@ishred: Oh come on, as if John McCain would of been able to shrink big government. I mean not even Reagan could do that, he'll he just increased big government and the national deficit. Big government is here to stay, whether we like it or not. No matter which party holds office at the top of the totem pole.

bbfreak

Who wants to start an undeground camera sniping movement? I think we need a rail gun to damage them enough, but the range doesn't have to be super far, maybe a mile at best.

SuperMacGuy

And, the high-end radar detectors have GPS built-in these days. You can manually add spots as you drive, or log on and download databases to the radar detector.

scarbrtj

@Alchemistmerlin: The end goal of the Panopticon is for the observed to internalize the policeman. Don't worry - we'll get them there.

Killjoy

@Alchemistmerlin: While that is for the most part true, actual criminals do believe they can just do what they want, it's not true for the rest of society that breaks one of the many, random laws they had no clue about...

...The laws that are put in place for absolutely no reason other than for government to have good look over your shoulder while you're trying to go about your otherwise normal routine.

It's not even about money (to an extent, yes), it's about an overwhelming lack of personal freedom in a society that is told they are free, simply because they want to know everything about everyone.

And no; "well if you don't do anything wrong..." does not work, the government still spends far too much time peering into the lives of its citizens, abiding or not.

GOKOR

@markgm:

Yes I totally agree...this is one of those things us citizens need to put our foot down and and take action. We need to physically tear down these cameras and destroy them. If we all did this there is nothing that could stop us. This is BULLSHIT and I'm tired of it.

MarkB

@GOKOR: "Our government needs to give us more control over our own lives, we need less government in essence."

That approach could reduce the ability to increase shareholder value, and as such this company - pardon me, this *government* has no use for such policy.

Killjoy

@GOKOR:

lol... ummm McCain WAS using it as career advancement... it was his LAST possible move and he failed twice to achieve it.

Tough luck for him and we are in much better hands... remember trying to deregulate things ( supposedly smaller government meant major economic fail ). Regulations exist to keep crap like we are currently going through from happening and that IS the government's job!

dOk

@SouthendXGF: When your choices are between the party that says "smaller gov" and actually implements bigger gov, and the party that says "bigger gov" and does what it says, that's not actually a choice, is it? The American people didn't "choose" bigger gov over smaller because that wasn't one of the available choices.

Killjoy

@vicsells:

Yes there are lots of signs for them actually, typically the read "Speed Limit" and a number.

Alchemistmerlin

It's never safe to run a red light? I run red lights constantly. You know the utterly pointless left turn arrows they feel the need to install at EVERY single new stop light? Please people, if there's no one coming, run them.

cpthook

@jp182: And how everybody seemed to conveiniantly forget that the Patriot Act did nothing more than strengthen laws passed during the Clinton era. Government exists to gain power, and once gained, to expand that power. The only thing your choice of government does is effect the rate of growth.

junyo

@Sortafast:

Most criminals believe that they should be allowed to do what ever it is they did wrong, just ask people who evade taxes or rip off medicare. It's always a conspiracy against the criminal.

There's no way you could actually be doing something wrong, clearly the GOVERNMENT is out to get your money!

Alchemistmerlin

People need to stop being pussies and take these things down.

markgm

You can add this feature to most GPSs with a simple download. Check out [www.gps-data-team.com]

Red light cameras greatly increase the accident rate at intersections because people jam on their brakes for yellow lights! I know that when I go through an intersection with a known red-light camera, I floor it! Don't wanna get caught if the light changes. Real safe!

bjcbjc

@vicsells: Nope, I got busted by a speed camera on 295 outside of DC last year. I saw no signs, only the bright flash and the realization that I now owed DC $200 for speeding.

TendoMentis

I wouldn't mind speed traps if they increased speed limits in North America (States that still have a 55mph speed limit, which I think there still are a few of, are freakin horrible to drive through).

Increased speed limits could be dangerous if you don't get all the old never-restored/upgraded cars off the road though. Yeah, I know you're broke, but that doesn't mean you should be allowed to drive a dangerous rust-bucket around and putting everyone else's safety at risk.

Our cars are no longer the unsafe cars of the past, if you get bad drivers and bad cars off the roads you will increase safety much more than if you keep all those bad cars/drivers on the road and reduce the average speed with traffic cams.

Posavoie

@Reil is the eggman.:

Don't worry about that. . .

jswilson64

If speed limits were about safety, cars would be electronically limited to 55mph.

Speed limits are about REVENUE. It's all about catching you speeding so the local municipality can make money off the tickets.

I call it what it really is. The "Highway Tax".

Sortafast

How to know speed & red-light cameras are NOT for safety enforcement only: the vendors (in most places) get to keep some of the money from every ticket generated.

Follow the money, people.

jswilson64

My GPS (a Mio) that I've been using here in Sweden for the past few years has had that feature from the start. Quite useful although I tend to stay around the limit anyway.

BoinK

@ishred: Yeah, the absolute WRONG choice.

The only thing he did better than McCain was be Mr. Popular, which isn't what McCain is going for anyway considering he actually wanted to help this country and not just use it as a career advancement.

