Got a few speeding tickets?

[TerryH]

This hit me kind of like, wow!, it could be me. Okay, maybe not to this degree, but I have to admit, I almost always speed on the fwy. Not by a large margin, but almost always 5-7 over depending on traffic and area.

If I were getting caught by camera, I bet I could get 10 tickets in one month. Of course if I knew I was getting ticketed, I wouldn't be in such a hurry to speed the next time.

So here this camera clicking away without the driver aware of the trouble they are in. Does this seem very wrong to anyone else? I know, don't break the law and everything is fine.

Do my driving habits differ from others? I have had 1 ticket in 18 years.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080625/ap_on_fe_st/odd_speeder_arrested_3;_ylt=AqYNjKa4eqpWxIT2nYVywz 8E1vAI

[Hugh R]

I'm in Boston right now, normally El Aye. The State Police here are everywhere with the radar guns. I mean EVERY WHERE. I have a friend who got a ticket for going 4 mph over the speed limit. The revenue enhancement is just unbelievable here.

[billybek]

We have had photo radar for around 14 years. Once you know where they hang out it isn't such a bad thing.
The worst thing about them is the people who over react to the vehicle taking the pictures and brake to below the speed limit creating a hazard much worse than the occasional speeder doing 10 kph over the speed limit.
No points off the license either, just a speeding tax!!

[TerryH]

I can tolerate getting pulled over and written up, at least I know I got caught.

I've dealt with red light cameras for years, but these speeding ticket cameras don't sit well with me. We need to vote them out if they show up in CA. Of course CA voters waste their time voting because the courts over-rule.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

One more reason to move the hell out of Kalifornia... Something I'm starting to look more and more seriously at as time goes on.

[slodave]

Originally Posted by TerryH

I can tolerate getting pulled over and written up, at least I know I got caught.

I've dealt with red light cameras for years, but these speeding ticket cameras don't sit well with me. We need to vote them out if they show up in CA. Of course CA voters waste their time voting because the courts over-rule.

Not going to happen anytime soon in Ca. There is already a state law _against_ radar cameras (speed). San Jose tried to get around the law and lost, having to refund all the money it generated. We would have to vote to take it off the books.

In 2000, the California legislature banned photo radar with a statute clarifying that although it authorized the use of red light cameras, the legislature, "does not authorize the use of photo radar for speed enforcement purposes by any jurisdiction." (CVC 21455.6) The legislature also rejected several bills that would have authorized automated speeding ticket programs.

[masraum]

hell, if they put cameras in houston on my daily route and didn't announce it, I'd have 90 speeding tickets in 45 days.

Often here, the speed limit is 60 and the flow is 70+

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Eventually they'll figure out a way around it. Far too much $$$ at stake.

[Jeff Higgins]

What is lacking in modern speed enforcement is due process. Most states have enjoyed a financial windfall ever since they started denying citizens due process in the prosecution of speeding tickets. Rules of evidence have been changed (reduced) to where the citizen must effectively prove innocence, rather than the prosecutor proving guilt. Our fundamental right to a jury trial on any charges brought by the State against a citizen has been revoked. All under the guise of an "agreement" we accept in exchange for the State granted "privilege" of driving.

What utter hogwash. Maybe, just maybe, as the States continue to push on this, as their enforcement gets ever more draconian, the citizenry will wake up. Maybe the citizenry will finally be jolted from their apathetic stupor, and begin to demand the return of due process to traffic court. Real, tangible, convincing evidence; presented to a jury for their deliberation.

Oh, I know the authorities will snivel and whine that this is just too hard. Waaa... We have allowed them to get lazy and sloppy. It's time we demand they tighten things up a bit. It's time we make the authorities prove, in front of our fellow citizens, the charges they bring against us. Not just "prove" them within their own little State sponsored circle jerk, but prove the charges to a jury of our peers. Yes, that would be difficult. Yes, that means they would win very few cases. Yes, that would mean they would have to change both their focus and their enforcement techniques.

It's time we demanded reasonable speed limits. Speed laws are the most commonly violated laws in the land. It's time we demand mandatory speed studies, employing principles such as the "80% rule" to establish speed limits. 75 mph in a 60 zone looks pretty bad in court, until one realizes that 80% of the traffic was going 72 mph. Now 3 mph faster than the average traffic flow doesn't sound so bad.

It's up to us. We, as the citizenry, have ultimate say over this. When it finally gets bad enough maybe we will act. When the State's greed and paternalistic attitude over us gets to enough people, we will act. At least I hope we will...

[LakeCleElum]

We should count ourselves lucky....I'm old enough to remember the gas crisis of the early '70's .....I can't tell you how much pain was caused by the national 55 mph speed limit that was imposed for a hell of a lot of years........I take a lot of motorcycle trips and watch my mirrors, over my shoulder and radar detector A LOT....Today is a "walk in the park" compared to the "old days".....

[TerryH]

I think I read where there was 80% non-compliance on the 55 mph limit. Not sure is that was California or nationwide.

Got my license in 1972 and think the 55 limit came in 1974. Really took the wind out of our sails. Literally. Seemed like we were crawling down those big old 10 lane freeways.

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by slodave

Not going to happen anytime soon in Ca. There is already a state law _against_ radar cameras (speed). San Jose tried to get around the law and lost, having to refund all the money it generated. We would have to vote to take it off the books.

Thanks, Dave. That's great news. In a desolate state like Az, one would think they would be in an uproar. Montana used to have no limit within reason.

[Schrup]

A coworker bought his son a 93 BMW 325 earlier this year. Last week he got a call from the state patrol asking who was driving it the night before. They said a traffic camera clocked him doing 110mph through the toll booth at the Narrows bridge. They're won't be any prosecution for whatever reason, but at least he took the car away.

I suggested that he should do a google search with his son using the words Porsche, toll, & crash. He declined. The kid is 18 & starts college this fall at Central. BTW, the coworker is our safety officer.

[legion]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

What is lacking in modern speed enforcement is due process. Most states have enjoyed a financial windfall ever since they started denying citizens due process in the prosecution of speeding tickets. Rules of evidence have been changed (reduced) to where the citizen must effectively prove innocence, rather than the prosecutor proving guilt. Our fundamental right to a jury trial on any charges brought by the State against a citizen has been revoked. All under the guise of an "agreement" we accept in exchange for the State granted "privilege" of driving.

Where is the ACLU on this one? Oh yeah, they are busy suing the Boy Scouts and every church they can find...

[The Gaijin]

Need a set of throw-away plates from Tijauana..

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by masraum

hell, if they put cameras in houston on my daily route and didn't announce it, I'd have 90 speeding tickets in 45 days.

Often here, the speed limit is 60 and the flow is 70+

you should try driving between Huntsville and Conroe on a Friday afternoon. Limit is(or was)75 and I am sure not many under 90