Here is a story about red light cameras in CA

[GM4spd]

This just happened to me on Friday! Pete


I received a red lite foto violation on Friday in the mail,not my car,not me.

I looked at my registration tag,it is one digit different from the foto-373/374.DMV
gave me registration in February with #373 but the plates were 374, (after spending 3
hours in line 6 weeks ago I did not notice---my fault).

After getting the ticket
I went to DMV (Friday)and got new registration with new plates,(that match).I had to sign off on a
statement saying why I was requesting new plates. DMV says they will take
3 days to verify who has 373 and correct. How do I KNOW they will correct
this?
If 373 were to commit some serious crime ,LE is going to be knocking on
my door.
As is I had to post $490 and will have to make a court appearance
to show this was not me or my vehicle(the photo of the car is clearly not my type car and the
driver in the foto is half my age).
So much for cameras,if this guy had been
pulled over by real LE this probably would not have happened. Thank you for
any assistance . Pete

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I'm heading for Calif. to visit my kids next month. I always drive below the speed limit & obey all traffic laws. Because Calif. is broke & the CHP has been ordered to ticket all out of state vehicles for minor infractions, so I've been told.

 

[smokindog]

I am so against red light cameras and this is just one of many reasons. Then again, I'm also against DUI checkpoints, no right to refuse blood draws without penalty and other such police state tactics. Not because I disagree with what they intend to accomplish but with the fact they violate the Bill of Rights and that is more sacred to me. Loose one and the slope is greased to lose the rest!!!

Good luck. Nothing like having to waste your time, post your money, and aggravate your person to serve the State! I thought it was supposed to be the other way around.

This just happened to me on Friday! Pete


I received a red lite foto violation on Friday in the mail,not my car,not me.

I looked at my registration tag,it is one digit different from the foto-373/374.DMV
gave me registration in February with #373 but the plates were 374, (after spending 3
hours in line 6 weeks ago I did not notice---my fault).

After getting the ticket
I went to DMV (Friday)and got new registration with new plates,(that match).I had to sign off on a
statement saying why I was requesting new plates. DMV says they will take
3 days to verify who has 373 and correct. How do I KNOW they will correct
this?
If 373 were to commit some serious crime ,LE is going to be knocking on
my door.
As is I had to post $490 and will have to make a court appearance
to show this was not me or my vehicle(the photo of the car is clearly not my type car and the
driver in the foto is half my age).
So much for cameras,if this guy had been
pulled over by real LE this probably would not have happened. Thank you for
any assistance . Pete

 

[Frank237]

Yeah. Lets give those DWI drivers every chance.

 

[Mickey D]

Yeah. Lets give those DWI drivers every chance.

 

[Road Rat]

Yeah. Lets give those DWI drivers every chance.

Nope. However, let us not violate the constitutional rights of the other 300 MILLION to pick out the drunks. Thank you.

 

[GaryS]

Yeah. Lets give those DWI drivers every chance.

I don't see the connection. Red light cameras are supposed to catch people going through red lights. They take a picture, the information is supposed to be verified by a LEO, and then the ticket is mailed out.

By the time all that happens, a DWI suspect will have been drunk and sober many times.

Some judges are starting to through red light camera generated tickets out. California Court of Appeal Throws Out Red Light Camera Ticket

The CA court cited a US Supreme Court case from MA. I don't know the details of that case, but the crux of the decision was that a defendant has the right to face his accuser. In this case, that means that a defendant has the right to cross examine the technicians who work for the company.

I expect red light cameras to become less popular over the coming years.

 

[smokindog]

So how do I confront my accuser in court if it's a red light camera? And in my post, I was quite clear on the fact that it's the processes I oppose as they open the door to a host of other invasive and unconstitutional activities. I'm stunned at the response of people who are alarmed at the use of background checks because they may form the basis of a national database. The people who support the red light cameras certainly don't see it your way Don't fall into the "it won't affect me so go ahead and do it trap". That's what ALL politicos count on, divide and conquer.

I don't see the connection. Red light cameras are supposed to catch people going through red lights. They take a picture, the information is supposed to be verified by a LEO, and then the ticket is mailed out.

By the time all that happens, a DWI suspect will have been drunk and sober many times.

Some judges are starting to through red light camera generated tickets out. California Court of Appeal Throws Out Red Light Camera Ticket

The CA court cited a US Supreme Court case from MA. I don't know the details of that case, but the crux of the decision was that a defendant has the right to face his accuser. In this case, that means that a defendant has the right to cross examine the technicians who work for the company.

I expect red light cameras to become less popular over the coming years.

 

[jframe]

If I commit a crime like running a red light, the least that the police can do is get off their *** and catch me doing it. Send a ticket in the mail??? What kind of stupid bs is that? They've talked about it here, but thankfully, it has been more or less shot down. I'm pretty certain the cameras would be shot down too; this IS Alabama. Seems like we just keep losing more and more of our privacy......