GOKOR

@Reil is the eggman.: oh how quickly everyone forgets the last 8 years that brought us the Patriot Act...

jp182

@Reil is the eggman.: urrite. two sides of the same corrupt, power hungry coin. dem or rep, makes no difference.

The Chad

@vicsells: We've got speed cameras in IL, mainly in construction zones and toll plazas

UofITom

i am in Scottsdale, AZ. by the end of 2008 there will be around 80 speed cameras on all major highways. By March 2009 there will be 100+. They have been up for 2 weeks and i already got a ticket. I hate this place.

mattweitekamp

@SouthendXGF: Because the government definitely didn't grow to epic proportions during the Bush Administration, amirite?

Reil is the eggman.

@GOKOR:
I'm just gonna go ahead and give this another, well you shouldn't have voted for Obama if you want smaller govt.

Oops.

tempo_kid92

Wow.

"I should only follow the law if someone who might punish me can see me. Otherwise I should do whatever I want."

Your parents have taught you fantastically, and I'm glad you have such consideration for the safety of others on the road.

Alchemistmerlin

We have red light cameras here in America, but as far as I know no speeding cameras, thank God for that. Are there any signs posted where these things are?

vicsells

Can the cameras tell if I'm driving drunk? THAT'D be a trick...

UofITom

I had to tape over the laser detector on my radar detector. Apparently, Sol itself is constantly checking my speed via laser.

K and Ka band work great though.

jdbaile3

Better Road Quality
Higher speed limites
no crappy cars on the road
oh wait, thats germany

Killtodie

They use this in France?

I thought those surrender monkeys with a strong aversion to bathing would just roll over and take the ticket...

Jrsy is the dude, playin' the dude, disguised as another dude

@GOKOR: according to the recent election, this country voted for BIGGER government. Epic Fail.

SouthendXGF

@GOKOR:

well..didn't you see who america voted on to hold their hands more?

ishred

Our government needs to give us more control over our own lives, we need less government in essence.

GOKOR

Enjoy your temporary relief, Dave. I will have the last laugh.

Kaiser-Machead's Cookie-Powered LEGO Machine

@SouthendXGF: "need i remind you how bush called for reform of credit swaps !17! different times... only to have congress do NOTHING about the situation..."

That would be (from 2001-2007) the Republican-controlled Congress, wouldn't it?

Killjoy

@vicsells: They're planning to deploy hundreds, both mobile and fixed, in Arizona. Already at least a couple dozen in the Phoenix area. Saw a few new ones last week when I was there on I-10 west of downtown.

Had some crafty guy get caught having changed the last two numbers on his plate, but eventually he got nailed big time.

TVGenius

@cpthook: Well, do so at your own risk I suppose. I've seen too many people in a big rush come out of nowhere and dash into the crosswalk while he or she has the WALK sign lit. I suppose someone may comment on Darwin and junk, but it would certainly suck to hit someone because you thought it was free and clear.

Kaiser-Machead's Cookie-Powered LEGO Machine

Here in the uk there used to be some site where you would destroy speed cameras in the most imaginative ways possible and gain points for the awesomeness but they were taken down 6 months ago. The best was some builder used self expanding foam filled it in then ran away while it expanded and blew the thing up. Then some one put a firework in one time but a driver was speeding past and all the picture was was a a mans face stuffing a firework in the case. If you blame anyone blame the Norwegians as it was those who invented them( I think)

kris120890

@Alchemistmerlin: Agreed. Speed limit signs mean nothing to 99% of drivers on the road. Geez, not even the "SPEED PHOTO ENFORCED" signs mean jack shit anymore. I still enjoy the occasional highway trip, but it's getting downright dangerous for any speed limit observer nowadays. I also sincerely doubt the findings of supposed studies that lower the fatality rating for faster road speeds. All faster speeds do is put everyone at a closer average speed. I'll bet if you prosecute the speeders more heavily, you'll get the same effect, and some extra funding for the city/state to boot!

I'm 24, and am still without a speeding ticket. You don't need to go 20 over to get where you're going. Oftentimes due to traffic and stoplights, you won't be getting anywhere any faster. Not to mention you burn through fuel much quicker and barely decrease your travel time. Slow. The. Fuck. Down.

blackmage439

Amen

ekasbury

@1roll20s:

The road I drive to work on is a 65 mph speed limit, 2 lanes each way, very little traffic, and maybe 5 exits spread out over 35 miles.

I speed every single day both ways and so does every other person on the road except this one dude in his prius driving 55. He is the one making things dangerous. The speed limit on this road could easily be 85 mph and people would be fine.

jdbaile3

My TomTom GPS had this feature while I was living in Germany. It saved me quite a few times while driving around over there.
One thing about the cameras there is that the tickets are only about 20 Euro, so if you get hit by one it's not too bad. The other difference, which we won't see here, is that they free the cops up over there from having to do traffic duty. In other words, the cops actually focus on doing actual copping. When you see a police car pull up behind you, chances are very good that he doesn't care about your speed, he's just trying to get past you.
Unfortunately, here they will have cameras AND speed traps, and the amount of money that the city and camera companies make will increase, but the workload will stay the same.

loserflame

@vicsells: Thanks to our wonderful governor, Illinois has been getting toll cameras up the yin-yang. He especially has a hard-on for cameras on his Blagovich-branded open-road tolls. I got busted for using my iPass in a rental car. The unit was functioning perfectly, and registered on the same toll plaza heading the opposite direction. I suspect they're upgrading to license plate-reading cameras and software, but I'll never be sure.

