According to the Chronicle, with but a signature from Gov. Perry, Big Brother will extend his tentacles into even more of your motoring life:
A bill awaiting the governor’s signature would give counties the same power as cities to operate red-light cameras and issue citations to motorists.
Montgomery County is already on board, and Sugar Land and Humble have joined the ranks of cities installing the cameras - for safety reasons, not revenue, of course. Don’t believe me? Well, surely this will convince you:
The bill was authored by Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas. His spokesman, Steven Polunsky, said the legislation was intended to ensure cities would operate red-light camera systems for traffic safety, not revenue.
There you have it. The bill’s author says the cameras are for safety, not revenue. What? You don’t believe him? Why not (aside from the fact that he is a so-called Republican introducing nanny state legislation)?
It never ceases to amaze me how stupid the politicians think we are. They are truly integrity-challenged.
If it’s all about safety, then here’s a real challenge: Issue citations to violators but don’t impose fines. Fear of losing one’s license is a far more effective deterrent than a fine. And, since it’s not about the money, the cities and counties should be happy with deterring red light runners, not picking their pockets.
(I wonder how many red light accidents have been caused by motorists looking to see if there is a camera at the interesection rather than watching traffic.)
At least one county official does not appear to be convinced that the cameras are only about security:
Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack said cameras might deter some people from running red lights and improve safety.
“But you want to have compliance without trying to gouge people,” Radack said. “It’s as if the city of Houston has figured out a way to extract money from people’s pockets.”
Imagine that. The City of Houston and our power hungry Mayor trying to fleece us.
Though generally incompetent and inefficient, Government is very good at one thing: Separating us from our money.
(For the Chronicle’s map of the existing red lights in Houston, and information on the number of tickets issued at each, see here.)
If that story annoys you, then take a deep breath. Big Brother is about to approach Teddy Kennedy size. TXDOT is preparing to spend millions of your tax dollars to install cameras on highways that would catch people speeding.
In yet another example of a bureaucratic weasel insulting our intelligence, TXDOT says not to worry, because no tickets are being issued at this time.
Unlike with red light cameras, people caught breaking the rules by a speed camera would not get a ticket. But TXDOT would send them a letter letting them know they did get caught.
A TXDOT spokesman cautions the study is just a test.
“We want to evaluate the technology, analyze it a little bit. And that’s all we are doing at this point,” he said.
Whew, that’s a relief. I guess there’s nothing to worry about after all. Except this:
But if counties jump onboard as well, Houston drivers could wind up getting tickets from the cameras – not letters – and have to pay them.
Cameras at our intersections. Cameras on our highways and tollroads. Cities, counties and TXDOT dotting the landscape with cameras.
So don’t laugh when I say you will soon hear of cameras looking into your yard. It’s all about safety, you know. Too bad our “representatives” - including the Republicans - are not as concerned with our civil liberties.
My, this slope is getting slippery.
UPDATE:
Texas Monthly’s list of Best and Worst Legislators was just released. Senator John Carona (see above) was chosen as one of the Best.
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And Steep Too !
Yep be sure and put your safty glasses on when
useing power tools in your garage , that camera can see you from the street !
1. Bill
You’re absolutely right. I can’t wait until they start issuing tickets to people because the cameras showed they weren’t wearing their seatbelts.
We’re turning into Europe……..
Fasternu 426
Does that mean we are becomeing a ” World Class City ” ??
Here’s a thought: Homeowner’s Associations could install the cameras in front-and-back yards and could really rack up on fines. Think about the possibilities: they could foreclose on all the homes, re-sell the homes at a profit and start the cycle all over again. The new customers would be the unsuspecting innocents who moved to Texas from other states, like retirees or policemen and teachers lured here by the promise of a low cost-of-living. (don’t mention the property taxes to them, when they find out it will be too late).
I heard a discussion on the air that the cameras actually ticket the car and not the driver, the “ticket” if paid goes 50% to the city and 50% to the private contractor servicing the cameras (I’m in the wrong business), and there are no escalating penalties if the “ticket” is not paid. The escalation is no more or less than a mark on your credit report that you did not pay this debt, and at least one credit reporting agency does not consider this a legitimate debt so will not show it at all.
I don’t intend to run any red lights, but if I or anyone else is driving my vehicle and its picture is taken, I plan to toss the correspondence in the round file.
As long as they don’t start counting how many flushes we are allowed in our bathrooms, I can’t see how this is going to be enforced legally. There are too many scenarios they would not be able to justify. Talk about a communist state…we’re heading in that direction.
I want cameras in government offices so that I know my employees are giving me a full days work.
Okay, gang. Just for DJ’s sake…
All together now:
BAAAAAAA BAAAA BAAAAA
Ah, the sound of sheeple, singing in unison.
Sen. Corona is one of those part-time conservatives, don’t cha know.
“It’s for safety. Not revenue.”
How can you sleep at night, you lying POS.
Here is a post I added to the Chron story (however, they delete my posts 70% of the time - no lie):
To those who believe this is about safety and not money, do a little research. Red light cameras increase the accident rates.
