FindLaw.com survey: Americans oppose “speed trap” radar cameras
Smile, you’re on radar speed trap camera!
More communities across the country are adopting automated radar-activated cameras to catch speeding motorists in the act, and such cameras are opposed by a majority of Americans, says a new survey from FindLaw.com.
The survey found that 52 percent of Americans oppose the use of radar speed cameras, while 48 percent support them. Advocates say the cameras increase safety, but opponents contend they are often little more than revenue grabs by communities seeking to fill their local coffers. Interestingly, there is a split between men and women on the issue — a majority of women support the use of speed cameras while a majority of men oppose it.
Ohio recently adopted a law requiring the presence of a law enforcement officer when a speeding ticket is issued, effectively banning automated speed cameras. Nationwide, however, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says the number of communities using radar speed cameras increased from 115 in 2011 to 137 in 2014.
This is in contrast to the use of cameras that enforce red-light violations at intersections. The use of such cameras is decreasing, even though FindLaw found that Americans support the use of red-light cameras by 56 to 44 percent.
Free information on traffic tickets, including information on avoiding traffic tickets, types of traffic tickets, how to fight a ticket, and a searchable directory for finding an attorney, can be found at http://traffic.findlaw.com/traffic-tickets.html
Red-light cameras are ALL about money. All you need to do is have 85th percentile free-flowing traffic speed limits, use longer yellow times, have a decent length all-red interval, and sensors to keep an all-red for late arrivals. No crashes! You can also sync lights and use sensors to keep smooth flow and know where the cars are.
What is the point of using poor engineering with predatory enforcement, if not 100% revenue?
You can easily find data showing cameras lead to more crashes and safe drivers ticketed. The way it is setup, you have split-second violations, tickets for stops past the stop line, AND violations for a non-complete stop for a right-on-red turn.
Speed cameras have been shown NOT to work correctly, as we’ve seen tickets to stopped cars! Same there, unrealistic limits and cushions.
Then you have the stop-arm cameras for school buses, despite the fact that most deaths involve the bus running the students over.
Check out the National Motorists Association for unbiased info.