Screw you, Rod!

blackmage439

@dOk: need i remind you how bush called for reform of credit swaps !17! different times since he took office in 2000, specifically naming Freddy Mac and Fannie Mae - only to have congress do NOTHING about the situation until August of 2008 when the market collapse was already in the process of happening. check your facts.

SouthendXGF

They can have speed cameras when they have realistic speed limits set at the 85th percentile in free-flowing conditions as recommended by traffic engineers. As it is now, speed limits are artificially low. Any law that criminalizes the majority of the people is probably a bad law.

1roll20s

@Alchemistmerlin:

Did you know that highways were built with speeds of 70mph and up in mind, but the speeds were lowered to 55 to reduce gas usage during the fuel crisis?

The law isn't set the way it is for safety reasons. In fact, there's a road near the vermont border in NH where they want to raise the limit, but it needs the approval of the state police and they won't approve it... why? Because they get revenue from writing tickets, that's why!

Elliuotatar

Over a 1000km drive I can cut two hours off my trip by driving 20% over the speed limit. Sorry but a crash doing 100kph (60mph) is going to have the same result as one doing 120kph. As for preventing crashes. Just because you speed doesn't mean you drive like an idiot when the road conditions are not safe for speeding. I'm an efficient passer so I don't spend a lot of time grouped near other vehicles on the road. I never follow too close the cause of most accidents not speeding.

Speeders are not the major cause of accidents!! Next time you're doing the speedlimit on the next guys bumper YOU'RE THE PROBLEM. It's why there are 100+ car pileups on the highways. Following too close.

Speeding tickets are a way for the police to show they "try" to do something to help and justify their time. The fines are there not for punishment but for money. It's a buisness.

RyaninCalgary

So we have the government eavesdropping on our phone calls, monitoring our internet, using face recognition software on us when we are in public places, and now photographing us while driving. Sounds like the only place you have a "right to privacy" is in your home, as long as you aren't using any telecommunications. Next up: small floating spheres with sound amplification equipment that hover silently around neighborhoods listening for suspicious speak in our homes.

Saboth

@UofITom: I've seen the

whitehouse09

@cpthook:

yeah, it's all good until a motorcycle comes through and you just couldn't see them. Ah well, you shaved 30 seconds off waiting for the stoplight, and that guy is dead!

Saboth

Enjoy this little hack while you can. Unfortunately the next step is that the 'speed cameras' will just record you at one point, then regardless of speed will record you at the next point. If you get to the next point too fast, it'll be uncontestable that you were speeding along the way and you'll get a ticket. Check mate, and no GPS system will save us.

mullingitover

@Posavoie: I agree. I live in Colorado and my commute on I25 goes from 75 to 65 to 55 then back to 65.

Its just ridiculous, Everyone speeds and the traffic flows just fine but once there is someone going the speed limit and in the middle lane it causes congestion. Same thing when a cop is on the Highway, everyone is right behind them backed up and there is no one in front of them.

STUPID STUPID STUPID!

midwestkel

@Killjoy: Responsibility to the shareholder is one of the major reasons our society is in the predicament it's in right now. Inflation to meet a bottom line and far surpass it.

The way government and the major companies run this country is extremely irresponsible for the overwhelming majority of our citizens.

My household makes close to 100k, yet our wallets are still empty at the end of the week due to rising costs everywere from taxes, insurance, food, gas (when is gov. (answer is never) going to step on Exxon's 14billion quarter profit?), rent, etc.

GOKOR

They will take out the cameras as they are too effective...as revenue from speeding fines and such will decrease.

Many budgets depend on the revenue from the fines...so if they "train" people to drive according to speed limit, it will take away a major source of revenue.

BTW...here is another item which will alert you to the redlight camera...reviewed on RainyDayMagazine:

FirstLook:
[www.rainydaymagazine.com]

RainyDayInterns

I say we need to head these things off at the pass and create a law outlawing them altogether. As others have said, police officers have a mind, a conscience and is active in slowing down gross speeders. This type of passive enforcement doesn't correct the behavior in the same way an officer can. A dangerous driver will continue driving dangerously until he KNOWS he's caught.

Froggmann

A similar program is available for the iPhone. Its a user based program as well - Trapster!

S3r1al-Gam3r

@1roll20s: I totally agree, there are so many 3 lane major roads around where I live that have a speed limit of 45mph. I go at least 70 down them. I know cops see people going this fast, but its a ridiculous speed limit so they don't care. This is something that speed cameras can't judge.

5000punchestotheface

Going the speed limit or under, won't cut accidents appreciably because breaking speed limits is rarely the cause of an accident. People need to be better trained to recognize potential trouble, not stupid sheep that only bleat about going slower and slower.

