On top of red-light cameras and speed cameras, some jurisdictions are starting to install stop-sign cameras in their seemingly never-ending quest to monitor drivers and catch them in the act of some ticket-able offense. California has already rolled out cameras at stop signs. Maryland and the nation's capital could be next.

Maryland right now allows only red-light cameras, but the town of Glen Echo wants the state legislature to expand government’s reach to include photo-ticketing for intersections with stop signs.

The District of Columbia is already considering a plan to spend $5.8 million on a traffic-enforcement plan that would include stop-sign cameras and ones that could detect and ticket vehicles speeding up to get through a yellow light.



Read more: Drivers' newest nemesis -- stop-sign cameras | Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/08/09/stop-sign-cameras-coming-next-to-your-town/?test=latestnews#ixzz233X8mOnL)

See, this is how it works, politicians and money are like kids and candy. Sadly, the electorate hasn't realized that they are govts parents when it comes to stuff. This is about cash, plain and simple. Simple test, force them to put any money they receive into a place where they cant use it. Watch how fast the support dries up.

Whats scary is that a way around the citizens normal route to get these sorts of things shut down has been found. Normally ( I think thirteen or fourteen cases out of fourteen or fifteen) the citizens get fed up and get a petition on the ballot to ban them. In all cases, the camera companies fight, using local do-gooders as proxies if needed. And almost always lose.

However, the camera companies have a new tactic, initially tested in WA state, and now deployed in anther state, i think OH. The new legal argument is that the citizenry has no standing to decide matters of public safety. Akin to the citizens holding a referendum to abolish the local fire department or police department. Expect this tactic to appear everywhere the citizens try to shut down automated enforcement.

day by day more government watching what we do inching ever closer to 1984.

this is bad news for people that don't know what stop means....

So you trust enforcement done for profit, Vince? And you assume, of course that no shenanigans will ever take place like tweaking the settings? Do you really trust politicians and private companies that much? See, they count of you taking the simple way out when thinking about this, part of how they work. Look deeper, and think about why enforcing the law solely for profit is a bad idea. Would you be okay with officers getting a cut of every ticket they wrote?

We need cameras in public restrooms so that people who don't wash their hands can get a ticket.

We need cameras in public restrooms so that people who don't wash their hands can get a ticket.

Or this:

Wirelessly posted (Samsung Galaxy S III )

Can it do double duty? Catch hookers and drug dealers.

this is bad news for people that don't know what stop means....

:dingding:

day by day more government watching what we do inching ever closer to 1984.

Doubleplusungood :mad:

:dingding:

So you also are okay with for-profit companies enforcing the law?

So you also are okay with for-profit companies enforcing the law?

For-profit companies aren't enforcing the law unless they're issuing the tickets.

But they are. After a careful review by a duly sworn officer of the law, as required by MD law. Except when that review is subverted in the name of profits.....


Officer who was dead signed over 2,000 tickets in Baltimore. Hmmmm, no rubber stamp there, eh?

Baltimore issues over 2,000 red light camera tickets with dead officer's signature (http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/16/baltimore-issues-over-2-000-red-light-camera-tickets-with-dead-o/)

Officer in Riverside Heights sounds off after two company employees use his login to approve over 1,000 citations...........

Lawsuit accuses Riverdale Park of speed camera fraud - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG (http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/19210755/lawsuit-accuses-riverdale-park-of-speed-camera-fraud)


Hell, in Forest Heights, the damn company even sets your freaking court date.

and I will note that recently, Delegate Frush and Sentaor Raskin both introduced legislation, HB944 and SB486., which would have removed the requirement for a sworn officer to review citations. Why? Because, of course, a sworn officer in MD costs a helluva lot more than a citation reviewer in say SC.

As always, it comes down to bottom line. And that line is lining pockets.