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A very big issue, at least in my town, is the whole traffic camera debate. My town (Dubuque, IA) is currently considering implementing a traffic camera system to automatically fine drivers who run red lights, and possibly drivers who are speeding. |
First, we present you with the facts, in the form of frequently asked questions, then the opinions of the local newspaper and a citizen (for cameras) and some citizens against the cameras, followed by my opinion on the matter.
FAQ
What if I go through a yellow light?
Yellow-light violations are not recorded by the system.
What if I am already in the intersection when the light turns red?
A violation occurs only if a vehicle enters the intersection after the light turns red. Vehicles already across the stop line are not in violation, nor are left-turning vehicles waiting in the intersection.
How are right turns on red enforced?
The system will capture vehicles that do not come to a complete stop before turning right. It will not be an automatic violation. If the driver makes an obvious attempt to make sure there is not oncoming traffic before turning it might not result in a citation.
What is the fine for a red-light violation?
$80. If an officer issues a red-light ticket the fine is $100, plus a $35 surcharge, plus $60 court costs for a total of $195.
How much of each red-light ticket goes to the city and how much goes to the camera vendor?
The vendor will receive $29 for each paid citation and the city will retain $51.
Who decides whether a citation is issued?
A Dubuque Police officer will review all potential violations submitted by the vendor and make the final determination.
How will speeding violations be enforced?
The system will capture vehicles traveling above the speed limit and will have a predetermined speed to allow for driver error, above which the system will record a violation.
How much will speeding tickets cost?
Fines for speeding are based on how many miles per hour above the speed limit the vehicle is traveling:
1 to 5 mph = $20
6 to 10 mph = $40
11 to 15 mph = $80
16 to 20 mph = $90
20 mph and above = $100
How much of each speeding ticket goes to the vendor and how much to the city?
The vendor will receive $29 for each violation and the city will retain the balance.
What if someone else was driving my vehicle at the time?
The notice will be sent to the owner of the vehicle, who can then complete a form and redirect the citation to another driver.
How can a citizen contest a violation?
The driver can meet with a designated police officer to review the video and discuss the violation. The officer has the authority to rescind the citation. If the issue is not resolved, the individual can contest the fine in District Court. If the court upholds the violation, the individual will be charged court costs.
Are there options other than paying a fine?
After the first offense, individuals can opt to take a safe driving course and receive a $50 rebate.
Do violations impact my driving record?
Camera-generated citations are not added to a person’s driving record.
Will violations impact my insurance rate?
Since camera-generated violations are not recorded on the driving record, they should not impact insurance rates.
What if fines are not paid?
The city is considering using a collection agency like it does for delinquent utility bills.
How much taxpayer money is being used to implement the system?
The vendor assumes the full cost of installing and maintaining the system. The
city will incur costs for police officers reviewing potential violations, meeting with drivers to review violations.
FAQ
What if I go through a yellow light?
Yellow-light violations are not recorded by the system.
What if I am already in the intersection when the light turns red?
A violation occurs only if a vehicle enters the intersection after the light turns red. Vehicles already across the stop line are not in violation, nor are left-turning vehicles waiting in the intersection.
How are right turns on red enforced?
The system will capture vehicles that do not come to a complete stop before turning right. It will not be an automatic violation. If the driver makes an obvious attempt to make sure there is not oncoming traffic before turning it might not result in a citation.
What is the fine for a red-light violation?
$80. If an officer issues a red-light ticket the fine is $100, plus a $35 surcharge, plus $60 court costs for a total of $195.
How much of each red-light ticket goes to the city and how much goes to the camera vendor?
The vendor will receive $29 for each paid citation and the city will retain $51.
Who decides whether a citation is issued?
A Dubuque Police officer will review all potential violations submitted by the vendor and make the final determination.
The system will capture vehicles traveling above the speed limit and will have a predetermined speed to allow for driver error, above which the system will record a violation.
How much will speeding tickets cost?
Fines for speeding are based on how many miles per hour above the speed limit the vehicle is traveling:
1 to 5 mph = $20
6 to 10 mph = $40
11 to 15 mph = $80
16 to 20 mph = $90
20 mph and above = $100
How much of each speeding ticket goes to the vendor and how much to the city?
The vendor will receive $29 for each violation and the city will retain the balance.
What if someone else was driving my vehicle at the time?
The notice will be sent to the owner of the vehicle, who can then complete a form and redirect the citation to another driver.
How can a citizen contest a violation?
The driver can meet with a designated police officer to review the video and discuss the violation. The officer has the authority to rescind the citation. If the issue is not resolved, the individual can contest the fine in District Court. If the court upholds the violation, the individual will be charged court costs.
Are there options other than paying a fine?
After the first offense, individuals can opt to take a safe driving course and receive a $50 rebate.
Do violations impact my driving record?
Camera-generated citations are not added to a person’s driving record.
Will violations impact my insurance rate?
Since camera-generated violations are not recorded on the driving record, they should not impact insurance rates.
What if fines are not paid?
The city is considering using a collection agency like it does for delinquent utility bills.
How much taxpayer money is being used to implement the system?
The vendor assumes the full cost of installing and maintaining the system. The
city will incur costs for police officers reviewing potential violations, meeting with drivers to review violations.