From timesonline.co.uk

"Only 5% of drivers who crash were breaking the speed limit

MOTORING groups have questioned the value of speed cameras after police figures revealed that only one in 20 collisions last year was caused by a driver breaking the speed limit.
The most common cause of accidents was failing to look properly, a factor in 32 per cent of crashes, followed by failing to judge another vehicle's speed (18 per cent) and driving carelessly or recklessly (16 per cent). The figures, published by the Department for Transport, contradicted claims by speed camera supporters that speed is a factor in one third of collisions.

Travelling too fast for the conditions was a factor in 12 per cent of all crashes last year, but none of these involved drivers breaking the speed limit....."

[www.timesonline.co.uk]

fembot

@Saboth: Well I mean 30 seconds per light, that adds up. He didn't die for 30 seconds of my time, more like 2 hours of my life.

Jkoenig96

@Alchemistmerlin: Well ripping off medicare is one thing, could we have specific lanes or roads for driving no limit? Yes. Do we? No. Why? Speeding tickets are a huge revenue for most places, I live at UGA after every game you would not beleive the number of state troopers waiting for anyone going 10 over. Its complete crap.

Jkoenig96

@SuperMacGuy: I got a bb gun, and if they start putting them around where I live i will test the BB proofness.

5000punchestotheface

@Kaiser-Machead's Cookie-Powered LEGO Machine:

They're starting to those lights in here too. It's got a left hand turn signal that blinks for like 15 seconds every 5min then sits red not blinking green or green with a yield to trafic sign. You sit there on an empty road with green lights going both ways waiting to take a left at a corner six months ago you could turn on a green light and now you can't. Retarded. I'd run it but they have new red light cameras up there now. The best part is because of it trafic turning left now backs up past two blocks durring rush hour into downtown with almost no trafic flowing in the oposite direction.

RyaninCalgary

@blackmage439: The reason you don't get there faster isn't because of traffic lights its because of people who drive to slowly.

Jkoenig96

@SuperMacGuy: The first rule of the undergroup camera sniping movement is...

Killjoy

@GOKOR: The impression I'm getting here is that as a citizen, you consider yourself a shareholder in this business model - please correct me if I mistook you.

Assuming I read you correctly, you are unfortunately under a false impression. In this business model citizens are not considered to be the shareholders. They are considered to be resources that can increase shareholder value if properly managed. If your expenses are a higher percentage now than they used to be it means that shareholder value has been increased, and thus the government is working as intended.

Killjoy

@1roll20s:

Oh I've seen that douche in the prius. You're wrong though he drives 54 just to make me crazy....

RyaninCalgary

@Saboth: In SF all the evidence is that no one would care about that.

We'll just abolish traffic laws, and with luck anti-prostitution laws as well. We'll have efficient high-speed drive-thru curbside service, demolition derby entertainment from apartment windows, and motorcycle cops can still do nothing but breakfast and escort funerals. It's all omega-minus.

propertius

I can't agree MORE with the use of speed trap cameras, and I can't disagree more with anyone who complains, or tries to defend any reasoning behind why you should be allowed to drive as fast as you want.

People who drive excessively fast do so for one or a combination of these reasons:

A: You don't know how to manage your time properly and are running late for something that you should have left 10 minutes ago for.

B: You're a slave to over-masculine BS tendencies that going faster makes you feel like more of a "man"

B: You're an arrogant prick who feels that whatever you have to do is more important than anyone else.

I drive the speed limit, I coast to stop signs, I shift into neutral going downhills, and I average 5mpg OVER what my car is rated at...

I also leave for work on time because I know traffic patterns, and I'm realistic when I tell people when and where I'll be.

Stop bitching about law enforcement trying to do THEIR JOB! This is one small thing that makes their job easier so then they can focus more on the other issues that really require human insight.

Here's some facts for you all... Selfish whiners and complainers account for 60% of why I hate the human race as a whole... and that's 100% accurate!

bucklefilledbird

If anything made the speeders in my city slow down I'd consider it a good thing. People drive like ass around here and there are more pedestrians getting hit than anywhere else nearby.

infmom

@Sortafast: You are correct. This is a revenue generator, and does not provide any enhancements for public safety. It is a well know fact that there is NO correlation between imposed traffic laws and fewer fatalities. In fact, the percentage of road fatalities has remained nearly identical percentage wise for the past 40 years. The only things that have lead to providing public safety in a beneficial manner has been the adoption of technology into automobile manufacturing and safety add-on's that are passed directly to the consumer. So, for once, corporations have provided safety where the government has failed. Enough with Parental and Maritime laws (where the vehicle is the recipient of tickets associated with legal policy defiance - this includes red light cameras that ticket the vehicle), try reviewing your own statistics, Gvt, and accept the failure to provide increases in public safety.

davrodg

@mattweitekamp: the 101 is a deathtrap you may as well drive the streets and enjoy the breeze no ticket plus more days of life = win.

lilaliendog

@SuperMacGuy: I was just thinking the same thing.

johnnyabnormal

@GOKOR: Oh, stop whining and STFU: You lost. Now you have to eat your own shit sandwich.

johnnyabnormal

@bucklefilledbird: I'd pass you, give you the Pennsylvania Stare and move on with my day.

I can tell just from this one post that if I met you, I'd end up with my hands around your throat within one hour.

