Red-Light Cameras: Taxation Through Citation

I had to read the article about the 17 yr old anti-red light camera kid twice (linked above) because I thought I must have missed something the first go-round. Where's the substance in this article --arguments for and against red light cameras? Not having made up my own mind about the cameras, I was hoping to learn more. Instead, we have this newly licensed driver saying that the cameras are "just taxation through citation." Please.

Calling out the City Council: If you want to campaign against these cameras, you might link your post to an article of some substance.

Where's the substance:

I suggest you google red light cameras. You'll get an eyefull. They are nothing more than revenue generators. Look at teh way the contracts are worded. The cities generally are required to guarantee a certain level of income to the red light camera company. Really think it's about safety? They do not improve safety, and in fact, in some studies, they cause more accidents as people that normally would have blown a yellow slam on their brakes causing the person behind to rear end them.

There are many ways to fight these tickets, but they require research and a time commitment from the person that recieves the ticket. So, most people just pay the fine. The cities and red light companies rely on this.

I have witnessed the malfunction of the red light camera at Ravenswood and ECR twice. Once was in the winter when I was at the intersection on Menlo Avenue stoped at the intersection on the north side of ECR and witnessed the red light camera taking a car's picture heading southbound towards Stanford. The only problem was that the light was Green!

The second time was a month ago when I went through a green light on Ravenswood making a left turn on ECR going towards Stanford. The light was green for me too and the red light camera is only supposed to take pictures for red light runners on ECR. I called Rene Baile and told him the time that my picture was taken. He confirmed through the vendor that the camera recorded the incident but not to worry.

At the next City Council meeting I brought this up. That camera has a number of false positives. Among them being taking cars pictures on ECR when the light is green and taken pictures of cars on Ravenswood on a green light makeing a left tuen on ECR. It is time to get rid of the cameras.

Why not focus on fixing any malfunctions rather than ditch the cameras? There have been fewer red light runners since the cameras went into effect. Maybe you don't try to walk or bike across these intersections, but some of the rest of us do, and it was a lot more scary in the past than now with the cameras.
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water!