Welcome back, my Friend (TTSTNE)...we all hope you're doing well (out of range of the cameras):)

except for the FACT that red light cameras do not reduce the number of accidents at intersections, as that is not their purpose. It is income generation, plain and simple.

I like the paintball gun idea, they won't realize the camera is out untill they get a bunch of solid orange pics. Setting them on fire is too obtrusive, they get them right back on line. How about spraying the lens area with wire wheel cleaner or something else that would etch glass?

Would fog the lens enough to make pictures useless, but not too apparent from the ground.

As a paintball player, I can say that paintballs will not work well--at least not the kind that you buy in a sporting-goods store.

Paintballs (for the sport) are a gelatin capsule with a fish oil/food coloring filler. They will wash away with water and will tend to run off in a few minutes.

What you need to use are paintballs made for the forestry service or for cattle marking. These are enamel shells with a real paint filler. They are also much harder to find. ;)

I know it doesn't. And I also know that red light cameras have actually been proven to cause more accidents, partially because of the shortened yellow that was mentioned earlier, and partially because of people who know they're present and not wanting to be ticketed.
But, if a person is going to continually blow red lights like the one I live next to, it's obviously a habit. And they should be fined.

Shortened yellows? No...