What the hell is it with you liberals that makes you think that you should be able to get in the way of other people and waste their time because you think you're morally superior?

I have a special name for people like you. It starts with a C and ends with untfacedmotherfucker.

nomayo

@GOKOR:

johnnyabnormal

@GOKOR: Well if Obama enacts his Windfall tax on gas companies then Exxon's profits will be stepped on.

Zomb

@MarkB: These days it would be considered an act of terrorism (I'd do the smiley with the eyes rolling, but I don't know how or if it's possible here).

GOKOR

@GOKOR: Thats why Obama choose to become a community organizer instead of a big shot lawyer after being head of the Harvard law review. Mccains a retard who crashed five planes and almost flunked out of the naval academy get your facts straight. Though I can't disagree that Obama is the wrong choice if you want less government involvement, but its more involvement in the economy then security.

Zomb

@Killjoy: Clinton's era didn't do much good either, our country hasn't been run well in several decades.

GOKOR

@johnnyabnormal: To be honest, I can't stand either Obama or McCain. The thing that puts McCain above is that he actually knows what he's doing and has experience, Obama has less experience in politics than Palin (sadly) and his only redeeming talent is how strong he is at delivering a prepared, heavily rehearsed speech.

You could claim the inspiration that he is the first minority president (half white, so I'm not calling him the first black president), it's a HUGE step for this country and I applaud that, but it still doesn't change that the ONLY reason he got the job is because he's a celeb no different than Paris Hilton or any other person who became famous without doing anything other than show his face on occassion.

McCain just comes off as a jerk to me, but at least he knows his job.

GOKOR

I have this app installed on my iPhone, Trapster. You really need to read the agreements and use a jailbroken phone to allow background app functionality, but I promise nothing for their services...

As far as the camera's are concerned, this is a revenue generator, and does not provide any enhancements for public safety. It is a well know fact that there is NO correlation between imposed traffic laws and fewer fatalities. In fact, the percentage of road fatalities has remained nearly identical percentage wise for the past 40 years. The only things that have lead to providing public safety in a beneficial manner has been the adoption of technology into automobile manufacturing and safety add-on's who's costs are passed directly to the consumer - and we are happy to pay to increase our safety when driving, as long as there is an appreciable return on our investment. So, for once, corporations have provided safety where the government has failed. Enough with Parental and Maritime laws (where the vehicle is the recipient of tickets associated with legal policy defiance - this includes red light cameras that ticket the vehicle), try reviewing your own statistics, GVT, and accept the failure to provide increases in public safety. Withdraw your support for additional enforcement mechanisms, and increase your support for additional manufacturing processes that enhance the safety of our roads and vehicles.

References:
[www.tfhrc.gov]
[www.ncutlo.org]
[www.fairtrafficlaws.com]

davrodg

@GOKOR: you realize there is no advancement after you get to the top... that is it. Nothing can ever trump that job.

fogmaster

@GOKOR: Career advancement? Please tell me you're not stupid enough to believe what you just typed. Just to recap, you think Obama wanted to get elected to shore up his resume? I've heard it all now. Bet you thought he was Muslim too? Bwahahahaha! MORON!!!

v0ice

@Killjoy: In the business model that is our government? I'm not entirely sure, but I think that's the metaphor you're using.

Anyway, public companies feel their only responsibility is to their shareholders, to see to it that they have their quarterly profit. Meanwhile, in doing so, they put a financial strain on everyone by jacking up prices across the board. And since all companies and institutions (the ones that actually run things, not the small public firms) do this, they're all creating a huge burden on society as they wallow in their own greed.

GOKOR

@jp182: The last 16 years have sucked all around for this country. I can't really comment well enough on Bush Sr. or Reagan, I was too young to really pay attention.

GOKOR

@jswilson64:
I've heard that you are legally not required to pay squat unless you are presented with a ticket or a summons in person, by a legal representative of the court. It sounds like it's a risky stunt, though, as the fines can escalate up until the point that the original infraction expires under the statute of limitations. So if you ignore the mailed copy, you might find a real person serving you a court summons that will lead to a much larger fine than what you got sent in the mail.

Purple Dave

@GOKOR: "Clinton's era didn't do much good either..."

I understand how you'd mistake my opinion for an affiliation with the Democratic party - binary worldviews abound, after all, particularly during an election year - but please note my complete lack of endorsement of any political party.

Killjoy

@johnnyabnormal: ...crybaby because I'm not enamoured with a candidate that has not shown a thing that suggests that he should have even been a candidate?

That's pretty shortsighted.

GOKOR

@Zomb: That's what I'm hoping for, there's not much anyone can do now that he's in office, unless he screws up big. Now that he's in there I pray that he does a much better job than I think he's capable of.

I actually want him to prove me wrong. I would rather see this country sustained and have at the very least a respectable image to the rest of the world than to be able to throw it in people's faces that he proved to everyone how much he could screw it up even worse.

GOKOR

@Alchemistmerlin:
Speed limits are an odd beast indeed. Around here, the stoplights are all timed to somewhere between 2-5mph over the limit, so if you don't speed, you'll hit red lights. If you speed too much, you'll hit red lights. And my brother once said that in the LA area, if you drive precisely at the posted speed limit when traffic is moving much faster, you could very well get pulled over for impeding traffic.

