Traffic Camera

[CAP1]

Cajun, I think everyone is aware the police officers have no say in this.

On the other hand.   My Wife was in a left turn lane with a green arrow.  To do anything other than turn left, she would have broken the law, big time.  She makes the left, at the green arrow, and then promptly gets pulled over and ticketed for not using her left turn signal.  Technically, she broke the law. 

While she was waiting, another motorcycle police officer was pulling over everyone that did the same thing.  She said when she pulled away, there were 13 cars in line for tickets.  Apparently, no one making that left could figure out why everyone was getting pulled over.

I find myself now using my turn signal whenever I have to deviate from a straight path, even when I am in a dedicated turn lane, which has a curb to prevent you from changing your mind, and cannot possibly impose a hazard to anyone when no turn signal is present.

Just a heads up, but the City of Grapevine must be hard up for cash this month so be careful when driving through it folks.

JUST ABOUT ALL  townships and states are hurting right not.

you should've been using your turnsignals all along though. they;re there for a reason. it doesn't matter if you're in a dedicated turn lane or not, turn signals are still necessary.

[Skuzzy]

1) It was not me that got the ticket.
2) I said she did break the law.
3) My point was how common sense has been eschewed for the almighty dollar.

Yes, you can pick nits about it all day long.  Point of fact, I have made that same left hand turn many times and been followed by police officers who did not ticket me and who also did not use their turn signals.

A dedicated single lane left turn controlled by signal is not posing any danger for anyone not using a turn signal.  Yes, lawfully a turn signal is required.  She will pay the ticket.  She was wrong and she knows it.  This is not going to stop me from squeaking about the inconsistency of it all.

[CAP1]

1) It was not me that got the ticket.
2) I said she did break the law.
3) My point was how common sense has been eschewed for the almighty dollar.

Yes, you can pick nits about it all day long.  Point of fact, I have made that same left hand turn many times and been followed by police officers who did not ticket me and who also did not use their turn signals.

A dedicated single lane left turn controlled by signal is not posing any danger for anyone not using a turn signal.  Yes, lawfully a turn signal is required.  She will pay the ticket.  She was wrong and she knows it.  This is not going to stop me from squeaking about the inconsistency of it all.

I was just making a statement.......and i missed that it was the wife, and not you....sorry bout that.

i wasn't meaning to lecture......it just tends to piss me off when someone's in front, and suddenly, i'm standing on the brakes, because they've just decided to go left from the right lane...no turnsignals or anything.

 i do agree with ya though.....ot have to use the signals in a dedicated lane, is ridiculous at best....but they can nail us  for it.

 the big thing around here in nj is cell phones. same in philly. i see police on them ALL the time, yet i've had friends pulled over for it.

 one was kinda funny......my friend saw the cop, said to hold for a second as she was putting me on speakerphone. she was sitting at a red light, the cop pulled up behind her.
 he pulled her over as soon as she started to move, although the phone was sitting in her lap by that time. he sounded like he was gonna be a real arse, as i could hear him. she gave him her reg and paperwork, then made a comment as if he had walked away.
 thinking he walked away, i made a comment(about his attitude) saying somethign like "what a schmuck!". i didn't hear anything for a moment, and she then told me that he was standing there when i said that.......and thankfully, the cop laughed at it.
 he let her off, but warned her about next time.

[SEraider]

Well... unless they send it certified mail, they can't prove that you ever got it.

Can it still go on your driving record?? I'm in California.  Any cops know about this?

[SEraider]

3) My point was how common sense has been eschewed for the almighty dollar.

The legitimacy of Laws in any society and its effectivness depends on how ethical the law is and to a high standard. 

When it is a corporate scheme or a money grab by government, people ultimately will have less respect of those "laws".  If there were to be a class-action lawsuit by thousands of people, the discovery process would damn government officials and just that alone, would see these laws repealed. 

[saggs]

Can it still go on your driving record?? I'm in California.  Any cops know about this?

IDK, but that's part of why I think it violates the right to due process, they cannot prove your actually received a citation.  What if your on vacation when it comes in the mail, what if the postman drops it in your neighbors box, and they just throw it out, what if you dog eats it.  The whole idea of mailing out citations, several days (or even weeks) after the fact, when no officer actually witnessed the event, is just wrong on many levels.   

Also your removing a real-life officer who has the innate ability to use his/her good judgment in any given situation, and can testify in a court of law to circumstances surrounding the citation, and replacing them with a completely disambiguous computer/camera system, which can take into account no possible extenuating circumstances.

Besides can a traffic cam catch drunk drivers, or drowsy drivers, or reckless drivers who aren't speeding, or a vehicle with and unsafe load?  Real officers can do all that, AND still catch speeders/red light runners as well.  It seems to me that municipalities using traffic cams are placing a much greater value on $$$$$ then on the actual safety of motorists.

[CAP1]

Besides can a traffic cam catch drunk drivers, or drowsy drivers, or reckless drivers who aren't speeding, or a vehicle with and unsafe load?  Real officers can do all that, AND still catch speeders/red light runners as well.  It seems to me that municipalities using traffic cams are placing a much greater value on $$$$$ then on the actual safety of motorists.

apparently they seem to think they do in the uk. if or not, they really do, i don't know.....what i DO know, is that i do not want to live in a society like they have over there.....where every single move one makes can and will be recorded.
 these are intended for good.......but the fact is that they will be used for other than good too.

