Are red light cameras for police safety?

Question

I was wondering the strategy behind red light cameras. It seems people run red lights at any intersection. Are they set up in higher crime areas so officers don't have get out of their cars to issue tickets in a place where their life might be at risk?

Answer 1

No not for police safety but for public safety and cost efficiency. You can't hire enough cops to enforce red lights or most traffic laws. The cameras are supposed to be placed at intersections that have a high accident rate.
One problem developing is that cities are looking to the fines as part of their revenue stream. This is only semi ethical. They and all fines are supposed to be used to keep people from causing danger to others when they violate.

Answer 2

I live in Chicago and near one of the most heavily traveled intersections. I have seen 3-4 cars at a time go thru the red light. An Officer would not be able to catch all the violators. A red light camera was installed and still people drive thru the red light. I'm not talking about a light that just changed, but a solid red. I have been thru that intersection a few times and am waiting to turn left when the light changes. Have yet to get a ticket, whoever is looking at the photos taken are doing a good job. Accidents have gone down dramatically at the site. They do work well wherever they are placed. There needs to be a camera on every corner, obviously drivers don't get it that red means stop. Just my opinion.

Answer 3

The answerers above are right. It's about the money. I got caught by one and read up on them because I knew the light was yellow when I entered (the pictures even proved it) and I wanted to fight it. I found out two things:

1) They don't care what color the light was when you entered the intersection. If they got you on camera, they'll send you a ticket. It doesn't matter if the light was green and you were stuck behind another car until it turned red. They'll ticket you if you're behind the red line, which is often in the middle of the intersection. That wouldn't even be a violation ordinarily, but it makes it easier for them to set up the cameras.

2) The manufacturers of the cameras have a slogan that says "good for safety and your bottom line". I think it's obvious that the bottom line is the more important one of the two.

[edit]
Fast Eddie B is right; they like to shorten the yellow lights. That was mentioned on one of the web sites, but I've seen it myself too. There's a trap right on the edge of town where they don't have a camera yet but the deputies like to sit there and wait. It's a 50 mph zone and I timed the yellow light once at two seconds! Think about how long it takes to safely come to a stop from 50 mph. They're deliberately endangering people's lives just to write more tickets. If they're that strapped for cash I'd rather pay higher taxes than take my life into my hands every time the light changes.

Don't get me wrong. Red light running is dangerous and they need to do something about it, but they're going about it all wrong. They're letting greed get in the way of safety.

Answer 4

No, they are just another way to make money. I live in the greater Cleveland, OH area, and they have had them for a few years.

Back in April I got one of these tickets, $100 fine, for an incident that occured in January. The ticket was to be paid to a company (I assume the one that installed them) and they got like 60% of the ticket. If you get one of these tickets you don't get points on your license, however if an officer catches you, you get like 2 points.

This area is a low crime area. If anyone is familliar with the area by Cleveland Hopkins Airport, they could tell you it isn't a dangerous (high crime) area. It is just a way that the city can generate revinew cheaply. There is no patrol car or police officer to pay for being there.

In my opinion they are "overglorified" parking tickets that are given to a "meter maid" that sits at a desk for 8 hours a day. Now that I think about it, where can I find a job like that?

Answer 5

They're only there to funnel money into city coffers - nothing more, nothing less. At most intersections with red light cameras the city has shortened the yellow light cycle to ensure that more folks get nailed. It's all about the money, honey!

Check this out - the companies making the cameras do not and will not sell them to the city. It's so lucrative that they insist (and the city agrees) on getting a CUT of the money from the tickets - in addition to the very high leasing fees! I know that sounds unbelievable but it's true.

Don't blame the companies, though; it's just business and they're dead in the water without greedy, venal city politicians.

Answer 6

Some of the cameras are set up at intersections to not necessarily catch people but to let dispatch know that there is an accident there.

Answer 7

Simply, a revenue stream without having personnel diverted to those areas. In Cleveland, OH, countless thousands of tickets through cameras may be invalid due to the city breaking its own rules on how the devices were supposed to be set up at intersections.

Answer 8

police agencies do not impose fines. Courts impose fines. Police agencies accuse people of crimes and the accusations are resolved in courts. One does not defend in court by sending a letter. One pleads not guilty and stands trial. If you are asking if you have a defense beause you did not know you would get caught, or because you thought it would be safer to ignore the red light, you do not.

Answer 9

Because no one wants to pat higher property taxes to hire more police but want to complain when it take three hours for an officer to show up when their bike gets stolen.

Answer 10

Ya its because the cops are sittin at the doughnut shop