red light cameras
Gotta Have it Green Fanatic Official TMS Travel Guide
Joined: December 17, 2012
Posts: 2,558
Likes: 1,358
From: Western NC
Sieran, you are exactly right. Officer discretion applies in every situation. Flagrant red light running deserves a citation every time. On the other hand I wrote warnings in certain situations. If it was a close call with no other traffic impacted, and the driver's attitude was right, a written warning. Also, people that get caught in those strange 'in the middle of the intersection' situations could be excused. Officer discretion. Some may disagree with this but I had a mom run a red light in an old minivan, one of those horrible Chrysler 4 bangers made in the late 80's. The kids were screaming and carrying on for whatever reason. This woman was obviously dirt poor and just about crying when I spoke to her. She apologized profusely and I gave her the 'lecture' about endangering herself, the kids, and others. Was that enough or should have I nailed her with an expensive fine and points on her license as well? I issued the warning and left. I never saw her repeat the infraction again. Now before you all finish moaning and groaning I will tell you what an officer does that no camera can ever do, and that's getting the criminal driver off the road and behind bars. I did this many times and this why I loved this part of my job. 'Joe Scumbag' blows an intersection. Not only does he have a bad tag on the car (which totally negates camera enforcement) but he has a suspended license. Car towed and off to jail!! Camera enforcement can't do anything about these bad drivers yet punishes all the legal citizens who pay their fines and have proper plates. Now tell me how fair that is. Nothing replaces real police when it comes to traffic. Discretion for the legal folks, and jail for the bad.
Tasca Super Boss 429 Member
Joined: December 11, 2007
Posts: 7,575
Likes: 11
From: Uxbridge, MA
Here is a list of states with red light camera and the fines/points associated with a violation.
http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/l...o_enforce.html
http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/l...o_enforce.html
Post *****
Joined: October 9, 2007
Posts: 32,808
Likes: 163
Just make a slight delay between when one light turns red and the other lights turn green.
I ALWAYS hesitate and look both ways if I'm the first person in line for the green light. My life is too important for my children to be fatherless because some assclown is texting and runs a red light.
However there is a light in town where the people turn left in front of a 3 lane road that is busy. The last few cars always turn left on red thinking their time is more valuable than the people sitting and waiting on them to go on a green light. Most people at the green light just sit and take it. I usually lunge forward a bit just to give the assclowns a good scare. They really **** me off and they are blatantly running a red light and noone does a thing about it. They could hand out tickets all day long in an unmarked car parked in the corner if they cared.
I ALWAYS hesitate and look both ways if I'm the first person in line for the green light. My life is too important for my children to be fatherless because some assclown is texting and runs a red light.
However there is a light in town where the people turn left in front of a 3 lane road that is busy. The last few cars always turn left on red thinking their time is more valuable than the people sitting and waiting on them to go on a green light. Most people at the green light just sit and take it. I usually lunge forward a bit just to give the assclowns a good scare. They really **** me off and they are blatantly running a red light and noone does a thing about it. They could hand out tickets all day long in an unmarked car parked in the corner if they cared.
Last edited by 2k7gtcs; Mar 23, 2013 at 06:44 AM.
Bullitt Member
Joined: April 6, 2011
Posts: 207
Likes: 2
From: JC, NJ
Sieran, you are exactly right. Officer discretion applies in every situation. Flagrant red light running deserves a citation every time. On the other hand I wrote warnings in certain situations. If it was a close call with no other traffic impacted, and the driver's attitude was right, a written warning. Also, people that get caught in those strange 'in the middle of the intersection' situations could be excused. Officer discretion. Some may disagree with this but I had a mom run a red light in an old minivan, one of those horrible Chrysler 4 bangers made in the late 80's. The kids were screaming and carrying on for whatever reason. This woman was obviously dirt poor and just about crying when I spoke to her. She apologized profusely and I gave her the 'lecture' about endangering herself, the kids, and others. Was that enough or should have I nailed her with an expensive fine and points on her license as well? I issued the warning and left. I never saw her repeat the infraction again. Now before you all finish moaning and groaning I will tell you what an officer does that no camera can ever do, and that's getting the criminal driver off the road and behind bars. I did this many times and this why I loved this part of my job. 'Joe Scumbag' blows an intersection. Not only does he have a bad tag on the car (which totally negates camera enforcement) but he has a suspended license. Car towed and off to jail!! Camera enforcement can't do anything about these bad drivers yet punishes all the legal citizens who pay their fines and have proper plates. Now tell me how fair that is. Nothing replaces real police when it comes to traffic. Discretion for the legal folks, and jail for the bad.
GT Member
Joined: June 9, 2010
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 353
From: Lancaster, SC
Problem is that it's not about safety - it's about cash. Putting an officer on the road may reduce revenue - tickets minus salary, cost of car, fuel, maintenance, tires. A red light camera or speed camera will "catch" one thing - it's been proven that many of them are inaccurate, so catches is questionable at best - but an officer on the road can pull the guy that's driving recklessly, the teen that is texting. He can even stop the tractor trailer driver that's falling asleep. All much more dangerous than cars that are sitting still at traffic lights.