[RTHolmes]

hey its not all bad here - we're not required to indicate in a dedicated turn lane

[AApache]

NEW AND IMPROVED TRAFFIC SIGNAL !!!!!!                         

[LYNX]

apparently they seem to think they do in the uk. if or not, they really do, i don't know.....what i DO know, is that i do not want to live in a society like they have over there.....where every single move one makes can and will be recorded.
 these are intended for good.......but the fact is that they will be used for other than good too.

Thankfully some of the dodgy speed cameras have been removed in my home town.  When I say dodgy I mean in places like bottom of hills or 50 feet into a slower speed restriction.  

As for CCTV, as you rightly point out, its rampent over here.  Shop security cameras we can't do anything about...so long as it's not picking up activity of you in your home across the street.  CCTV on the highways, by ways and shopping centres have been used covertly.  To the point where Government has had to tighten it's laws.  Some councils had used them to catch anything from dole cheats to litter bugs.  Thankfully there hasn't been many infringements of privacy or the rules of use.

Unfortunately I can see a time where a street camera will send you a ticket for you breathing too much air as you go about your daily business.  The majority of folk over here don't care.  "well if you didn't break the law whats to worry about."  

    

[CAP1]

hey its not all bad here - we're not required to indicate in a dedicated turn lane

dam dude!!

 

[CAP1]

Thankfully some of the dodgy speed cameras have been removed in my home town.  When I say dodgy I mean in places like bottom of hills or 50 feet into a slower speed restriction.  

As for CCTV, as you rightly point out, its rampent over here.  Shop security cameras we can't do anything about...so long as it's not picking up activity of you in your home across the street.  CCTV on the highways, by ways and shopping centres have been used covertly.  To the point where Government has had to tighten it's laws.  Some councils had used them to catch anything from dole cheats to litter bugs.  Thankfully there hasn't been many infringements of privacy or the rules of use.

Unfortunately I can see a time where a street camera will send you a ticket for you breathing too much air as you go about your daily business.  The majority of folk over here don't care.  "well if you didn't break the law whats to worry about."  

    

dam...thanks for not jumping down my throat. when i just now re-read my post that you quoted, i think it comes off as me being an ass.

 the security cameras in shops and stores......i'm on the fence with them. i know they use them for loss prevention, and i respect that. sometimes, it's just bothersome knowing that we're on candid camera though.
 
 the cameras in the streets.......i truly believe they should go. there are those that will extol the virtues and benefits of them, but as you seem to realize, they can and will eventually be used for less and less legitimate things.

so far the cameras on the highways near me aren't used for speed enforcement, but i would imagine that they soon will. they'll give us a few years to get used to them being there, then hit us with the "we need to supplement our state troopers to protect you" line. unfortunalty, the people will say what you said they say there..."if you're not doing anything wrong, then you shouldn't worry". of course they say this, then go cruise the freeway at 75mph in a 55 zone, while talking on their cell phone, and eating a burrito. 

[lyric1]

Interesting subject that was an issue while back home after Christmas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpMGN0R3F3o&feature=PlayList&p=7E845FE7742AE9EF&index=3

http://www.theage.com.au/national/ken-lay-top-traffic-cop-caught-speeding-20100114-maan.html

My only real issue with this is that it was swept under the rug by the police & the state government to avoid embarrassment so the safety campaign would have credibility for the Christmas break. So what else has been hidden? & he was right they did catch him Since the speed cameras in Victoria were taken over by a contractor & not in control of the police any more friends of mine on the police force were not happy as they could no longer take it in to the station & have it well.... lets just say get it taken care of. I guess every cloud has it's silver lining.

[LYNX]

Interesting subject that was an issue while back home after Christmas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpMGN0R3F3o&feature=PlayList&p=7E845FE7742AE9EF&index=3

http://www.theage.com.au/national/ken-lay-top-traffic-cop-caught-speeding-20100114-maan.html

My only real issue with this is that it was swept under the rug by the police & the state government to avoid embarrassment so the safety campaign would have credibility for the Christmas break. So what else has been hidden? & he was right they did catch him Since the speed cameras in Victoria were taken over by a contractor & not in control of the police any more friends of mine on the police force were not happy as they could no longer take it in to the station & have it well.... lets just say get it taken care of. I guess every cloud has it's silver lining.

lol he said "I clearly didn't notice the speed camera, perhaps I was distracted or fatigued."  He said that on camera.  Over here that would be admitting to driving without due care and attention.  If I said that I would be nicked.

[LYNX]

so far the cameras on the highways near me aren't used for speed enforcement, but i would imagine that they soon will.

We have Tech companies over here trying to sell CCTV software upgrades to local authorities.  A standard CCTV camera can able to do face recognition and link into the police database.  Cars would be checked for motor insurance, MOT's (road safety certs) and TAX (tags).

Its just a matter of time...."but it's OK folks, it's only for catching criminals and terrorists."  Soon after that it'll be litter dropping, crossing the road on red (don't walk) and wearing brown shoes with a green coat.  If it was something more important like not showing undue control over your children while shopping I'd be up for it.