Big Brother’s Eye in the Sky: Use of Red-Light Cameras in Accident Litigation

By Gary L. Wickert and Melissa J. Fischer | August 7, 2014

  • August 7, 2014 at 6:01 pm
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    Red light cameras record a vehicle running a red light. But red light cameras do not record why. Did the vehicle run a red light because an ambulance must coming up from behind him and he had to get out of the way? Did the vehicle run a red light because he had to slow down before he entered the intersection for a car pulling into the lane in front of him?

    By the fundamentals of engineering for a 45 mph level road, the length of the road where one finds the cause of the red light violation is 300 feet on both sides of the intersection.

    Red light cameras only photograph about 20 – 40 feet on either side of the intersection.

    By the rules the evidence, red light cameras do not provide sufficient evidence for a ruling of innocence or guilt. All they do is record a red light violation. By turning our country’s laws upside down, now the car owner is deemed guilty until proven innocent.

    There is no proof because the camera does not record the proof needed. There is not enough proof for a conviction either.

    The money is doing the talking. Fairness and legality have nothing to do with anything.

    Using red light cameras as a surveillance tool does not justify their intended and primnary purpose.

  • September 9, 2014 at 11:14 am
    LinuxGuy says:
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    This is ALL about money. All you need to do is have 85th percentile free-flowing traffic speed limits, use longer yellow times, have a decent length all-red interval, and sensors to keep an all-red for late arrivals. No crashes! You can also sync lights and use sensors to keep smooth flow.

    What is the point of using poor engineering with predatory enforcement, if not 100% revenue?

    Look at what’s up in Pittsburgh. Back in October, council had a meeting with suits from red-light camera companies and consultants. To be fair, a person from the National Motorists Association was also there. Well, a camera person refused to allow the NMA guy to even talk. This shows what you are dealing with here. Enough said.

    You can easily find data showing cameras lead to more crashes and safe drivers ticketed. The way it is setup, you have split-second violations, tickets for stops past the stop line, AND violations for a non-complete stop for a right-on-red turn.

    • January 26, 2021 at 8:53 am
      catherine fahey says:
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      Better technology means less less dangerous drivers on the motorways making it a safer place to drive.



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