Red-light Bandit ruling may wreak havoc!

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brian
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Red-light Bandit ruling may wreak havoc!

Post by brian »

COMMENT: For those of you who don't particularly like red-light bandits, otherwise known as red-light camera systems, you might consider a move to Springfield Missouri! (Red light cameras or any other ways to discourage red light runners are good. Red light runners create extremely hazardous traffic situations!)

Mar 2, 2010, Springfield, Missouri: Missouri Supreme Court tosses red-light camera violation, says city ordinance violates state law
As a result, the city of Springfield suspends the system and will dismiss pending tickets.
In a unanimous opinion, justices said the city cannot use administrative hearings to handle red-light tickets but must instead funnel such cases through the traditional criminal court system — where a higher standard of proof and additional avenues for appeal apply. It will be up to City Council to decide if they want to change the red light ordinance to bring it into compliance with state law — likely requiring an upgrade to allow the cameras to photograph drivers, as well as cars — or discard the system altogether, he said.
There’s no estimate yet about what that could cost, 8,000 people have paid red light fines totalling $803,000 to date.
Other than the $100 fine, there was no penalty attached to red light camera violations — no points were assessed against their drivers licenses, no additional penalties for multiple violations.
See the full article: Missouri Supreme Court tosses red-light camera violation, says city ordinance violates state law
Also see the March 2, 2010 Missouri Supreme Court ruling in the Missouri v Belt Case, case SC90324.
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brian
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Re: Red-light Bandit ruling may wreak havoc!

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A study of the effects of Red Light Cameras from a Feb 2005 FHWA study Safety Evaluation of Red-Light Cameras was performed by Council, Persaud, Eccles, Lyon, Griffith
From the 2005 study:
  • What effect do RLCs have on intersection safety (i.e., intersection crashes) at monitored intersections versus intersection safety throughout the jurisdiction?
    The results of empirical Bayes crash-frequency analyses at the treated intersections indicate that RLCs have effects similar in direction but somewhat smaller in magnitude than those indicated in past studies. Right-angle crashes (the surrogate for "red-light-running" crashes) decrease significantly and rear end crashes increase.
    • Table 17 shows the combined results from all seven jurisdictions, indicating a 24.6 percent reduction in total right-angle crashes and a 15.7 percent reduction in right-angle (definite) injury crashes.
      (Note: KABCO Scale. K = Killed. A = disabling injury. B = evident injury. C = possible injury)
      Total rear end crashes increased by 14.9 percent, and rear end (definite) injury crashes increased by 24 percent.
      While the results varied some across the seven jurisdictions, the direction and degree were remarkably consistent, particularly given the differences in crash-reporting practices between jurisdictions.
    In summary, the multijurisdiction database developed and the crash-based and economic analyses used made it possible to answer most of the questions posed by FHWA. This economic analysis represents the first attempt in the known literature to combine the positive effects of right-angle crash reductions with the negative effects of rear end crash increases, and to identify factors that might further enhance the effects of RLC systems. Larger crash sample sizes would have added even more information. The following primary conclusions are based on these current analyses:
    • Even though the positive effects on right-angle crashes of RLC systems is partially offset by negative effects related to increases in rear end crashes, there is still a modest to moderate economic benefit of between $39,000 and $50,000 per treated site year, depending on whether one examines only injury crashes or includes PDOs, and on whether the statistically non-significant shift to slightly more severe right-angle crashes remaining after treatment is, in fact, real.
    • Even if modest, this economic benefit is important. In many instances today, the RLC systems pay for themselves through red-light-running fines generated. However, in many jurisdictions, this differs from most safety treatments where there are installation, maintenance, and other costs that must be weighed against the treatment benefits.
    • The modest benefit per site is an average over all sites. As the analysis of factors that impact showed, this benefit can be increased through careful selection of the sites to be treated (e.g., sites with a high ratio of right-angle to rear end crashes as compared to other potential treatment sites) and program design (e.g., high publicity, signing at both intersections and jurisdiction limits).
table17.jpg
table17.jpg (120.82 KiB) Viewed 10427 times
KABCO Scale. K = Killed. A = disabling injury. B = evident injury. C = possible injury
See the FHWA study Safety Evaluation of Red-Light Cameras
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brian
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Re: Red-light Bandit ruling may wreak havoc!

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Mar 04, 2010: Shorter Yellow Lights: Are They Your Town's Latest Cash Cow?
Reported today on Daily Finance: According to the National Motorists Association some municipalities are shortening the time in which yellow lights are ON in order to generate additional revenue from tickets issued by the red light cameras bandits!
COMMENT:
  • Please Note: We support red light cameras! However, we don't support cheating! So therefore we don't support municiplities cheating to generate more revenue!
    But as stated by Russ Rade of The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:
    • traffic cameras are an effective tool in catching potentially dangerous drivers and are welcomed by most people. "Unfortunately, there are a lot of drivers who believe their time is worth more than your life,"
See the full story Shorter Yellow Lights: Are They Your Town's Latest Cash Cow?
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brian
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Re: Red-light Bandit ruling may wreak havoc!

