DC's New Traffic Cams

The best is when you get one in a rental car, since the rental company just charges your credit card and adds a nice service charge(yes, it's in the microscopic print). I apparently got a camera one in a rental car where there was an accident and the police were waving vehicles through the red lights to clear the road. Called the rental company, they sent me a copy of the photo ticket and I called the number listed to challenge the ticket. They said I couldn't fight it because 1) the rental company already paid it and 2) only the registered owner of the car could fight it. Fat chance Hertz is going to fight city hall for me. Guess I won't fret as much the next time I spill a milkshake under the seat of a rental.

JamesBr wrote:
Harold, you would have to be a DC Metro local to know that they are just revenue generators. When the city announced the proposal to add these cameras they did not speak of expected improvements in less accidents, traffic or pedestrian safety. Instead they spoke of expected additional revenue of adding these cameras as the existing ones have seen revenue drop.

Revenue generators......you bet! But so are majority of traffic laws.

So these new cameras were installed because existing ones have seen a revenue drop.
Hummmmm.....was that revenue drop due to more folks complying with the traffic laws that they were being ticketed for.

Sounds like a win-win
Revenue generator (as all traffic tickets do) & more folks paying attention (nothing gets ones attention better than a whack to the wallet).
I like it! Course I haven't 'contributed' in over 30 yrs. So I have no reason not to like it.

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Any time these cameras go up there will be abuse by the people who put them up, since they are there to earn revenue for the company installing them. The city/county/state shares in that revenue, but the company puts them there for revenue generation for the company. "Safety" is how they are sold, but make no mistake, they are revenue generators.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is not living in the real world.

The people who think they are wonderful haven't been given the gift of trying to prove their innocence to the bureaucracy charged with collecting the revenues for the company/state/county/city. When that fateful day arrives a change of opinion will occur.

I also see nothing wrong with a 60-40 split. There's a lot of technology behind those monitoring systems, plus the cost of the cameras, employees, and upkeep. Does the local police department have the capability to do all that? I don't think so.

Bumpyroad wrote:

harold1946 wrote:


Nothing in the article stated it was a means to raise revenue.
It is an attempt to get everyone to obey the laws. If you break them you deserve the ticket. :S

what universe are you living in? there have been lots of articles in the Washington Compost about issues with the traffic cameras.
bumpy

If it is that much of an issue, why is the populace not demanding changes be made :@
Sounds to me like the city government is a select few making laws that no one wants. Either that or a select few are complaining and everyone else is in favor.
It must be a unique universe you live in where the people do not have a voice in law making or choosing the lawmakers.

Anyone who doesn't believe these were installed as revenue generators, is living in a fantasy world. The speed cameras were installed and the speed limits were then set at unreasonably low limits. A couple of years ago now, I wound my way through DC in moderate traffic and ended up with a $100 ticket. The photo of my vehicle showed others directly in front of and behind me, so I'm guessing the camera had a field day, nailing everyone in sight.

I wrote in and told them to stuff it. After several threatening letters, the harassment stopped. I have yet to see anything on my credit report and have done RMV transactions as recently as two weeks ago with no issues.

DutchmenSport wrote:
I think it's fantastic! I wish EVERY single stop light in the entire country was photo monitored.

And I am one to brag because I got "hit" by one of those photo's in Cedar Rapids, Iowa three years ago. Imagine my surprise when I got that letter in the mail 3 months later with my photo and a web site to pay my fine! I paid, and NOW, when driving through Cedar Rapids, I pay attention to that little sign that says "Photo enforced!" And I noticed every one else driving that strip is not speeding either!

I'm not an aggressive driver at all. Actually, I've officially jointed the "old farts club". But the way people drive is absolutely insane!

Cash for the "system!" Sure! Why not. Drive according to the law and you'll have no problems!

STOP means STOP! Not look both ways and fly through!

Just wait until you get a photo ticket from a city you were never in. Could you tell it was you that was driving?? I doubt it. I got three parking tickets from New York City when I was elsewhere. Was a pain in the kester to get them resolved. NY(City) livery plates use the same numbers that NY(State) passenger plates run. They get a pic of some NYC cab driver and send me the ticket cause license number is the same. Not my fault they can't coordinate their licence number system !!!

city "split the ticket pot 60-40 with Optotraffic, the company that installed and operated the cameras." Just who's in bed with who???

I think it's fantastic! I wish EVERY single stop light in the entire country was photo monitored.

And I am one to brag because I got "hit" by one of those photo's in Cedar Rapids, Iowa three years ago. Imagine my surprise when I got that letter in the mail 3 months later with my photo and a web site to pay my fine! I paid, and NOW, when driving through Cedar Rapids, I pay attention to that little sign that says "Photo enforced!" And I noticed every one else driving that strip is not speeding either!

I'm not an aggressive driver at all. Actually, I've officially jointed the "old farts club". But the way people drive is absolutely insane!

Cash for the "system!" Sure! Why not. Drive according to the law and you'll have no problems!

STOP means STOP! Not look both ways and fly through!