Revenge...

[[AK]Hylander]

I hate these things...

[[AK]Swae]

I actually really like them. They just added about 20 cameras at intersections around Baton Rouge where wrecks and light-running were frequent. 2 of those dangerous intersections are right by my house. Since the cameras have been installed, I have noticed a LOT less light-running than before, and I actually am not terrified of driving through a green light and getting t-boned (it's happened once already).

I do find it interesting though that it is handled as a "civil matter" rather than a traffic court issue. If you don't pay it, the police won't come get you, they'll just turn you over to a collection agency and ruin your credit.

[[AK]Bojan]

I see nothing wrong with traffic cameras.

unless of course your someone who likes to run red lights.

Personally I see 3-4 cars (live in a small town) run red lights daily, usually in turn lanes, and everytime I see one it pisses me off.

[[AK]Hylander]

These aren't red light cameras - they're speed cameras. Nothing more than another way to "tax" you. For the record, I haven't had a speeding ticket in over 13 years - and I set my cruise control on 80 for my commute to work every day.

Pretty soon we'll be like Britain.. as soon as you leave your home, you are on candid camera.

[[AK]The Beast]

This is the main reason I don't have an EZ Pass. Heaven knows I go through enough toll booths every single stinkin' time I go to visit friends or family, but there's been talk (at a bare minimum) of using the time between EZ Pass stations to calculate average speed, and mailing a ticket if the average is over the speed limit. I'm like Hylander--I routinely drive 80 MPH on highways and have never had an accident, ticket, or even a close call while doing so.

That said, the prank in the article is exactly the type of "heckle" that Fax and I would have pulled in high school.

[[AK]Ozzred]

This is the main reason I don't have an EZ Pass. Heaven knows I go through enough toll booths every single stinkin' time I go to visit friends or family, but there's been talk (at a bare minimum) of using the time between EZ Pass stations to calculate average speed, and mailing a ticket if the average is over the speed limit.

I've heard of that and clearly it could work. But I can't actually see it happening as it would be Extremely bad for business on behalf of EZ Pass. I would imagine there customer base would get a ticket or two and toss that pass in the trash.

[[AK]Hylander]

I do use EZ Pass since I go through the toll every day while commuting. But the day I hear they start using the data to collect a new revenue will be the day I start using the "free bridge" in Easton.

[[AK]Squidly]

I love EZ Pass. LOVE it.

[[AK]The Beast]

I've heard of that and clearly it could work. But I can't actually see it happening as it would be Extremely bad for business on behalf of EZ Pass. I would imagine there customer base would get a ticket or two and toss that pass in the trash.

Bad for EZ-Pass--sure. But it wouldn't be EZ-Pass's decision to make--it would be the state legislatures deciding to open a new revenue stream (as rarely as that happens.)

[[AK]Bojan]

Red Light Cam vs Speed Cam... to me both have pretty much the same function.

My commute isnt as bad as some roughly 35 miles each way, the majority being on the interstate. I set my cruise on 68, the speed limit being 65, and have never had a problem.

Surprisingly those that go 50-60 get more on my nerves that those going 75 and should be tickets just the same in my eyes, but thats another aurgument.

Regardless you get busted by a speed cam you got no one to blame but yourself, besides that i like the idea of the those breaking the law paying more towards helping those that prevent it, instead of raising "my" taxes.

[[AK]Beaker]

I drive 100 miles a day. I've been ticketted once, I was speeding I didn't get mad it was my choice to break the law. I wouldn't have a problem with cameras for speeding. Shrug, I guess I just always figured when I speed I am doing so knowing I can get a ticket. In Texas there is a little town I used to drive through that had no tolerance for speeding and guess what traffic there slowed down. Cameras or agressive enforesment there isn't a difference in my mind.

[[AK]Hylander]

I love EZ Pass. LOVE it.

I just wish there were a way to prevent idiots who don't have EZ Pass from going through the lanes and stopping traffic for 5 minutes because they don't know what to do! I guess the big purple sign that says "EZ Pass Only" is too hard to understand.

[[AK]Hylander]

Regardless you get busted by a speed cam you got no one to blame but yourself, besides that i like the idea of the those breaking the law paying more towards helping those that prevent it, instead of raising "my" taxes.

Yes - because those camera's are 100% accurate. We'll see how much you love them the first time you aren't speeding, and get a ticket.

And you never "break the law", right? Do you ride in the left passing lane when you aren't passing another vehicle? Maybe they should start fining people for that too.. since it's "against the law". How about rolling through stop signs, don't signal turns, or how about stopping across the painted while lines of block cross walks - that's all breaking the law. We should have cameras for that too!

I've been commuting 70 miles a day for 13 years now on Route 78 between PA and Jersey. I've never gotten a speeding ticket. (I know the trap zones by heart and I don't own a radar detector - even though they are legal here) The only accident I ever had was me stopped at a red light and a driver didn't stop and rear ended the car behind me who then hit the back of my Volvo. Relatively minor body damage to my car, but the two cars behind me were pretty much totaled. The drivers who go 10MPH under the speed limit do more to cause congestion and accidents than the people who go 10 over.

[[AK]Swae]

I've been commuting 70 miles a day for 13 years now on Route 78 between PA and Jersey. I've never gotten a speeding ticket. (I know the trap zones by heart and I don't own a radar detector - even though they are legal here)

So you have avoided getting ticketed by not breaking the law in a situation where you are likely to get caught. The red light cameras acheive the same thing, and as a handy side-effect, make the intersection safer for those of us that do follow the laws.

I'm having a hard time understanding why you have a problem with enforcement of laws designed to keep us safe. I don't remember the exact figures, but the numbers of tickets given by the cameras in my city dropped dramatically after the first few weeks. Why? Because people started getting ticketed and either a) avoided the intersections with cameras or b) began obeying the law when at that signal. End result? When I'm going through that intersection it is less likely that someone will break the law and potentially cause an accident with me involved. I'm A-OK with that.

[[AK]Bojan]

Yes - because those camera's are 100% accurate. We'll see how much you love them the first time you aren't speeding, and get a ticket.

I didnt know we were discussing how accurate the equipment was, but if I got a ticket when I felt I wasnt breaking the law I would take care of it the same as you would in any other situation. Pleade not guilty and contest it.

And you never "break the law", right? Do you ride in the left passing lane when you aren't passing another vehicle? Maybe they should start fining people for that too.. since it's "against the law". How about rolling through stop signs, don't signal turns, or how about stopping across the painted while lines of block cross walks - that's all breaking the law. We should have cameras for that too!

I never said I dont break the law, I said if you get caught you have no one to blame but yourself and that applies to all of your scenarios.

I've been commuting 70 miles a day for 13 years now on Route 78 between PA and Jersey. I've never gotten a speeding ticket. (I know the trap zones by heart and I don't own a radar detector - even though they are legal here) The only accident I ever had was me stopped at a red light and a driver didn't stop and rear ended the car behind me who then hit the back of my Volvo. Relatively minor body damage to my car, but the two cars behind me were pretty much totaled. The drivers who go 10MPH under the speed limit do more to cause congestion and accidents than the people who go 10 over.

Sounds like your upset because you have to learn when to slow down again