People obey what gets enforced. If you don't enforce anything 1-5 over, people will drive 5 over. If you don't enforce the first three people that slip through when the light turns red, there will always be three people running the red light in every lane (and me damn near getting rear-ended by some woman chatting up her cel-phone as she realizes that I did not, in fact, speed up to "make the light", and has to try to maintain some semblance of control of her car as she slams on the brakes...without dropping that damn phone).

Purple Dave

@v0ice: ...wow...you're a d***.

The only connections Obama has to being Muslim are his father, step-father, and having gone to a Muslim school for two years as a child before going to Catholic school. Also not discounting having lived in predominantly Muslim counties for a good part of his childhood.

He has claimed for at least 20 years now that he is not Muslim and has never even considered himself Muslim, and has been a devout Christian for the majority of his life.

Sooo....I take it you're the pot after your baseless insults, huh? I speak out of my ass at times, but at least I have a clue what I'm saying.

GOKOR

Apparently, according to the vote last week. American's want to be hand fed and changed. And have had enough of this trying to work hard crap.

I also think that the policia crying foul about locating services is crap. It should be perfectly legal and even "free speech" to tell another person what you see on a PUBLIC street... And if that knowledge leads to avoiding a ticket or god forbid slowing down to avoid a ticket so be it.

enumerator

@GOKOR: "In the business model that is our government? I'm not entirely sure, but I think that's the metaphor you're using."

That's what I'm driving at.

Killjoy

@cpthook: Honestly, people like you are the reason I seriously think we should all be forced to take a driving test every 3 years. As much of a pain it is, I guarantee you a great chunk of the terrible drivers wouldn't be allowed to drive their cars anymore or would be forced to drive better. This nonsense of passing the test once, and then develop a lifetime of horrible bad driving skills and habits would be curtailed.

LeanderSnookie

@Sortafast: You're only partially right. While it's true that speeding tickets do provide revenue, you have to keep in mind that on average, our human reaction times aren't good enough to respond to anything too much faster than 65mph. You might say your reaction time is great and that's fine. But on average, people just cannot react fast enough.

LeanderSnookie

@GOKOR: Nah, you're a "crybaby" because you're either ignorant, miseducated, deluded or all of the above. Even your pathetic talking points about Obama being a "secret Muslim" are laughable at best and have been thouroughly debunked many months ago. In short, you're still being a useful idiot for the GOP, trying and failing to push a failed agenda, but you didn't seem to get the memo that Obama won. You can't accept that your ideas and policies have failed. Maybe you were too busy obsessing over ACORN or whatever else "Real Americans" worry about. The sad truth is, you DON'T "have a clue" about what you're saying. It's going to be a LONG 4-8 years for you, sir.

Shortsighted, indeed.

johnnyabnormal

@vicsells: We got several in DC: New York Ave, and 395 and on 295. Take your pick...
Virginia outlawed radar detectors so I'm screwed there.

pinkfloyd1972

@GOKOR: You're absolutely right. We can start by repealing the various bans on gay marriage.

OMG! Ponies!

@enumerator:

Maybe it had nothing to do with being hand fed and changed. It had more to do with people being sick of being LIED to then kicked while they're down by the town bully.

However I do think you're right about the rest of your statement.

RyaninCalgary

@cpthook:
Not a problem here. You almost always get a flashing red for left turns when regular traffic has a green light. Flashing reds are supposed to be treated as stop signs, so as long as you do come to a complete stop you are 100% legal to make a left turn before you get a left-turn green. Then once you do get a left-turn green, you can make your turn without having to stop at all. They also turn on a right-turn green for cross traffic, since their right-hand turns will neatly mesh with your left-hand turns, and noone should be crossing anyone else's path.

Purple Dave

@Posavoie:
55mph? That's the worst you have to deal with? Try driving through Grand Haven on US31, where they drop the speed limit on a major highway to 25mph just because it goes right through the heart of the city (which, as I understand, is something they originally wanted when the highway was laid out).

Purple Dave

@vicsells:

Yeah we have them all over Phoenix, AZ and soon it will be state wide with something like 200-300 going up within the next year or two. I drove past like 6 of them last night. They flash bright and you can definately tell when one is coming up, everyone brakes and you see a blinding flash, which I would think would be a road hazzard, but oh well.

It's a money maker and that's it. They don't help that much with speeding because everybody just slows down for them and they are VERY hard to enforce. I know a couple guys who just ignored the ticket they got in the mail and the courts eventually just dropped the charge and it didn't even hit their record. A lot of grey room here...........So yeah, they are here and they are here to stay. Sux!

Foxbat2

@GOKOR: Reagan pro.... took credit for bringing down the Berlin wall?

Reagan con... made a deal with Iranian terrorists to ensure that American hostages would not be released before election day which could have given Carter an edge. In exchange for agreeing to hold our American hostages until his inaugruation day, Reagan rewarded Iranian terrorists with a multitude of weaponry.

robinandtami

@GOKOR: Wrong, that's just the kind of garbage we pick up from the kinds of internet trolls who really need to go back into their bunker with all their crazy in bred militia members.

