New Jersey's Scam On Motorists

[G-Man]

Thousands of car owners in NJ have been ripped off to the tune of millions due to the use of stop light cameras. They admitted that cameras have been snapping pics WHILE THE LIGHT IS STILL YELLOW! Also, lights were programmed with shorth yellows. The law in NJ says the light should remain yellow for one second per 10 miles per hour. On a 30 mph road, the yellow should last for 3 seconds, but not in NJ!!!!!!!! And the day after this was exposed, NY plans on expanding its use of these income generators, for your safety of course.

[X Ring]

MS Legislature was outraged by cities using stoplight cameras as revenue generators that they outlawed their use in the state.  You should have heard some of the cities scream in protest and the citizens cheer!

Marty

[old2soon]

Thousands of car owners in NJ have been ripped off to the tune of millions due to the use of stop light cameras. They admitted that cameras have been snapping pics WHILE THE LIGHT IS STILL YELLOW! Also, lights were programmed with shorth yellows. The law in NJ says the light should remain yellow for one second per 10 miles per hour. On a 30 mph road, the yellow should last for 3 seconds, but not in NJ!!!!!!!! And the day after this was exposed, NY plans on expanding its use of these income generators, for your safety of course.

We from da gubmint. We here to HELP you. You won't even know yer freedoms left. RIDE SAFE.

[Dubsvalk]

Traffic cameras are a great idea.  It makes people obey the law or penalizes them.  And offences that happen at stop signs and traffic lights hurt and kill a lot of bikers each year.  Having said that, I have to say that greed is a terrible thing and that cameras are being used as revenue agents with quick light changes and the city/county governments employing them in that fashion are just as guilty as those commiting the offence.  IMHO
Dubs

[F6BANGER]

When we had them in Alb, they were red light/radar cameras. People would see the yellow and speed up to make the light and the radar would get them. A win/win for the city. They did put rumble strips at the intersections that had the cameras.

Most people would speed to the intersection, slam on their brakes to go through the intersection and then speed up again. Kinda crazy.......

[Valker]

A phone app called "Trapster" gives a constant readout of your speed, the posted speed limit, and gives a verbal notice when approaching a camera controlled (red light camera) intersection.

[bscrive]

These cameras do not make anyone safer, they just generate cash for the cities.

[G-Man]

I've received two red light camera tickets to date.  Both were at night, at empty intersections, just as the changed.  There was no harm, no foul, and nobody around.  That's usually the scenario. 

Also, it's the car that gets the ticket, not the driver. 

[sandy]

We had them on the freeways around town and they've been shutdown. When they worked, they kept traffic at 5-6 MPH above the limit. Now everyone seems to go 10+ above. Accident rates and deaths are back up too. Local cities are still using them as red light and speeding cameras. 

[steve 3054]

There is no evidence that this is a safty feature...this is a revenue feature,,,period!!!

[Thespian]

There is no evidence that this is a safty feature...this is a revenue feature,,,period!!!

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/05049/

Five years old I know, but you did say (NO EVIDENCE)

The increase in rear end crash's is not surprising, almost every where i go people are following closer than the law requires. But my guess is that someone will think that's a bad law as well. 

[RiderNJ]

They found the same problem (short yellow) at a busy intersection with a camera near my house.
It was pointed out by someone who went through the trouble of investigating on their own to fight the ticket.  Turns out that following some roadwork,  the speed limit was raised and the timing on the light was not adjusted.  Those who had received tickets and had yet to pay where told the tickets were recinded.  Those that had already paid...  too bad.   Payment is an admission of guilt.

I have received 1 ticket (different intersection) for going through a red light @ 1am  @ 10 minutes from home after a long night driving. Nobody else around.  I completely misjudged my distance to the light when I decided to go instead of stop.   I knew the camera was there.. Nobody to blame but me.  I'm not happy about it,  but I was wrong...  paid the fine.

[Patrick]

I'm pretty anti-government, but, I do like the camera idea.. Running the red lights around this area is the norm,, the yellow doesn't mean a thing..
I've received out-of state speeding tickets while traveling due to those cameras,, not happy about them,,but,, I guess was speeding so I paid the tickets.. I don't believe in speeding tickets unless the speed is really excessive..

[BF]

I'm pretty anti-government, but, I do like the camera idea.. Running the red lights around this area is the norm,, the yellow doesn't mean a thing..

Ditto.  Red light running is considered a birthright 'round here.  To say it's habitual would be a vast understatement. 

It is completely normal for 4, 5 or even 6 (and MORE!!!) cars to run lights around here at almost every intersection all day every day. 

I've got mixed feelings on the matter and I'm usually anti-authoritarian and anti-government also and I hate the thought of government abusing the power, but red light running is absolutely rampant around here to the point that something needs to be done to curb it.  The police just ignore it. 

The police, school buses and sheriff's deputies are just as guilty as everyone else and run the lights themselves.  I've even sat at an interestection right next to a deputy sheriff's car while waiting for several cars to blow though a red light and he just ignored it.   

Watch this video.  This video was taken at the corner of Racetrack Rd and Eglin Pkwy in my hometown of Fort Walton Beach, Florida......it's a typical intersection here about two miles from my home to give you an example what it's like every day here......

