Cities Shortening Yellow Traffic Lights for Deadly Profit

[Swede]

nt



Some cities have been shortening yellow lights to nab drivers with a ticket. But studies show that they're raking in the bucks at the expense of public safety.

Reeling through a 21st century addicted to technology and surveillance, citizens may be too overwhelmed to complain of increasing cameras popping up atop red lights at intersections across the nation, most of which are designed to catch them breaking traffic laws. That is, until they're caught in those intersections as the yellow lights unexpectedly change, and cars in front and back of them hit the brakes or punch the gas to avoid tickets. And when they find out those cameras and lights are being gamed.


http://www.alternet.org/rights/145752/cities_shortening_yellow_traffic_lights_for_deadly_profit/

[indepat]

1. Raising revenue by pissing on public safety: my one ticket in 20 years was

courtesy of this rigged outrage. :P

[vadawg]

2. glad theres no red light cameras and speed cameras where i live

i hate the damn things, its all about getting money, at least if i pull you over you are getting a lecture in lieu of a ticket unless you dont get the message... these things are all about getting revenue..

[8 track mind]

3. something ive pondered

i often considered whipping up some sort of mechanical device that would tuck the license plate out of sight, controlled by a cable/motor. That way, flip a switch or pull a knob and plate can't be seen by the camera. Just might work.

One morning i saw a sport bike rider pull the most awesome wheelie through an intersection I've ever seen, right as the camera flashed. Made my morning!

[Edweird]

5. The sport bike guys are way ahead of you.

http://www.r6messagenet.com/forums/r6-modifications/69815-homemade-license-plate-flip-kit.html





They have them for cars, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbrH0KIIHo0

Of course, getting caught with this will get you serious trouble.

[high density]

4. We've banned them in the state I live in

Though I do hate driving in the nanny states that have them. I think some are used to keep poorly-engineered intersections clear of traffic. People think a lot more about blocking an intersection when there's a red light camera there.

[snot]

6. I strikes me as naive to assume that's ALL they're for.

I believe they're also used for general surveillance.