Red-light cameras first came into use in the early 1990s. Since then, their reputation has grown with cities worldwide. The cameras are made to take a picture of automobiles crossing an intersection on a red light. Tickets are then mailed to the authorized owner. Opponents say they invade on privacy and they're more about profits than public safety. Fans argue that they keep drivers accountable and are cost-effective.
Income over security
As reported by the United States Public Interest Research Group, Redflex and American Traffic Solutions are contracted by several municipalities. They take half of the traffic ticket income when cash comes in. Municipalities then require police force to write more tickets to increase revenue.
AOL Autos' Ross Kenneth Urken says that rear-end collisions become less common with longer yellow lights. This is why he believes the yellow light change should be made. Profits go up with a shorter yellow light for cities though. That is why yellow lights are so short sometimes. A ticket was given to a former mayor in a neighboring town in Glassboro, N.J. In the town, the yellow lights weren't meeting national standards. They were less than four seconds.
Power to little businesses
Many private companies end up with a lot of power. This is given to them in contract, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group explained. The contracts do not even give municipalities a break. If they waive over 10 percent of red-light tickets, they get a penalty. Some have the right to veto locations of red-light cams if they think the location won't yield sufficient revenue.
Camera bans
Red-light cams are not legal everywhere. They have been banned in many towns already, Urken explains. Probably the most recent large cities to get rid of red-light cams are Los Angeles, Houston and Colorado Springs.
Currently, red-light cams are suspended in some places. This includes Naperville, Ill. A huge project will lead to two cameras getting shut down. There are only 3 intersections that even use the cams. Not enough revenue comes in with just one red light camera. That is why the city got rid of its cams for now. The city will not be extending the contract with only one intersection.
Monday the city of Albuquerque, N.M., is set to vote on whether or not to discontinue the use of its red-light cams. City council member Dan Lewis said, if the cameras are taken down, "the city will be forced to engineer traffic intersections for safety and not revenue."
Many people like them
The cities are able to continue to work with the revenue from the cameras that improve traffic safety and reduce accidents, as reported by the machine supporters. Mayor Richard Berry explained that many intersections show improvement in security. In fact, it was shown at 14 of the 20 intersections being monitored.
Motorist responsibility was a reason why cameras should be operating, as reported by Albuquerque Police Sgt. Jana Ryan:
"People think that it's their God-given right to drive however they want, and they don't think the cameras give them a sporting chance."
Income over security
As reported by the United States Public Interest Research Group, Redflex and American Traffic Solutions are contracted by several municipalities. They take half of the traffic ticket income when cash comes in. Municipalities then require police force to write more tickets to increase revenue.
AOL Autos' Ross Kenneth Urken says that rear-end collisions become less common with longer yellow lights. This is why he believes the yellow light change should be made. Profits go up with a shorter yellow light for cities though. That is why yellow lights are so short sometimes. A ticket was given to a former mayor in a neighboring town in Glassboro, N.J. In the town, the yellow lights weren't meeting national standards. They were less than four seconds.
Power to little businesses
Many private companies end up with a lot of power. This is given to them in contract, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group explained. The contracts do not even give municipalities a break. If they waive over 10 percent of red-light tickets, they get a penalty. Some have the right to veto locations of red-light cams if they think the location won't yield sufficient revenue.
Camera bans
Red-light cams are not legal everywhere. They have been banned in many towns already, Urken explains. Probably the most recent large cities to get rid of red-light cams are Los Angeles, Houston and Colorado Springs.
Currently, red-light cams are suspended in some places. This includes Naperville, Ill. A huge project will lead to two cameras getting shut down. There are only 3 intersections that even use the cams. Not enough revenue comes in with just one red light camera. That is why the city got rid of its cams for now. The city will not be extending the contract with only one intersection.
Monday the city of Albuquerque, N.M., is set to vote on whether or not to discontinue the use of its red-light cams. City council member Dan Lewis said, if the cameras are taken down, "the city will be forced to engineer traffic intersections for safety and not revenue."
Many people like them
The cities are able to continue to work with the revenue from the cameras that improve traffic safety and reduce accidents, as reported by the machine supporters. Mayor Richard Berry explained that many intersections show improvement in security. In fact, it was shown at 14 of the 20 intersections being monitored.
Motorist responsibility was a reason why cameras should be operating, as reported by Albuquerque Police Sgt. Jana Ryan:
"People think that it's their God-given right to drive however they want, and they don't think the cameras give them a sporting chance."
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