We need BETTER government, not smaller. Smaller government is easier to corrupt, less effective, and has less power. This may seem like a good thing to you, but remember, in a power vacuum private entities are going to step in to take that power (corporations for example). You want people to have that power who are accountable to you, because no matter what, someone is going to have that power, and unless you are incredibly rich and powerful, it isn't going to be you.

BETTER government would not go to such draconian measures to enforce what is essentially a revenue stream (speed traps), SMALLER government would privatize speed enforcement, and we would see even worse violations of our dignity.

So enough with this 'less government' crap, someone is always going to have power over you, so saying you want less government, is just the same as saying you corporations to have MORE power over you.

Zombie_Belvedere

@GOKOR: Obama isn't a Muslim, but so what if he was? Does his religion have any more bearing on his ability to govern than his race, height or eye color?

As long as he doesn't think Allah is speaking to him personally, and telling him to wage war with nations that have done us no harm; I don't see a problem with it.

robinandtami

@Zomb: Nice work Obama! I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you have no idea that a great deal of oil company stock is owned by retirement funds for teachers, firefighters and other such worthy groups. Let's punish them!

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@Zomb: I doubt that you have the slightest idea what being a "community organizer" means. In President-Elect Obama's case, it included BEING a "big shot lawyer," who just happened to sue Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac on behalf of ACORN to force them to make bad loans to people that couldn't pay it back. Of course that was all GWB's fault.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@GOKOR: Wow are you misinformed. How would taxing Exxon lower gas prices?

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@Killjoy: But the changes were blocked by the Left side of the aisle. Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, etc. the Republicans never had more than a couple member majority in the Senate. Nice try though.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@dOk: The government and it's regulations caused our current economic woes.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@jp182: Has this affected you in any way?

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@Reil: Not really. Nothing like what's in store now.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@bucklefilledbird: Spoken like a true selfish whiner and complainer.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@GOKOR: "That government is best which governs least" - Henry David Thoreau

athingunique

@mullingitover: GPS will soon be mandatory in every vehicle as part of a "black box," and that's exactly how it will work, automatically and inexorably.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

Bring it down to the least common denominator - Driving is a privilege, not a right. If one doesn't like how the infrastructure is maintained and/or policed, then vote the necessary folks out of office or don't drive.

SuchandraCanus

@robinandtami: That's always been a lie. I'm sorry you actually believe that. (And I know you do, I'm DEFINITELY not saying that you are lying.)

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@Zombie_Belvedere: Your logic is very twisted. Have a good day.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@OMG! Ponies!: I agree. The will of the people means nothing.

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@vicsells: The vast majority of red light tickets in California are for people making right hand turns. Running straight through a red light is dangerous. But making a right turn is a much less dangerous. In fact, many red light cameras will even catch people making legal right turns. Most people would rather pay this than to spend the time to fight it.

Miguel Valdespino

@Jrsy is the dude, playin' the dude, disguised as another du...: No way they could use such a technology in France, you should know they still live like cavemen struggling for fire!
Don't you know that, you Uber motherfucker?, didn't your dad told that to you while you were sucking on his dick?

totolobo

@RyaninCalgary: Who lied? And who has bullied Americans?

Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler

@Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler: "But the changes were blocked by the Left side of the aisle... the Republicans never had more than a couple member majority in the Senate."

Mmmm. Should have made a speech to the effect that blocking regulation is an implicit endorsement of the terrorists. That's all it took to bring them across the aisle for any other issue. /endtongueincheek

Without even looking at the numbers, I'd bet cash money that the Republicans of the Senate did not vote unanimously for regulation during those aforementioned 17 occasions. I'm sure the "nays" came from both sides of the aisle. Nice try though, unless you can prove me wrong.

Killjoy

@Comrade GadgetPlay, Fellow Traveler: The will of the people also believed that segregation was a-okay too. The will of the people believed that anti-miscegenation laws were just fine. Just because there's a referendum passed that the majority espouse does not mean that the referendum is constitutional.

Separate is never equal. Civil unions are a water fountain for colored people. They are the back of the bus.

Forty years ago, the Supreme Court held that laws banning inter-racial marriage were unconstitutional. For the exact same reasons in Loving v. Virginia, bans on gay marriage should be ruled unconstitutional.

If you don't like the idea of gay marriage, that's okay. Don't marry a member of your own gender. But telling other people that they can't get married because you don't like the idea is not okay.

OMG! Ponies!

@Jrsy is the dude, playin' the dude, disguised as another du...:

I thought those surrender monkeys with a strong aversion to bathing would just roll over and take the ticket...

They do. They also complain at length about it right before they tell you how injust it is and that someone should, you know, do something about it.

racermd

What do you guys think about this:

Get one of those privacy plastic sheets for PC monitors, which are basically louvers too small to see built into a sheet, rotate 90 degrees and put it on your license plate. That way, you can see it from any angle on the side, but if you're below or above (mast mounted camera) the license plate, it's opaque. Any cops driving by or behind you could see the plate fine.

