Is it just Chicago: Re: Red light ripoff?

[zork]

4) The Red Light Cameras

Everybody hates them. A January poll found three in four Chicago voters want them eliminated. But Emanuel has been a big supporter and defender of the camera program, which generates some $70 million in annual revenue for the city, even though it has been mired in scandal and controversy.

Among the most damaging revelations: A recent Chicago Tribune investigation showed that the cameras have failed to deliver the much ballyhooed safety benefits promised by the administration, and that City Hall's hush-hush decision to shorten yellow light times led to an additional $7.7 million in tickets issued.

Last week, Garcia promised to get rid of all of the cameras on his first day as mayor, saying, "It’s time to end the red light rip-off."

Lo and behold, this week Emanuel announced plans to yank 50 red-light cameras while denying (with a straight face, no less) the move had anything to do with Garcia or the election.

5) The Shootings

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/03/11/5_signs_rahm_may_be_doomed_125888.html

I believe they did this in the Irving area, Las Colinas area, totally quicktimed yellow lights in a red light camera area. It certainly wasn't for traffic safety. The politicians responsible for this type of thing should be put in prison. Hopefully Rahm will pay with his job.

 

[zork]

shortening the yellow light when you install a red light camera seems criminal to me.

 

[Seattle Husker]

shortening the yellow light when you install a red light camera seems criminal to me.

Is there documented proof of that? I'd agree that would be abhorrent but is there any data to back that up?

 

[zork]

The assertion is backed by a journalist in Chicago according to the link in the OP. My experience was driving south on Macarthur in Irving through Las Colinas. I'd have to research it more to say otherwise. If it is happening in Chicago, with 10% increases in fines where the yellow lights were shortened, surely it isn't the only place. Or maybe Rahm's policies are just that crooked and unique perhaps?

 

[Mr. Deez]

In Texas, you can blame former State Rep. Linda Harper-Brown (who interestingly represented Las Colinas) for the red light camera BS. She pulled a dirty trick on the House floor back in 2003 to get it slipped into a bill (even though she knew the House was overwhelmingly opposed to the bill), and she arguably took a bribe from a company that sells red light cameras. Harper-Brown was defeated in the 2014 Republican primary.

http://lonestarproject.net/linda-harper-brown-facing-bribery-probe#.VQLFz_nF9lg

 

[Larry T Spider]

There in one near my house in Round Rock. It has most certainly made the intersection more dangerous. Its time for them to go. There has been a lot of research that they don't improve safety, only raise revenue. Using police officers, cameras, etc as tax collectors instead of public safety servants has gotten out of control.

 

[Mr. Deez]

they don't improve safety, only raise revenue.

And that's why they're going to be hard to get rid of.

 

[Larry T Spider]

Exactly. We have changed law enforcement into a revenue vehicle. Getting rid of ridiculous things because they are ridiculous isn't enough. Now we have to justify where the money is going to come from to replace what is lost. Look at police resource allocation. How many people are assigned to getting your stolen property back vs running speed traps? One pays the bills and one doesn't. I think it also motivated some drug bust decisions because of the laws that allow the cops to keep confiscated property. I think we should have laws and they should be enforced in a reasonable manner without the bottom line driving the decision on what laws to enforce more aggressively, but I'm a idealist on the issue.