Red Light Cameras

An MSNBC article titled, "Red Light Cameras Work Too Good for Their Own Good" enlightened me about the real motivation behind enforcing traffic violations.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23710970

In Dallas, TX, they had installed "red light cameras" to capture images of drivers in the act of violating traffic laws. There are cameras like these all over the country. I'm familar with them because my sister was ticketed in NYC and she received a picture of her car before and as she ran a red light at 2 am. I mocked her stupidity ("Thought you were gonna get away with it, huh?") while being in awe of the technology.

In Texas and Illinois, however, they have decided that the cameras work TOO WELL and have limited or ceased using them. "Why?" one might ask. Because their revenue for ticketable offenses has decreased too much. But wait--I thought devices like these were implemented to lower the amount of violations and consequently make the roads safer. Nope. It turns out these nifty cameras were put in place solely to catch more criminals (and generate profit) not to stop them. Since "violators" were aware of the cameras, they were more conscious of their driving, less tickets were handed out, and the government got less money.

It's one thing to take extra cash from careless drivers but another to depend upon them as a regular profit. I didn't realize minor crime was an economic crux. The police claim that without the ticket revenue they can't afford to operate the cameras that were installed to generate ticket revenue. HA! A great expediture that turned out to be.

The next time you get pulled over tell the cop, "I pay taxes."