Opinions: For and Against
| For Cameras By the TH Editorial Board As the Dubuque City Council mulls the decision to install traffic enforcement cameras in town, it is wise to study available data and consider the viewpoints of citizens. But just because a vocal group of citizens says they don't want the cameras doesn't mean it would be a bad thing for the community. At Monday's City Council meeting citizens talked about what people in Cedar Rapids have to say about traffic enforcement cameras there. They don't like them, citizens reported. That just doesn't seem all that surprising or relevant to what is best for Dubuque. Citizens who speed or run red lights are caught more often with the cameras in place. No one wants a traffic ticket. Therefore citizens don't like the cameras. That's perfectly understandable. But if we can agree that traffic signals and speed limits are important public safety laws, then opponents are simply objecting to the method of enforcement. Police and sheriffs departments are trying to do more with fewer resources. These cameras are part of new technology. They allow officials to ensure that laws are enforced, whether or not a police officer is watching. Use of traffic cameras seems like a decision best left to law enforcement, not citizens who want to avoid getting tickets. Here's who is not coming to the council meetings to speak up: The parent of a child who has to cross busy streets in Dubuque on foot or on a bike. Or drivers who generally follow the rules of the road and think traffic would be much smoother if everyone just drove the speed limit and obeyed signals. It's no surprise that citizens aren't begging for more enforcement of traffic laws. But if it will cut down law violations and therefore accidents, then it makes sense. That's the rub for the City Council. Not all the data is positive. Council member David Resnick presented the council with information that some research indicates traffic enforcement cameras don't always make intersections safer. That research bears further investigation. But there's strong evidence on the side of safety as well. In Cedar Rapids -- where no doubt citizens are complaining about the cameras (or maybe just the tickets) -- law enforcement officials say installation of 19 red-light and speed cameras last year decreased fatal accidents by 80 percent. If the cameras can help prevent fatal accidents, it is an option worthy of trying. Council members have not jumped headlong into this change. The proposal came before council last year, and there will be more discussion ahead. Ultimately, they should land on installing the cameras. As law enforcement officials address public safety in the face of taxed resources, they need every tool available to enforce the laws of the community. For traffic laws, these cameras are one of those tools. A Dubuque Resident has this to say: Just obey the speed limit ans stop at stoplights and you will have no problem. Simple as that. |
Against Cameras. By Brian Gomoll of Dubuque There seems to be plenty of doubt other than anecdotal evidence in the veracity of claims that these cameras make anything safer. See the numerous examples of this quoted in the newspaper article. Further, hidden under the safety claims one must be careful of the slippery slope of placing faith in cameras or other machines to decide guilt or innocence. I find it telling that these are not moving violations, but rather fines. It would seem that a police officer's presence and human judgment are much more important, as their enforcement carries more legal weight and higher fees. I can't help but see this as a revenue generator rather than care and concern for the citizenry at large. With human generated tickets, all of the money is going to the Clerk of Court, Dubuque County. I know with these mystery cameras that a good portion of this money is leaving our municipality ... but I don't know where it is going. That's not right. Will these fees fight tax increases, fund schools, build roads ... what will they do? It seems to me that a vote should be the minimum required for something like this. I mean a public referendum, not closed votes without public input. I consider this a matter of utmost importance and oppose such measures as an infringement of privacy and a further encroachment on individual rights and due process by law. By a Dubuque Resident What will they do next? Make it mandatory that we have our car computers read so they can give us a ticket every time that the speed limit has been exceeded on the hard drive? Maybe make it mandatory that every car has a camera installed to record the drivers actions and send out tickets accordingly? There is enough infringement on our rights without this.  |
My Opinion
Using these cameras seems like an obvious thing to do. Not only do they catch more people than police possibly can, they do it more cheaply. Sure, some of the money goes to a private company, but that company also pays to set it up and maintain it, plus they're helping the government get more money. It's not like they're stealing money from the government and taxpayers. In fact, taxpayers seem to be unaffected, at least finically.
That leads to one complaint that a lot of people have, that it invades their rights and privacy.
No it doesn't.
When you are driving, you are in a public place. No one is putting a camera in your home. You're probably already caught on a lot of cameras in parking lots and buildings on accident. So, these are just catching you on camera for a reason.
And its a public place, so being on camera isn't that big of a deal.
There are two types of laws. Natural laws, and artificial laws. Gravity is a natural law, it enforces itself. The speed limit, and running red lights, are artificial laws. There is no universal force enforcing it constantly, and universally.
Police and state troopers are employed to help enforce these laws, which can't enforce themselves. These cameras bring artificial laws, at least some of them, closer to automatic enforcement.
Technically, you should treat artificial and natural laws the same. You shouldn't try jumping off a building, for you will likely die. And you shouldn't run a read light, not only because you may die, as well as others, but you will be fined, according to law.
These cameras help enforce the laws that are set in place to protect us, and they provide an alternative to hiking up taxes as a means of collecting money for the local government. I think you'd agree that some people getting tickets in the mail, maybe even you once and a while, is better than tax hikes.
I think the main reason people are against this is that they don't want to get tickets in the mail. Because, come on, most of us break a couple of laws every time we drive (who doesn't go a little (or a lot) over the speed limit when they're in a hurry?).
People may not like it because they don't want to pay fees for breaking laws, the Government should still set these up. And why shouldn't they, they basically get free money.
Conclusion
So basically, I think its a good idea, the government has almost no reason to think its a bad idea, and some people don't like it.
What's your opinion? Sound off in the comments.
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