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DEL.ICIO.USThe new red-light camera bill: What happens when matter and anti-matter collide
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Late yesterday, the House Motor Vehicles Committee passed out an altered version of H.B. 77, a bill to ban red-light cameras in Georgia.
As it now stands, the bill permits the cameras, but seeks to remove any incentive for counties and cities to use them to generate revenue.
And it was House Speaker Glenn Richardson, in a surprise appearance, who stepped from behind the curtain and claimed much of the credit - or responsibility - for the new face of the bill.
Richardson the Libertarian met Richardson the Pro-Safety Figure, he explained, and these changes were the result. We’ve got eight minutes of rough audio in which Richardson explains his divided feelings. It’s worth the listen.
Richardson, who lives in Paulding County, tells of encountering cameras at three straight intersections, in an adjoining county that can only be Cobb.
“Those cameras are generating a lot of money, and perhaps we’re doing it for the money now instead of the safety,” Richardson. “And we shouldn’t be taxing citizens who violate the law for the purpose of raising money, period, in my opinion.
“I don’t like red light cameras, and my initial reaction when I saw Rep. [Barry] Loudermilk’s and Rep. [Bobby] Franklin’s bill was, let’s just go in there and repeal it.”
He then explained how he came to decide otherwise. But this was his closing thought:
“If I get pulled over for speeding and it costs me $200, I can pay it. But by the time you get to the surcharges and add-ons that we have, that $200 fine is $300. And I can pay that.
“And most of you can, too. But for a lot of citizens of this state, who’ve been sitting in traffic like I did for an hour and a half, $300 to them is a week’s pay.
“It means they don’t make part of their house payment, or their car payment, or they don’t pay their insurance or they don’t take care of their kid.
“And we have to always remember that, yes, they did run the red light, yes, they did speed, but we’re taking money from citizens.”
Comments
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By O' Tim
March 2, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this
So has the speaker met the governor who wants speeder’s money for downstate trauma centers?
By Sarah
March 2, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this
If you can’t pay the money, don’t commit the violation.
I work in downtown Atlanta and the city overflows with morons who can’t seem to stop when the light turns red. I guess these people seem to think that a red light doesn’t apply to them. So they block the traffic for people who now have a green light and the right of way but can’t go anywhere. On Wednesday, I had to sit through 3 cycles to make a right hand turn onto Capitol Avenue from Memorial Drive.
I want cameras installed on every light within a 2 mile radius of the Capitol building.
Actually, I don’t see why any city that has a problem with people running the red lights can’t install them. That’s what they are for - an attempt to stop people from running the red lights and endangering peoples lives who do obey traffic lights and go when theirs turns green.
By Robert Cross
March 13, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this
The basic problem with red light cameras is that there are certain situations and areas where it is difficult to stop in time without causing a road hazard or a serious accident. In those instances, it’s either risk running the light or jamming on your brakes and risking losing control.
Not to mention the invasion of privacy. I’m not comfortable with the government being able to monitor us, even at intersections, with cameras. The person who commented about it being Orwellian is right. If you want to live in 1984, there are plenty of countries that will oblige you, but the U.S. shouldn’t be one of them.Think about how much money is being generated from each camera!! If Governmnet can simply discard my privacy then i am glad i have PhotoBlocker on my plates. No ticket In two Years and i dont have to worry about Big Brother!!! so untill the cameras are down…PhotoBlocker will be on my plates.