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/video/uservideo/index.php?bcpid=1155295662&bclid=1172739499&bctid=13188170001

[robin]

They stopped the cameras in NJ temporarily until they can calibrate them all as of this week.

[G-Man]

I heard Bloomberg this morning say that the cameras stop people from running red lights.  I say Yes and NO.

Yes, it stops those that KNOW THE CAMERA IS THERE (very small minority).  No, it does not stop the ones who don't know it's there (vast majority). 

If they really wanted to stop accidents, they would identify the intersections with cameras with large signs informing the motorists that the intersection is monitored.  Otherwise, it IS only a money maker, not a sfaety tactic.  The above mentioned sign would do more than the camera itself.

[bigguy]

I heard Bloomberg this morning say that the cameras stop people from running red lights.  I say Yes and NO.

Yes, it stops those that KNOW THE CAMERA IS THERE (very small minority).  No, it does not stop the ones who don't know it's there (vast majority). 

If they really wanted to stop accidents, they would identify the intersections with cameras with large signs informing the motorists that the intersection is monitored.  Otherwise, it IS only a money maker, not a sfaety tactic.  The above mentioned sign would do more than the camera itself.

I agree. It also give you an idea of what the real goal is. Safety or revenue.

[Bonzo]

Another little traffic light camera tid bit,  "Right on Red"  3 second stop is required in some locations  not to get "Snapped" as a "violator"

[Thespian]

I heard Bloomberg this morning say that the cameras stop people from running red lights.  I say Yes and NO.

Yes, it stops those that KNOW THE CAMERA IS THERE (very small minority).  No, it does not stop the ones who don't know it's there (vast majority). 

If they really wanted to stop accidents, they would identify the intersections with cameras with large signs informing the motorists that the intersection is monitored.  Otherwise, it IS only a money maker, not a sfaety tactic.  The above mentioned sign would do more than the camera itself.

I would say it's the reverse. The vast majority of people travel the same road to and from work dayly and know full well where the cameras are. I know I do, here there large signs warning drivers that they are there.

[bscrive]

I heard Bloomberg this morning say that the cameras stop people from running red lights.  I say Yes and NO.

Yes, it stops those that KNOW THE CAMERA IS THERE (very small minority).  No, it does not stop the ones who don't know it's there (vast majority). 

If they really wanted to stop accidents, they would identify the intersections with cameras with large signs informing the motorists that the intersection is monitored.  Otherwise, it IS only a money maker, not a sfaety tactic.  The above mentioned sign would do more than the camera itself.

They identify them here in Ottawa with signs at every intersection that has the cameras.  Still only a money maker though.  Like someone said, the car gets the ticket not the driver.  If you are letting someone borrow your car you better watch out.

[G-Man]

I heard Bloomberg this morning say that the cameras stop people from running red lights.  I say Yes and NO.

Yes, it stops those that KNOW THE CAMERA IS THERE (very small minority).  No, it does not stop the ones who don't know it's there (vast majority). 

If they really wanted to stop accidents, they would identify the intersections with cameras with large signs informing the motorists that the intersection is monitored.  Otherwise, it IS only a money maker, not a sfaety tactic.  The above mentioned sign would do more than the camera itself.

I would say it's the reverse. The vast majority of people travel the same road to and from work dayly and know full well where the cameras are. I know I do, here there large signs warning drivers that they are there.

The two tickets I received were on roads that I don't usually travel.  The majority of my driving is not commuting.  I can confidently say that the majority of New Yorkers don't commute by car.  And I haven't seen one sign yet letting the motorists know that the camera is there.  I've been driving in NYC and its suburbs for over 30 years now and I only know of 6 intersections that have cameras.  Where are the other few hundred?  Only the Shadow knows (and not the Honda Shadow).

Aaaaaand, I've seen several accidents at one (the Bronx River Pkwy exit off of the Cross Bronx).  This is a very busy intersection between to very busy highways.  People stop short to avoid the camera and then get hit from behind.  I've also seen people floor it to get through before the light turns.  Not too safe either.

Someone previously mentioned that there are apps for the camera locations.  This is a great thing if you have the time to plan you're route and you pay very close attention because like someone else stated, you can misjudge distance and speed and lose that one half second and BINGO the car gets a ticket.  Not the driver.  No points.  No worry about license suspension or increased insurance premiums.  Just a fine.  Therefore, just a  money maker.

[Oss]

if i were in charge................

would set up a nonprofit consumer group authorized to check every camera for timing on those lights
at irregular intervals so the city has to stay on their toes

and the camera could not be used as evidence unless the car was entirely before the intersection when the light turned red   with the computers this should not be so tough

If the city is found to be screwing up the city has to pay the nonprofit  on every dismissed ticket   
 

Let the foxes watch the chicken coop and you get dead chickens

i have gotten a few and deserved each one, didnt know I was on camera either time

[98valk]

Some contracts penalize cities if they don't approve enough tickets, effectively setting a ticket quota, the report said. That can undermine the authority of local officials to decide when to issue tickets, it said.

"Automated traffic ticketing tends to be governed by contracts that focus more on profits than safety," said Phineas Baxandall, the report's co-author.

http://news.yahoo.com/study-questions-outsourcing-traffic-camera-systems-041338036.html