Moral hazard —- bad idea.

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I’m surprised Freeman Sr. left out caning violators like he wanted to do to graffiti painters 15 years ago.

Fiefdoms - that all the alderpeople think about. Seriously we only need 11 of them what do they do all day?

Considering that the Arizona company that installed these cameras gets over 50% of each ticket issued, into perpetuity, the squabble over where the rest of the money goes is secondary. Where in the law, is it allowed that a private corporation can benefit, as an investment, from the prosecution of American Citizens? What’s next? Leasing off the Lotteries? Oh wait….

Vexation, as well as Taxation…without Representation…is intolerable.

Hey, upChuckontheFed:

The company doesn’t get 50%, it’s more like a third and they pay 100% of installation and upkeep. For $13.75 to be 20% of the City’s take under your scenario the tickets would have to be over $130. They’re not. They’re $100. My wife has earned two of them. I think it’s a great revenue generator from unwanted, dangerous behavior. It’s pretty easy to not get one. Don’t run a red-light.

Chucky:

There is no prosecution. It doesn’t even go on your driving record. I also believe the deal with the city is for ten-years. But at least you know what you’re talking about.

SouthSider:

All Aldermen except Greg Schmid have full-time jobs. Aldermen are paid like $20+k.

Here’s a great allocation plan that the aldermen should consider:

20% to the ward fund
80% to anti-gang programs
25% to hire new police officers
40% to street maintenance
10% to providing gasoline allowance for aldermen
10% for a diversity program for the fire department
30% to general revenue

Seems like a good idea for extra change for the Alderman to use in their Wards at their discretion. I’d personally like to see 40% of the take go into the Ward. While I’m sure the company handling these camera’s wouldnt be too thrilled with it my guess is that they would jump on board if the possibility of installing/supplying the city with more is there for them. Now lets just keep the state from trying to take some of that money that the city needs.

Kasoff: In honor of you saying (for the 1st time) something I agree with, or at least appreciate, I’ve decided not to butcher your name in my reply. Now go read the latest Reed post.

Mr. Wiese,

This is all ado about nothing. Try calling your aldermen and asking how much of their ward improvement accounts are left over each year because of their lack of vision / cooperation. They increased their expense accounts by thousands this year, all they need is more money, right?

eschewobfuscation-

While I understand that some alderman have a great lack of vision for their ward and the city in general I do know that there wasnt much left in the pot for my alderman. Part of that was due to some genius dumping a gallon of pesticide into our neighborhood lake which destroyed it and ate up most of the aldermans budget that was for our area. In addition fees were waived for permits for our area for a number of events that we host and that money comes directly out of his budget so the idea that they all waste it because they have no vision is a bit knee jerk.