🚀 go-pugleaf

Walt Horning wrote:
> 
> Yes, apparently a study has shown red-light camera$$$ to be just
> another "tax trap".
> 
> See
> 
> http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/6/25/195458.shtml

I told ya all! (ken)

Armey Exposes Traffic-Light Spying 

Wes Vernon
Tuesday, June 26, 2001 

WASHINGTON - Gotcha! House Majority leader Dick Armey has turned the
spotlight on legal documents showing that profit, not safety, is the
guiding principle in yellow traffic lights of four seconds or less.

A few weeks ago, Armey, R-Texas, blew the whistle on the whole 
idea of using machines instead of police officers to catch 
motorists who run red lights.

Moreover, the yellow light time was suspiciously short in many 
cases, seemingly in an attempt to make it harder to stop in time 
before the light turns red.

Now, says Armey, there is documented evidence in San Diego 
confirming that this is exactly what�s happening.

Attorneys with the "Red Light Defense Team� have obtained thousands 
of confidential documents from the city�s red-light camera contractor
during court proceedings.

"The evidence is clear,� says the congressman. "The concern for 
safety has given way to a concern for profit. It�s all there in 
black and white.�

Here are the criteria used to determine where red-light cameras 
were to be placed in the city:

1. "High traffic volume.� Heavy traffic ensures a steady stream 
of profits. 

2. The document actually says cameras are to be used where the 
yellow signal time is "less than 4 seconds.�

Think about that. Is four seconds likely to be sufficient time 
for you to come to a complete stop without the risk of being 
rear-ended? And is that related to "safety�?

One of the documents actually shows that at one intersection 
where yellow light time was increased from 3 to 4.7 seconds, 
there was a 90 percent decline in the violations reported.

"The deck is stacked against the driving public,� the congressman 
adds.

San Diego officials recently suspended that city�s red-light camera 
program after court action brought out the fact that camera sensors 
were being manipulated. Or, as Armey puts it, Orwell�s cash machine 
is out of service in San Diego. If the cops are not on hand to 
issue the tickets, they have no way of determining whether the 
tickets were issued fairly or not.

But the red-light camera is but one instance of machine-based 
privacy invasions of motorists. Here�s another.
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http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/6/25/195458.shtml