And questioning a company that has zero motivation for justice, but only wants $$$, is pointless - GUILTY! Next!
http://now.msn.com/stopped-car-gets-...d-light-camera
And questioning a company that has zero motivation for justice, but only wants $$$, is pointless - GUILTY! Next!
http://now.msn.com/stopped-car-gets-...d-light-camera
Team Mustang Source
Joined: November 9, 2005
Posts: 398
Likes: 2
From: Texarkana, AR
Traffic light cameras for the most part do nothing but act as revenue generators for the cities that use them. Companies come in and install them at no cost and in return they get a percentage of revenue generated off the top. I do not support them as they eliminate officer descretion and special circumstances. Many communities under citizen pressure have eliminated them. Officer traffic powers have and always should be a balance of writting when appropriate and warning when needed. Every situation is different. Just my thoughts with 38 years on the job. GG
V6 Member
Joined: February 26, 2013
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: NY
Traffic light cameras for the most part do nothing but act as revenue generators for the cities that use them. Companies come in and install them at no cost and in return they get a percentage of revenue generated off the top. I do not support them as they eliminate officer descretion and special circumstances. Many communities under citizen pressure have eliminated them. Officer traffic powers have and always should be a balance of writting when appropriate and warning when needed. Every situation is different. Just my thoughts with 38 years on the job. GG
Mach 1 Member
Joined: January 12, 2012
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 13
From: Suburbs of Dallas
Completely agree, but then again, officers handing out tickets are also not much more than revenue generators. Much of their "discretion" is simply choosing when to arbitrarily chase down an unlucky speeder when everyone else is breaking the speed limit as well. With quotas for parking/speeding tickets, it's hard to see this all being about safety.
The next town over is Plano, Texas.
At the beginning and end of each month they will setup speed traps. They NEVER setup these speed traps in the middle of town. You can drive through the middle of Plano down Park Blvd and you'll routinely see people doing 50-60 MPH in a 40 MPH speed zone, yet the police will NEVER set their speed traps up there.
Instead they setup their speed traps at the city limits. Dallas is to the south, so they set their speed traps up on the southbound side in the mornings to catch people entering Plano from other towns, and then set them up on the northbound side in the evening to catch people leaving town.
Basically they are trying to catch people who do not live in the city to fleece them for money while ignoring the habitual speeders who live within the city limits.
V6 Member
Joined: January 8, 2013
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
You can see that clearly near where I live.
The next town over is Plano, Texas.
At the beginning and end of each month they will setup speed traps. They NEVER setup these speed traps in the middle of town. You can drive through the middle of Plano down Park Blvd and you'll routinely see people doing 50-60 MPH in a 40 MPH speed zone, yet the police will NEVER set their speed traps up there.
Instead they setup their speed traps at the city limits. Dallas is to the south, so they set their speed traps up on the southbound side in the mornings to catch people entering Plano from other towns, and then set them up on the northbound side in the evening to catch people leaving town.
Basically they are trying to catch people who do not live in the city to fleece them for money while ignoring the habitual speeders who live within the city limits.
The next town over is Plano, Texas.
At the beginning and end of each month they will setup speed traps. They NEVER setup these speed traps in the middle of town. You can drive through the middle of Plano down Park Blvd and you'll routinely see people doing 50-60 MPH in a 40 MPH speed zone, yet the police will NEVER set their speed traps up there.
Instead they setup their speed traps at the city limits. Dallas is to the south, so they set their speed traps up on the southbound side in the mornings to catch people entering Plano from other towns, and then set them up on the northbound side in the evening to catch people leaving town.
Basically they are trying to catch people who do not live in the city to fleece them for money while ignoring the habitual speeders who live within the city limits.
Gotta love the two motorcycle cops that park on the sidewalk behind a tree on Plano Rd. right before the park between Renner and Lookout Drive. Then the bait/fake squad that sits on top of the hill. People pass the cop then speed back up only to get tagged 1/5 a mile later by two hidden cops.
GT Member
Joined: June 9, 2010
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 353
From: Lancaster, SC
Which makes it fun considering i live in Murphy, drive through Plano, and end up in Richardson for my job. I hit at least 2-3 of these traps when the heat picks up.
Gotta love the two motorcycle cops that park on the sidewalk behind a tree on Plano Rd. right before the park between Renner and Lookout Drive. Then the bait/fake squad that sits on top of the hill. People pass the cop then speed back up only to get tagged 1/5 a mile later by two hidden cops.
Gotta love the two motorcycle cops that park on the sidewalk behind a tree on Plano Rd. right before the park between Renner and Lookout Drive. Then the bait/fake squad that sits on top of the hill. People pass the cop then speed back up only to get tagged 1/5 a mile later by two hidden cops.
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