Shai

hahaha I love how politics rips this country apart and everyone thinks they know everything. We are doomed, and to be honest, I don't care because this country deserves to have its ass kicked after all the crap we think is important and fight about. So much for unity and peace, that will never happen.

livinzlife

@loserflame: but still you can better safe the sorry
even policemen are speeding i was surprised the first time i saw it

TBM-Fan

@markgm: been there done that but not in usa

TBM-Fan

Im totally for this if you break the law you should suffer period. You dont have to speed you choose to speed and you know if your going below at or above the speed limit so you should get caught unless its an emergency

utube2007

@Jrsy is the dude, playin' the dude, disguised as another du...: I always love it when some 15 year old kid posts some nice racist shit right at the top of the comment section.

You ever even been to France or met someone from France? Nah I bet you just read racist joke websites to make your pre-judgment of every people group in the world.

thetunecatt

@SuperMacGuy: Damn. You caught me a few years too late. If I were 16 I would have been all over this. We need to recruit a bunch of high schoolers to do our bidding!

thetunecatt

@mattweitekamp: Yeah the few times I have been to Scottsdale I have noticed that. I could never live somewhere like that. Out here in San Diego everybody goes 75-85 on the freeways when there isnt traffic. I stick to the 75 end, but I couldn't handle going 65 or even the god-forsaken 55!

thetunecatt

@Purple Dave: I would kill for a flashing red. Here in Southern California, the city thinks we're so god damned stupid that we can't figure out how to turn left unless it's protect. Never mind that HALF THE DAMN LIGHTS OVER FIVE YEARS OLD DON'T HAVE THE ARROW AND PEOPLE SEEM TO DO JUST FINE!

And to the people who think I'm a horrible driver: I've never had a ticket for a moving violation and never been in an accident. I run at least 3 red lights a day, and have been doing so for years now. See, I have these things called eyes, which is connected to this thing called a brain. Instead of hoping that there aren't pedestrians in the crosswalk, I actually look. Sheep.

cpthook

@cpthook:
Yeah, but you guys get to do U-turns in the intersection. We aren't ever supposed to do them, unless it's a legal Michigan-U (where you have to turn right to turn left, after passing through the median).

Purple Dave

Red light cameras, I'm okay with. It's never, ever safe to run a red light.

that may be the case. doesn't mean red light cameras are inherently safer... in fact signs seem to point to the opposite : [jalopnik.com]

"A study out of Ontario showed a 49.9% increase in property damage, and a 4.9% increase in fatalities after the installation of the cameras."

that doesn't sound like a net societal benefit to me. i'm sure the city made some extra coin though. hooray for them. *golf claps*

x23

@Purple Dave: I live in L.A. Cops never pull you over for going the speed limit if traffic is going faster as long as you're in the far right lane of a freeway. On surface streets, this simply isn't a problem.

Barion

You said: "Red light cameras, I'm okay with. It's never, ever safe to run a red light."

Um, you're kinda wrong 'bout that. Granted I never insanely blow through a traffic light, but after stopping and seeing there's no traffic ANYWHERE including lurking police I roll on through. Absolutely no sense in waiting 60 to 180 seconds at an empty intersection. In such cases, the traffic light is best regarded - practically speaking - as a stop sign. And I don't want or need a Nanny State citing me for using my adult discretion.

Eludium-Q36

Red Light cameras are about revenue as well. 1) Several municipalities have been caught shortening the yellow light time at busy intersections because a half second or second shorter yellow dramatically increases red-light runners. They intentionally reduce the safety of the intersection (against the determinations of engineering studies) in order to drive revenue. 2) Red light cameras are rarely placed at the most dangerous intersections (based on crashes), but placed at the busiest intersections for more revenue. 3) Many intersections have seen an increase in injuries due to crashes after red light cameras were installed. This due to people slamming on their brakes, afraid to take the yellow because of the camera (like in the post). The more you know...

SuchitraSmolinski

RyaninCalgary is totally correct... following too closely is by far the most common cause of highway accidents. The tricky thing about that problem, though, is that it's really hard to actually judge if you're too close or not. When you get up above 70 mph, a safe following distance is in the hundreds of feet (considering reaction time, stopping distance, etc). Ability to judge distance gets worse the larger the distance is... I would have a really hard time judging if an unpainted football field were the right length if I were standing in an end zone... it could be only 200 feet long and I probably wouldn't be able to tell. Worse, our ability to judge relative speed goes down as distance increases. It's a lot harder to tell if a car 300 feet ahead is slamming on its brakes or is easing on its brakes than if the car were 100 feet ahead (it's related to the rate at which an approaching object covers our field of view, which is not linear). So even though it's technically following too closely that causes crashes, our ability to judge whether we're following too closely or not gets worse the faster we go.

MonaSimpson

I think you guys don't know what's happening in Italy on some (they say the most dangerous) higways : a system which calculates AVERAGE speed in beeing installed: it consists of cameras which read your plate number and the exact time you passed by.. some 30 kilometers later you have another camera an dyou plate is read again. Average speed i calculated and if you exceed the speed limit you'll get a ticket by mail, at home. our only chance in that mailing procedure is not fully automated so some times police is obliged to turn the system off, as thety cannot manage to send all tickets..

ShamitaPhineus