TN town takes down traffic cameras because they're losing money

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_168401.asp

by cwan • 16 years ago

14 8 16 years ago

chattanoogan.com

chaosmachine• 16 years ago

They should have kept quiet, and replaced the cameras with fakes.

astrec• 16 years ago

They're doing it wrong - nothing a fact finding trip to Victoria, Australia couldn't fix:

a) Red light cameras are so old school. Replace them with speed and red light cameras. When you put your foot down on amber you get pinged for speeding (~$150). A little late with the foot and you get pinged for speeding and running the red light (~$500).

b) Allow only 1.8mph grace despite the fact that speedometers are permitted 10% tolerance by the relevant design rules.

c) Rebrand as "Road Safety Cameras".

d) Profit.

Edit: I don't actually mind all the fixed cameras, but object to the covert mobile units.

gcheong• 16 years ago

Maybe they worked themselves out of a job.

graywh• 16 years ago

An intersection where I wait for the city bus in TN really needs a red light camera. During rush hour, it's a contest to see who can block the intersection the best. In the past year, I've seen only one car get pulled over for it. But I guess there are better things the police can be doing than ticketing stupid, inconsiderate drivers.

tkhoven• 16 years ago

I don't know how your cameras are designed but ours (Queensland, Australia) still wouldn't pick this up. They are only meant to activate when a vehicle enters the intersection or crosses the stop line after their light has turned red: http://www.police.qld.gov.au/Resources/Internet/programs/roa...

ZeroGravitas• 16 years ago

In london they have "Yellow Box Cameras" which detect people blocking four-way junctions. I don't know if it's the same in other countries but you're not supposed to enter these yellow marked boxes unless you are sure you can get to the other side, so you won't block cross traffic.

However, my first result of Googling claims that they're actually causing longer jams. Sound like it could be fixed with slightly smaller no-stop zones.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article673093.ece

callmeed• 16 years ago

They were also removed from the city of Santa Maria, California (my in-laws live there).

One theory I heard was that an excess of expired/unregistered vehicles made it difficult to issue or collect on citations.

loupgarou21• 16 years ago

Interesting. In Minnesota, red light cameras were found to violate due process, so they are no longer in use. Even though the red light cameras are no longer in use, all of the cameras that were set up in Minneapolis are still installed, they just aren't doing anything.

TN town takes down traffic cameras because they're losing money

Related Stories