your buddy speeding while driving your car and sends you a ticket, don't complain to law inforcement, send your buddy the bill.

I'd be fine with a camera every 500 yds. I'd be fine with a camera on every street corner.

You haven't lived in camera-land



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[Neanderthal]

I'm not the biggest fan of speed cameras, but I love the people that say it makes driving more dangerous because they just accelerate like mad once they slow down and pass camera. I think that's a stupid way to think and to drive. That's like saying you stop stealing when someones watching but start again as soon as they leave. Agree with it or not, speeding is illegal and you're not allowed to do it. People that never speed don't worry about speed cameras.

One point of view. It's like saying I don't smoke so who cares that smokers are toted off to re-education camps, for their own good of course.

If you're thinking that various government entities are operating purely out of benign and honorable interest in serving their masters, the honest citizens, well...

 

[Neanderthal]

You're right. Speeding is dangerous and causes death and injury to innocent people. They might bring in revenue but they also catch people doing something illigal.

If a speed camera catches your buddy speeding while driving your car and sends you a ticket, don't complain to law inforcement, send your buddy the bill.

I'd be fine with a camera every 500 yds. I'd be fine with a camera on every street corner.

You could move to Formerly Great Britain, where your wish has already come true.

BTW, have you read 1984?

And speeding in and of itself is not dangerous. Driving beyond one's ability is dangerous, not paying attention is dangerous, not knowing basic vehicle handling dynamics becomes dangerous when the above conditions result in the car going squirrely.

The camera issue is about basic constitutional rights, due process, about government bodies lying about their intentions, about the effectiveness of actions they take which affect the people they swore to serve. Not rule, serve.

Car and Driver's Pat Bedard has written some informative pieces about the traffic scameras. The companies that come into cities and push their camera systems take a big cut of the "profits" from the scameras. Red light scameras are shown to increase rear-end collisions, because when installed they also typically cut the yellow from 4+ seconds down to 2 or fewer seconds.
It's a scam, and it is not what a government body with integrity would do.

Citizens are supposed to control government.
They don't in Formerly Great Britain.
In another 20 years if things continue as they are in FGB, it will be hard to tell who actually won WWII, the free nations or Nazi Germany.

 

[redstuff]

Amen Lamronh...and if you think otherwise because it "saves lives"...get your head out of your ass. Cameras are there for revenue. Nothing else. I think everyone needs to read 1984...I did in 1984, they haven't had it in schools since. No one knows what Big Brother is anymore (my wife has no idea what I'm talking about - it's a shame really).

On a different topic, they've started pushing not allowing smoking in a vehicle if there are children under the age of 12, even if they're your own. I don't smoke so it doesn't affect me, and maybe it's a good idea, I can't stand cig smoke...but it still scares the **** out of me that we would allow the gov't to dictate what we can or cannot do. What's next?

 

[t-rex]

Onthou Die Kamera!

The dreaded "camera" is ever-present even in some developing nations...

 

[mikmak]

I speed EVERY day that I travel to work. I don't go as fast as possible (typically only about 13-20 over) but I do assess the environment around me. I monitor the behaviour of cars in my surroundings. I look ahead. If any circumstances impinge on my personally assessed safety margin, I slow down! Everyone should be doing this (not the speeding bit, just drive as you feel comfortable). Unfortunately they don't. In any circumstance at ANY speed, inattention can kill. Cameras don't deter the lowest common denominator. They just became a pain in the arse for people who do pay attention. I go fast and I'm not dead.

 

[mikmak]

Mrs. Mak just read this post. Perhaps speeding does kill

 

[Lunden]

Seed cameras are just for Revenue...So what?

If you don't want to pay...Don't speed...

This isn't rocket science folks

 

[EldoFan]

I speed EVERY day that I travel to work. I don't go as fast as possible (typically only about 13-20 over) but I do assess the environment around me. I monitor the behaviour of cars in my surroundings. I look ahead. If any circumstances impinge on my personally assessed safety margin, I slow down! Everyone should be doing this (not the speeding bit, just drive as you feel comfortable). Unfortunately they don't. In any circumstance at ANY speed, inattention can kill. Cameras don't deter the lowest common denominator. They just became a pain in the arse for people who do pay attention. I go fast and I'm not dead.

It's the exact same situation with me. Though working the graveyard/overnight shift does make it a bit safer, given there's noone out on the streets in the suburbs that late. I've actually memorized certain 'ideal' spots where Law Enforcement (usually state police) likes to set up and know what to look for when I'm passing through those spots.

Now if it's rainy, the roads are slick or conditions are in anyway 'compromised', of course I'll use common sense, slow down and enjoy a leisurely drive in.

It's the idiots who ruin for the rest of us I think. :yup:

 

[Firebird00]

Speed/Red light cameras are pathetic. Just one more way for big brother to keep an eye on you. In the city of Humble, TX if you get caught running a red light, you get fined $75 however the "evidence" is no good in court so they aren't even putting the violations on peoples records. It is purely a money making scheme. If they really wanted to make the area safer, they'd make the sorry cops go arrest the little gang bangers and crackheads stealing stuff out of peoples cars.

 

[CJ Thunder]

I'm not the biggest fan of speed cameras, but I love the people that say it makes driving more dangerous because they just accelerate like mad once they slow down and pass camera. I think that's a stupid way to think and to drive. That's like saying you stop stealing when someones watching but start again as soon as they leave. Agree with it or not, speeding is illegal and you're not allowed to do it. People that never speed don't worry about speed cameras.

Except when you pass a semi doing 64 go to 66 and get flashed for that...






Its horrible to think crimes are used to raise revenue for governments. If it was such a detriment to society then sometihng a little more severe should be in order.