 

[gdauth]

I am so against red light cameras and this is just one of many reasons. Then again, I'm also against DUI checkpoints, no right to refuse blood draws without penalty and other such police state tactics. Not because I disagree with what they intend to accomplish but with the fact they violate the Bill of Rights and that is more sacred to me. Loose one and the slope is greased to lose the rest!!!

Good luck. Nothing like having to waste your time, post your money, and aggravate your person to serve the State! I thought it was supposed to be the other way around.

About 30 people a day are killed by drunk drivers, what about their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Do you think that your rights trump my rights?

 

[ohiobuckeye]

These folks solved that problem.
Photo Enforcement Defeated at the Ballot Box in Texas, Ohio

 

[sipowicz]

The only reason red light cameras will eventually phase out is because they are expensive to operate and usually lose money.

LA to shut down money-losing red-light cameras

 

[smokindog]

First off, you've misread my post. I never supported drunk drivers. I however do NOT support force incrimination, illegal search and seizure (blood taken, stopped without probable cause, ...).


Take the statement you just made, make it about guns, and you've got the case being made today for all the bans on firearms/magazines, and increased background checks. See how slippery things get real fast?

About 30 people a day are killed by drunk drivers, what about their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Do you think that your rights trump my rights?

 

[GaryS]

You completely missed the point of my post, didn't you?

So how do I confront my accuser in court if it's a red light camera? And in my post, I was quite clear on the fact that it's the processes I oppose as they open the door to a host of other invasive and unconstitutional activities. I'm stunned at the response of people who are alarmed at the use of background checks because they may form the basis of a national database. The people who support the red light cameras certainly don't see it your way Don't fall into the "it won't affect me so go ahead and do it trap". That's what ALL politicos count on, divide and conquer.

 

[GaryS]

About 30 people a day are killed by drunk drivers, what about their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Do you think that your rights trump my rights?

Once again, what do red light cameras, intended for revenue generation, have to do with catching drunk drivers?

 

[ridewv]

The vast majority of red light cameras generate a lot of income for cities. Little towns in AZ have them on their main drags where the highway's speed limit is reduced to 25. In some cases the private contractor furnishes them, staffs and runs the "traffic court", covers all expenses, and simply gives the city a cut.
It's all about money. Fighting crime, walking a beat, doing investigations, etc. costs money. Issuing tickets makes money.

 

[1991a1colt]

Our chief hates red light cameras. We don't have them and we think its more dangerous to try and have them due to the rearend accident statistics. As far as DUI check points they will not go away anytime soon. Supreme court ruled as long as it was for safety reasons and not narcotics checkpoints they are legal. DUI's are a major problem. As far as blood, urine, and breath tests, you signed for your license stating you would submit to these tests. If you don't like it turn your license back in. Driving on the roadways is not a right its a privilege. And another thing about posting lazy a$% cops at red lights. When we stop people for running redlights we will get chewed for fooling with them when "real" crime happening.

Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2

 

[4506517]

Remember, driving is considered a privilege not a right.

 

[smokindog]

You'll notice I liked your post so I hope you'll also understand when I say this!!!!!!


I know driving is not a right, it's a privilege. I also know I signed up for these intrusions to have my license. I also know the political climate will not make them go away.

However, I'd like someone to challenge in that my acceptance was done under duress!!!! Can't exist in Texas without the license Please don't misconstrue any of this as support the situation. However, many times the penalties are handed out because of what you MIGHT have done, not what you have done. We have people drive 70MPH through our 25MPH neighborhood quite often, equally as dangerous yet the most they ever get is a fine.

I'll stop now because we're way off the original OP topic!!!! Your point is taken Please consider mine.

Our chief hates red light cameras. We don't have them and we think its more dangerous to try and have them due to the rearend accident statistics. As far as DUI check points they will not go away anytime soon. Supreme court ruled as long as it was for safety reasons and not narcotics checkpoints they are legal. DUI's are a major problem. As far as blood, urine, and breath tests, you signed for your license stating you would submit to these tests. If you don't like it turn your license back in. Driving on the roadways is not a right its a privilege. And another thing about posting lazy a$% cops at red lights. When we stop people for running redlights we will get chewed for fooling with them when "real" crime happening.

Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2

 

[1991a1colt]

I understand and don't get me wrong. I am pro constitution 100%. There are a lot of other things we tend to forget. Let's take seatbelt law for example. The states all say its for public safety. It is and it isn't. The feds pressured the states into signing laws into effect or loose a lot of money for highway improvements. The reason the feds did this is because of the millions if not billons of dollars of "we the peoples" money going into hospitalization of people injured in car wrecks who don't have insurance and hospitalization insurance. The laws of every state may have been made under duress from the FEDs. It very complex and our bill of rights drafters did not know that civil law would be so out of control with so many lawsuits and such. There is no easy answer the this problem. We should all sell our cars and buys horses

Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2