U.S. officials worry about civilians obtaining traffic-light changers

[truthpusher]

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/breaking_news/11149199.htm

U.S. officials worry about civilians obtaining traffic-light changers
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Posted on Wed, Mar. 16, 2005
BY AMAN BATHEJA
Knight Ridder Newspapers
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FORT WORTH, Texas - (KRT) - The tag lines on various Web sites make them seem too good to be true.

"CHANGE STOPLIGHTS FROM RED TO GREEN IN SECONDS!"

"NOW YOU CONTROL THE INTERSECTIONS!"

The devices, mobile infrared transmitters, allow a person to change an upcoming traffic light from red to green from as far as 1,500 feet.

They are intended for emergency personnel, but sales of the devices to civilians on the Internet are making authorities nervous.

complete story: http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/breaking_news/11149199.htm

[mike_c]

1. buy one here....

http://www.ioffer.com/i/Traffic-Signal-Changer-The-MIRT-New-Item-5497322

only $330.

Here's an offer with a photo:

http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/trlich.html

[Newsjock]

2. This is a recycled scare-em-up faux terror story from 2003

They already tried this one back in autumn 2003, and the media went ape-crazy for a few days over it. I guess they're hitting the summer reruns a bit early over at Homeland Security.

http://www.detnews.com/2003/editorial/0311/02/a16-310990.htm
Thursday, October 30, 2003
Michigan Should Outlaw Gadgets that Manipulate Traffic Lights

[KansDem]

3. I wondered how long it would be before these things hit the streets...

Often wished I had one myself (as I sat at a red light for what seems like several minutes at 6 AM on a Saturday morning with no cross traffic and absolutely no one else on the roads...).

Just time the lights! Then there'd be no reason for these things or the cameras recently installed to catch "red light jumpers..."

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

4. These things will be obsolete before long

The new generation of xmitter/receivers are encrypted, and a lot of towns are upgrading to them asap. (A local Dallas news station did a piece on the systems recently.)

Save your money. Use your brakes.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. Perhaps Ridge or someone near him will just "change the colors"

of the traffic lights in order to thwart the potential illicit use of these fine little devices.

I can see it now... threat level is green, no amber, make that red, no amber... wait a min... ahhhhhh green again.... crap.