Are stop light cameras legal? Do you think they should be banned?

Manny

They are one of the greatest inventions EVER. If you'd put the cell down, and plan accordingly, you'd never have to try and beat the yellow.

T-bone accidents (the kind that happen when dum @sses like to try and beat the red light or aren't paying attention) are among the most lethal kinds of accidents in urban areas.

BTW, the yellow light officially means: Stop if it is safe to do so.

Also, I absolutely hate that they shortent the yellow light time when they put them up.

I also think we need a fourth indicator, namely, a flashing yellow when it is about to turn red.

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dukalink6000

After nearly getting powdered in San Francisco with light runners, I don;t have a problem with it

avery

They must be, because more cities are using..........I don't have a issue with them.

ncjay08

I hate them, illegal or not. The area I live in is putting them all over and then shortening the amount of time the light stays green. It is really making a mess out of traffic. Roads where traffic could flow through are now clogged much of the time because of the lousy lights. There are ways to render those cameras fairly useless if you're clever or brave enough.

melissa p

They are legal in Texas, which is where I live. While I was living in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Area, I remember a lawsuit filed against one of the suburbs. When you run a red light, a photo is taken of the driver and the car and then a ticket (fine) and the photo are mailed to you. A man received a ticket in the mail because his car had run a red light. He looked at the photo and it was a photo of his wife and another man. I think the wife filed suit claiming invasion of privacy. Its still tied up in litigation and the couple have now divorced.

Poli Sci / Law Prof

They are legal in most places I am aware of. There has been a constitutional issue raised as to whether the camera violates the right of accused to cross examine the accuser with some effect.

Most judges allow a law enforcement officer or a representative from the camera company to "speak" for the camera, but the defense has won on this (rarely).

If I were hearing such a case I would allow the use of cameras under the constitution, but would have no problem with the legislatures of states (or the people through a proposition) to make the use illegal.

Yes they are legal! However that need to be banned! Get rid of them now. Too much big brother watching us!

Chainsaw

This is a tough one. It can help with accidents. It can help deter running red lights.

The downside is the government is watching everyone. I do not trust them. Also, you have due process issues. Sometimes, you cannot slow down in time to stop at a yellow light. At times, you run a red. Automatically giving a ticket for this is trying to make a grey area into a black and white issue.

Pia

When they send you a bill with the photo of the violation, send them back a picture of your money

fordkid14

Yes, they are legal. And no, they should not be banned until there is a way to get drivers to STOP at red lights.

Shutup Cindy

sadly they are legal. And with the greedy local governments wanting to fill their coffers, you will never get them banned. Look to see them more and more.

Random Precision

It amazes me how many people want to give up their right to privacy to automation. While an arugument can be made for using automatic cameras that dispense traffic citations, at intersections that have proven deadly, or even accident prone, they have begun installing them in the city I live in at intersections where I have never even seen an accident. I firmly believe they are being put in place with revenue generation in mind first, and safety a distant second. Futhermore, did you know that most, if not all of these devices are run by private companies who also profit from the ticket you pay? I say hire more cops, and get rid of robocop.

drake st

legal yes banned no

the only people that would want them banned are those that run red lights and since they endanger the lives of everyone else by their actions their opinions mean zilch

GIOSTORMUSN

In most states they are legal, the only time Constitutionality came up about the cameras came when the company was taking a higher percentage of each ticket than the city did for it's operation. They do give a chance to contest them since the picture is taken of the license plate and the driver. If you can prove you weren't driving the car when the offense happened. The ticket is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle, not the driver, that's the only error in the system.

The Answer Man

Yes they are legal, and no they should not be banned. I would rather have the police off catching criminals than out giving red light tickets. And there are far too many bad drivers out there running red lights, so I say ticket them through cameras.

basport_2000

Yes they are legal if you can see them and/or if it is posted that they are there...at least in Canada

strangedaze23

Yes they are. You have no right to privacy when you are outside.

And I think they are great. More accidents at intersections are caused by running red lights than any other reason.

synchronicity915

Yes they are legal. Does it matter what I think? Cops are gonna do what they wanna do anyway.

Jerome D

CARS HAVE NO CONSTITUTION PROTECTIONS

AS SUCH THE GOVERNMENT CAN FINE THE CAR ALL THEY WANT

MEN NEED TO BE TRIED AND CONVICTED WITH THE CHANCE TO CONFRONT THEIR ACCUSER PRIOR TO HAVING PROPERTY SEIZED

Itrolla

The tickets from them might not be. Tickets from the cameras are considered civil offense not criminal offenses and do not put points on your license. It doesn't stop some rich snob from screwing around as long as he can pay the civil tickets.

Meryl

Yes, they are legal. They probably should be banned. . . dunno how I feel about that one. It's kinda like, what's next if you're spying on me when I cross a lane of traffic.

Trollhair

Yes, they are legal.
No, they should not be banned.
They make the village idiots who are driving around follow the rules of the road. Stop at red lights.

chris n

umm actually i don know about in the states but here in canada there gone unfourtnatly the reason is really stupid too apparently a picture was sent of someone going trough a red light when it arived at home the wife of the guy opened it and it showed him in the car with his mistress so this was the cause of his devorce so he sewed for millions so therefore they were banned so it couldnt happen again

drwbama

No I don't think they should be banned. How many times have you sat at a red light only to see 4 cars go under it? I witnessed a tragic accident one afternoon. I was sitting at a red light, a car ran it, and was crushed by a truck. The driver was killed.

Answergirl

Yes they are legal and if you weren't breaking the law you wouldn't be bothered by them. Obey traffic laws and there is no worry. You just might be grateful for traffic cameras someday if someone runs a red light and then trys to accuse you of breaking the law.

go UCLA bruins!

Yeah they're legal, and I think they should have one at EVERY traffic light in America.

jstaguy58

Why not?
Are cell phone cams illegal?
No they shouldn't be banned. just like the cameras that watch people getting robbed at convenience stores... they are a deterrent to idiots who break the law.

mariner31

They are legal within the state of California, though liberal groups are seeking to outlaw them... If you RUN a red light, you have violated California Vehicle Code... pay up you cheap law-breakers !!

State law dictates that the camera can ONLY be active when the light is red. AND California law says a citation can only be issued when the license plate and driver are visible.

So please STOP your whining you liberal, paraniods !! Your tracked by your corporations with each and every purchase on a credit card... with each and every phone call by cell phone...

Should they be banned ? Absolutely NOT !!

The town I live in was setting up trailers with the speed-gun and camera... I want to see more of them !! The have an effect on those pesky SUV drivers who thing they have some magical right to drive 45 in a 25 MPH zone

sweet_thing_kay04

They are legal and I wish we had them in Michigan. Do you know how many people get killed from some idiot going through a light or stop sign?????If they were everywhere I beleive people would be more aware of them and deaths would decrease.

Pete

So far they are legal, but I'm sure the ACLU will come up with an objection some day. No, I don't think they should be banned. Why should they be? In our high-tech world we need high-tech crime fighting gear. They don't bother me since I'm not planning on breaking any laws - are you?

Answers

They are Legal.
They should be on EVERY corner.
there should be a special Squad of Cops
to man the recorders and send out the tickets.
The Fines would more than pay the Salaries.

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