Red Light Cameras and Speeding Cameras Generate Tickets, Controversy, and News Stories

Personally, I believe that all of these devices should be banned. The goal of law enforcement is to protect the citizens, not be a revenue raising device. The tickets issued by these machines are bogus, especially because you are considered guilty - leaving you with the burden of proof proving your innocence.

First up, CHEERS TO Schaumburg, Illinois:

This week, Schaumburg called their contract with RedSpeed, citing no improvements in safety and a flood of angry-motorist grief. This decision was made after red-light cameras at the village's lone picture-snapping intersection netted more than $1 million in tickets.
Chicago Tribune

Second - Jeers to Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson

While defending the camera ticket program he stated, "I guess you can say that's true with every ticket that's issued,I guess all tickets should be disbanded because all tickets are moneymakers."

Johnson said when police first started using radar guns to nab speeders, it didn't cause a public uproar like red-light cameras generate now. Well no doubt, Mr. Johnson - that is because police officers, HUMAN BEINGS, have judgment and do not issue citations that are arbitrary.

So the cameras are not moneymakers? Well consider this fact dug up by the Daily Herald - As of June 30, 2009, Elk Grove Village's seven red-light cameras generated $928,749 in their first year of operation. By comparison, the village received roughly $600,000 in revenue from other traffic tickets during that time. That, sir, I would call revenue generating / money making.

Next, Jeers to the Montgomery County (Rockville, Md.) Judge Who threw out camera speeding tickets issued to on duty police officers.

A Montgomery County judge has thrown out speeding tickets issued to four county police officers.

Automated cameras snapped pictures of the officers' cruisers exceeding the speed limit while the officers were on duty. The violations are as follows: 50 in a 25mph zone, 51 in a 25 mph zone, 36 in a 25 mph zone, and 46 in a 35mph zone.

Circuit Court Judge Ronald Rubin ruled Monday that the officers' right to due process had been violated because the police department doesn't have a written policy outlining when on-duty officers are exempt from speed camera tickets.

This decision has outraged some citizens, especially those who feel that law enforcement officers should be held to the same standard as ordinary citizens. "They are afforded more due process than the average citizen," said Assistant State's Attorney Teresa Casafranca.

From the Examiner