Dallas Puts Its Citizens’ Lives at Risk for Red Light Ticket Revenue
An alert FBvian points us to news that Dallas has been shortening yellow lights at intersections monitored by cameras.
There is really nothing else to say: this must stop.
Update: Another FBvian reminds me that we’ve known this for a while.
10 Comments to “Dallas Puts Its Citizens’ Lives at Risk for Red Light Ticket Revenue”
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I go through the intersection of Greenville and Mockingbird (mentioned in the article) at least 10 times a week. I haven’t noticed shorter yellow lights, but I’m almost always turning right (westbound) onto Mockingbird. I have noticed the cameras flashing when the traffic was moving on Mockingbird, taking of picture of what I’m not sure. I’m assuming most of these tickets are from turning west onto Mockingbird from north bound Greenville – always a very short cycle. Get on Matilda, people, and avoid the intersection all together.
Your alert FBvian has misquoted his source. According to his source, “Dallas likewise installed the cameras at locations with existing short yellow times.” Apparently, Dallas has NOT shortened the yellow light time, but it has installed cameras at intersections that already had shorter yellow light times. So is the problem with the cameras, or the shorter yellow times?
Uh, it says
“Six U.S. cities have been found guilty of shortening the amber cycles below what is allowed by law on intersections equipped with cameras meant to catch red-light runners.”
If this is true it really really sucks.
There are two things that will deter red light running. The most economical is longer yellows. The most efficient is the cameras.
As I understand it immediately after the installation of a red light camera there is a flood of tickets issued. Then the number tapers off to a trickle.
This tells us two things about red light runners. It’s basically the same people who do it. They can be taught not to do it.
Shortening the yellows is typical of the mindset about everything must be a source of revenue. Once an activity is viewed as a profit center then the next step is to make it more profitable.
the revenue gestapo strikes again.
and it will keep up until someone files suit
on the short yellow lights. where is the ACLU
when they are needed?
By shortening the yellow lights, they are making it almost impossible under certain circumstances to avoid running the red light.
This is entrapment.
Bureaucratic greed will end up costing the city dearly when a court, hopefully, orders refunds of all the tickets issued under this program.
Okay.. I want my money back.
Anyone here up for a class action lawsuit?
Every City in America can do new things , but Dallas.What the hell is wrong? Could it be City manager form of government? Think about it!
I don’t care about the revenue, however I think the State grabbing some of it sucks. Red light cameras seem to be successful at reducing red light runners. That is all it takes to support it. I have stopped easily at red lights, only to have nutty drivers pull around me to run the light. I see at least three every day in my commute to work. I hope that they all get tickets. If the City makes money, fine with me.
Predictions: 1)this program will result in a few lawsuits whose defense will cost the city at least 4 times the gross revenues it receives from the cameras. 2)at some point yet another story will come out about how the city has to pay X dollars to the vendor; this total will also exceed the revenues grossed 3) no one will suffer politically or career-wise as a result of this misbegotten, cynical way to raise money.