Your argument really does'nt make sense to me.

You mentioned compassion? Where is the compassion for the potential victims or the victims family or the family of the offender?

If red light cameras save just one life, just one, then they have provide an immeasurable service.

And you mentioned ethics. Where is it ethical to put others in harms way with reckless drivers? Many people of this great nation have forgotten ( or never learned) that their pursuit of happiness is only valid if it does not encroach upon the well being of others. There are places designated for high risk behaviors like race tracks, drag strips, etc... If you wish to participate, it should be done there.

And for the record I am completely indifferent why the driver of this bus ran the red light. Yes we can sit here all night and ponder the what if's but lets face it, the driver here, as in the vast majority of the cases is in the wrong. These infractions take the lives of mothers, daughters, sons, dads, etc. And for what??? A few wasted minutes behind a lawful traffic signal. Maybe we should now challenge the ethical and moral basis for traffic signals? After all, why should anyone tell me when to stop or go.

Lets be clear of what we are talking about. This is not a victim less crime. This is not shoplifting or ripping off some parking meter. There is no "technically" when this bus runs a red light, smashes into a vehicle in the cross lanes, causing untold bodily harm and property damage. This is the reason why these systems need to be put in place IMO (which btw is also shared by the majority).

In addition to capturing the images of violators, these red light cameras are tied to the switching system of the lights so that when a violator enters the intersection after the signal turns red it prevents the signal for the cross traffic from turning green. Thus, essentially, preventing cross traffic from entering the intersection in front of the speeding, redlight running, homicidal driver!

And also for the record. If I were struck by this bus and I could egress from my mangled vehicle, I would empty an entire magazine into the driver's chest and would be vindicated. Well probably not, but I don't think I would lose much sleep over it.

And finally, if you would have taken the time to look closely enough in this picture you will observe that this bus is not in a mandatory turn lane. It continues through the intersection and there is even a metro bus stop a couple hundred feet down the block.

 

I think you are missing the point.

I agree that running red lights is dangerous, wrong and endangers lives, I would never in a million years argue that. So you need to be asking yourself, what is my point? My point it......





Alright I just thought of something that may help......

(side track for a second)
Just for the record, you'll be hard pressed to find any case outside of traffic cams where a photograph is the only evidence submitted and they got a conviction.

Anyway... back on track.

With you're philosohpies, then if automated cams are 100% fine... and photographic evidence can be used for conviction as the only evidence in robberies.

Then we might as well install automated tasers to work with the cams and as soon as they detect a crime, they taser the suspect and keep them imobile until officers arrive. It would cut down on robberies at convinece stores wouldn't it? Just hope the cam dosent see you pick something off the shelf and then put your hand in your pocket...... since it didn't see you put it back then you are a thief in the camera's eye, so you get tazzed and sense you claim no excuses for what the cam sees, then off what the cam seen you are convicted of shop lifting because the photgrpahic evidence showed it to be true.

 

The camera thing is kind of like the movie Judge Dredd. Remember he was the law. Also have you every heard of the point of no return when entering an intersection. The solid white line that leads to the intersection is kind of a warning. Also note in the pic the speed says 51, now if that is mph why isn’t the car next to the bus have its brakes locked up with smoke to make the stop. The nose of the car isn’t even dipping down as if it is under hard braking but it is keeping time with the bus. Did the car run the light also? Way to many variables to get from a photo. I have run a light before because the car behind me didn’t look like it was going to stop and you know what it didn’t. So if the other traffic is stop and the safer choice is to run the light then to be in a wreck Ill run the light. Do I make it a habit no way! With the size of our trucks or in the case of the bus you have to way your options before you make the decision. It’s called being alert and paying attention to what is going on around you. Just like you were taught in drivers ED. Am I a perfect driver heck no do I try and obey the laws yes, should every driver have to redo a driving test, yes they should probably every 10yrs. Your innocent until proven guilty not guilty until proven innocent. The photo is good for one thing and one thing only seeing the bus not stop in time for the light. Just my .02 though.

 

These cameras are not the final say in a traffic fine. This is not an automatic citation. The images collected by these cameras is forwarded to the police department, where, a human makes the final determination as to whether or not a law has been broken. See the quote below.

And I'm sure that you picked up on the part where it states that the cameras "do not record images of drivers or passengers" which is the "wiggle room" needed to contest the citation in court.

Ok. So we are thinking along the same lines, somewhat. Now of course having an "automated tazer" would not be very practical (but no doubt hilarious to watch on those "caught in the act" shows). Nor is ignoring the fact that advancements in technology has now allowed various municipalities to enforce the rules of the road and make our daily commutes easier with technology like EZ-Pass for toll roads. I don't hear anybody complaining about EZ-Pass.

I imagine that the same type of arguments that we are hearing now about these cameras were heard when law enforcement first started using radar guns to detect the speed of motorist. I can just hear it now. "Why shucks your honor. How can that new fangled device really know how fast I was going"

And just like with a hand written citation, these photographic citations offer due process where the alleged violator has the opportunity to challenge the findings in court.

nditech,

I was taught in driver's ed to maintain control of my vehicle at all times and drive defensively. With alertness, this bus driver would have known that the light had changed from green to amber and then to red. And I agree with you that this bus could not make a sudden stop and because of this the driver should have been operating the bus at a safer speed so that he could stop. Adapt your speed to the conditions of the road and traffic. The posted speed limit is the maximum allowed, not a mandate.

 

It is every drivers god-given right to use their vehicle at break-neck speeds when law enforcement is not around. It's the American dream.

I hate safety ****'s that push this crap everywhere. Why even bother with the traffic cams? Why not just pass laws to govern all vehicles to a nationally enforced 55mph speed limit and put red-light sensors in all new cars to eliminate the 'threat'. That way we can all arrive safely at our destinations, and little Timmy can get to school without becoming a greasy spot on Main Street.

 

I came across this quite by accident while looking for a pic for another thread. Seems apropos for this thread:

 

Yes auto tazers would make for some hilarious footage as long as I wasn't the one getting tazed.