From The Washington Post by Del Quentin 10/4/2005:
But a Washington Post analysis of crash statistics shows that the number of accidents has gone up at intersections with the cameras. The increase is the same or worse than at traffic signals without the devices. Three outside traffic specialists independently reviewed the data and said they were surprised by the results. Their conclusion: The cameras do not appear to be making any difference in preventing injuries or collisions.”
The Coloradon 10/20/2005:
“A Fort Collins, Colorado intersection has suffered an 83 percent increase in accidents since a red light camera system was installed in 1997. The city’s program generates $734,000 in annual revenue from $75 citations issued at the intersection of Drake Road and College Avenue. Despite the lack of demonstrable safety benefit, officials are planning to add at least one speed camera this year and possibly another red light camera next year.”
NCTimes by PAUL SISSON April 22, 2005
“OCEANSIDE —- Rear-end accidents have increased at one Oceanside intersection since the city installed its first red-light cameras Jan. 10.
Lt. Rick Sing, the Oceanside police officer who oversees the department’s traffic enforcement division, told commissioners that from Jan. 10 through Mar. 31 there were eight rear-end accidents at Oceanside and College boulevards, up from only one during the same time in 2004.”
AutoBlog by Stuart Waterman April 4, 2006:
“Anne Arundel County in Maryland has been running five red light cameras for five years, during which period they raised a fat $2.85 million in ticket revenue. Unfortunately, a comparison of accident statistics shows that the cameras have increased the rate of accidents.”
Get a bike and some Groucho glasses..
Another “Republican”
sellinghelping us out. Thanks, but no thanks, so could all of you in Sen. John Carona’s (R-Dallas) district vote him out of office please?The only thing that’s going to make this deal fly for the outfits collecting the money is the proposal to attach it to your vehicle registration. If they are successful with that provision, look out. Otherwise, I would ignore it. I heard they’re putting speeding cameras on the highways - 5 mph over and a citation greeting card. Looks like bull shiite, smells like bull shiite, heard it tastes like bull shiite - it must be bull shiite.
I agree that the cameras are a blatant invasion of privacy - but - we are also plagued with an increasind amount of scofflaws who run red lights. I’m talking RED here, not just yellow to red.
Anyone have an suggestios how to stop this?
Yeah #14. If it is so bad, then how come they do not post a cop at those intersections? I’ll bet running red lights are far more dangerous than the sacred cow speeding that police departments love to devote so much of their resources to.
Please, enough is enough. No red light cameras and no speeding cameras. Is this really how we want to live?
If the reports cited by Peter in #10 represent the norm with respect to red light cameras, there is a further chilling aspect of all of this: Politicians like Mayor White are actually increasing the danger to citizens out of pure lust for money.
Politicians don’t give a damn about safety. The goal is to raise revenue via the “cash cow” of hidden camera law enforcement.
#17. Even if they do, I’m sick and tired of the nanny state politician. Speeding is not a critical problem that needs such a drastic measure. It is about the money, don’t let them tell you anything different, then throw them out of office. I am just fed up with these money grubbin’ sellouts.
hey this really excites me to vote for re-puke-licans in the future - doesnt it excite you too?
I’m waiting for Maltboy to come in here and tell you all how wrong you are…
hey i am so exiiitttttreeeeeeed! really excited about voting for a republican party of texas candidate again i just cant wait to wipe my butt with their toilet paper with their campaign solicitation material.
we really need new leadership for the republican party of texas (taxes - really high one too and no budget control as well).
these are the kind of people you would want to know and introduce your close friends to they are so compassionate. my oh oh my and to support a fred hill republican candicy is just so wonderfull - thats what a liberal says and does!
you - the re-puke-lican fart of taxes are the on your backs of the taxpayers in your state - nothing but a buntch of whores!! please feel free to corect me if i am wrong or see thru jondice eyes!
whoopeeeee i am so glad to have voted republican all these years - it really makes me feel ssssoooooooo gooodddddddd!
When the revenues drop at a certain red-light camera location, the timing of the yellow lights will simply be shortened. Safety….pfst!
You are oh so free in Amerika.
23 texas now you know perfectly well that the grafitiment party who controls this is right. the are dums and dumbos. have a nice day - sir!!
Just thought i’d let you know about a problem my wife and I had. We gave away a car that had a mechanical problem that was going to cost more to fix than the car was worth.I thought that the guy was going to scrap it. About three months later, I got a ticket in the mail from Harris County. Seems that my car had been going through the EZ tag lane on the toll road. I had to jump through hoops with the state to let them know that I no longer had the car. While this was going on, I also got a ticket from the city of Houston for running a red light. We eventually got all of it cleared up, but I am going to pull the plates off from any car I get rid of from now on.
……..”Gov. Perry, Big Brother will extend his tentacles………..”
I misread it the first time and the only reason I went back and re-read the sentence is because I thought….”That cannot be correct; Gov. Perry does not have any of THOSE….”
Put up a sign well before the intersection stating, “Red Light Camera in Use at Next Intersection.”
Unless they do that, I won’t believe this is for safety.