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May 24, 2010: Rear-end collisions more than doubled and accidents increased overall in the first 70 days of red-light cameras in West Palm Beach compared to the same period of 2009, traffic records reviewed by The Palm Beach Post show.
Rear-end collisions jump at red-light camera intersections in West Palm Beach
COMMENT: Any deterrent to running a red light is beneficial. The Red-light bandit also creates revenue! A rear end collision at slow speeds is better than t-bone type collisions which can occur when someone runs a red light. There are also studies of the effects of red-light bandits in progress.
Be sure to also see Videos of people running red lights.
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brian
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Re: Red-light Bandit ruling may wreak havoc!

Post by brian »

May 26, 2010: Ok, this one can't be real? But it is...
Cameras no show in court
  • A lawyer defending two clients from charges that they were photographed running red lights, subpoenaed five traffic cameras at the West Broad Street-Alps Road intersection to testify that her clients did indeed barge through on red.
    The cameras failed to show up for trial!
    The tactic spoke to what many people loathe about red-light cameras: That they can essentially be ticketed by a machine, not a human being. The cameras snap a picture of a car's license plate when it runs a red light, then a citation is mailed to the car's registered owner.
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brian
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Re: Red-light Bandit ruling may wreak havoc!

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Dec 10, 2010:LA Times: Red-light cameras backed by LAPD Chief Charlie Beck despite shortcomings
In a new report on Los Angeles' red-light camera system, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck insists the program is needed to reduce accidents and save lives, despite that it's losing millions of dollars because of unpaid tickets.
Other items cited in the article:
  • *The number of citations for red-light violations has quadrupled from 14,000 to 59,000 annually since the program began in 2007
    *From 2004 to 2009, red-light traffic collisions have declined 63%.
    *There were five red-light fatalities from 2004 to 2006 and none since the program began.
    *September audit that found 45% of red-light tickets were unpaid
    *56,000 citations worth more than $7 million remain tied up in court
See the full article:
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brian
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Re: Red-light Bandit ruling may wreak havoc!

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Feb 2, 2011: News & Observer Red-light cameras are saving lives
Red-light enforcement cameras have saved lives in many cities, a new study says, but maybe not in Raleigh.
Fatal crash rates involving red-light runners fell after the cameras were installed in most of the 14 large cities studied, but the citywide death rates climbed in two - Raleigh and Bakersfield, Calif.
Raleigh uses the cameras at only 15 intersections, in a sprawling city where about 600 intersections have traffic lights.
See the full article: Red-light cameras are saving lives
redlight results.jpg
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brian
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Re: Red-light Bandit ruling may wreak havoc!

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Feb 11, 2011: South Dakota House Votes to Ban Photo Enforcement
The South Dakota House of Representatives voted 43 to 24 on Tuesday to prohibit the use of red light cameras and speed cameras in the state. A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by state Representative Peggy Gibson (D-Huron) took aim at the controversial automated ticketing machine set up in Sioux Falls, describing the due process denied innocent motorists ticketed by the system.
If the bill is passed by the full state Senate and signed by the governor, South Dakota would become the sixteenth state to ban automated ticketing machines. Five other states are considering joining the list by enacting photo enforcement prohibitions
See the full story: South Dakota House Votes to Ban Photo Enforcement
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brian
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Re: Red-light Bandit ruling may wreak havoc!

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Mar 5, 2011: Here's an indication that Red Light cameras are helping to reduce
Fatal Intersection Crashes Declining: NSC
"This report shows that we are making large strides as a nation in reducing crashes at intersections," said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council.
"Analysis of Intersection Fatal and Nonfatal Crashes from 2005 to 2009", National Safety Council, March 3, 2011
  • A new study issued recently by the National Safety Council reports that fatal crashes at intersections with traffic lights decreased by 17 percent and fatal crashes at intersections involving red-light running decreased by 27 percent from 2005 to 2009.
    The study analyzed fatal crash data in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, using statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
    “This report shows that we are making large strides as a nation in reducing crashes at intersections,” said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “However, despite the improvement there were still 12,396 fatal crashes at intersections with traffic lights, including 4,394 fatal intersection crashes involving red-light running during that five year period. While we are making progress, the 13,266 fatalities from these crashes remind us that we have much more to do. Each of us should consider these statistics and the measures we can take to protect ourselves, our families and our communities.”
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