Jalopnik: traffic cameras

British Police Expand License Plate Surveillance, Will Store All Trips For Five Years

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:30:00 EDT

The surveillance state of Britain is becoming more and more unbelievable as The Guardian is reporting a number-plate recognition system will now be tied to a massive database allowing the movements of all vehicles to be tracked and stored for up to five years.The system works by using government and privately-owned closed-circuit cameras to read number plates and then send the data into the central database, where it can be used for surveillance purposes. When complete, the system will record over 50 million license plate locations each day. Rumor has it the entire operation will be powered by a high-speed generator attached directly to George Orwell's casket. (Photo credit: Wired) [Guardian UK]

Peoples Republic Of Los Angeles Doubles Rolling-Right Fine, Tickets Via Camera

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:20:00 EDT

Across the greater Los Angeles area, rolling right-hand turns — failing to come to a complete stop when turning right at a red light — will now be recorded using traffic cameras. As many as 32 camera-equipped intersections across the city will be ready to automatically dole out a $381 ~~unrepresented tax~~ fine for the offense. Dubbed "California stops" by the police, the new program will double the existing fine, which happens to be levied in eight of ten traffic tickets in LA. We're certain this will be a successful way to ~~raise city revenues~~ improve traffic flow and safety in Los Angeles. [LATimes]

Illinois Governor Wants Speed Cameras On Freeways, Taxation Without Representation Alive And Well

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:15:00 EDT

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is proposing a system of speed cameras lining the state's freeways, targeting speeders in order to generate revenue supporting additional Chicago-based tactical police units. This is easily the most anti-motorists' rights idea we've heard from a politician in about thirty-seven seconds. Yes, great — use the watchful eye of Big Brother to raise revenue for a larger police force in a city with a shrinking crime problem and an aging population. Not only that, but effectively levy an unrepresented tax on the entire state and use those revenues in one city. Did we mention "ideas" like this get us spitting mad? (Thanks anonymous alpha-numeric tipster) [Chicago Sun Times]

Top Gear Unveils "Throne Of Gratitude," Honors UK Anti-Speed Camera City Councilman

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EDT

In this past week's episode of Top Gear, the boys awarded Peter Greenlagh, a city councilman in the little UK town of Swindon, the "Top Gear Trophy of Excellence" for taking a stand against speed cameras. Not only that, but Jezza announced the creation of the "Top Gear Throne of Gratitude," inviting Greenlagh to drop by the studio and have a seat anytime. Sure, it's not whipping the Nissan GT-R around the test track, but if anything deserves a standing ovation and bestowing of honorifics, a fight against speed cameras surely does. [SwindonWeb]

Louisana Traffic Official Fights The Law And The Law's Him

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:40:00 EDT

From the department of "do what I say, not what I do" comes this awesome story out of Lafayette, Louisiana playing perfectly into our dislike and mistrust of government nanny bureaucracy. Tony Tramel, the Director of Transportation for Lafayette Consolidated Government, is the chap tasked with monitoring and approving tickets issued by speed cameras. Mr. Tramel was recently caught with a radar detector mounted in the windshield of his personal car. Huh? We're confused. We thought the only reason to install a radar detector is to speed and flaunt the law, which doesn't really make any sense. Couldn't he just trash the camera images of him speeding and be off the hook? Fox guarding the hen house indeed. (Hat tip to Richard!) [TheNewspaper (these guys might want to consider a better marketing department)]

Six Cities Busted For Traffic Camera Scams

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:45:00 EDT

Union City, California; Lubbock, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; Springfield, Missouri; Dallas, Texas and Chattanooga, Tennessee — you're all on notice. We already hate the idea of the omnipresent big brother handing out speeding tickets through the watchful eye of the traffic camera, but when the deck is stacked in the states' favor, it's time to call shenanigans. All six of these cities have been accused and found guilty of excessively short amber cycles on certain traffic camera equipped intersections — a convenient way to pickpocket unsuspecting drivers as they pass though an intersection.

Traffic cameras are claimed to be used to discourage running red lights, and improving public safety, even though studies are beginning to show evidence to the contrary. We'll be happy when the states figure out how to run their respective governments without traffic fines acting as unlevied taxes against the citizens. [Motorists.org]

Mounting Evidence Says Red Light Cameras Increase Accidents

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:30:00 EST

Absentee policing is always a contentious issue. Those for it argue that red light cameras increase intersection safety and act as a deterrent to law breakers. Folks against them get the itchy, big-brother-is-watching feeling and then talk about due process. Well, that or they just blow the things to kingdom come. It seems evidence against red light cameras is mounting. The National Motorists Association, an organization dedicated to protecting the interests of motorists, has collected an international group of studies that point to an increase in accidents and accident severity as a result of the cameras.

Studies from the US, Canada, and Australia are cited and one in particular caught our attention. A study out of Ontario showed a 49.9% increase in property damage, and a 4.9% increase in fatalities after the installation of the cameras. If we were cynical, numbers like that would lead us to believe cameras are only there to collect revenue. [Motorists.org]