01.28.2009 1:51 pm
Reed wants advanced warning on red-light traffic cameras
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Reed
Earlier we told you that new State Sen. Jim Lembke is taking aim at red-light cameras. Now, St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed has a bill that would tighten regulations on camera enforcement.
Reed’s proposal would require that St. Louis intersections with automated traffic enforcement have a sign “conspicuously posted” near the light.
Current St. Louis ordinance requires that signs informing motorists about the red-light cameras need only be placed “at the major roadways entering the city.”
A hearing for Reed’s bill is scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow at City Hall.
It looks to me like Sen. Lembke’s bill already has folks working to change the system. Thanks Jim!
Other municipalities in area have their cameras posted with warnings, so why shouldn’t St. Louis?
If they are honestly trying to deter violations instead of simply making money on drivers.
Well gee David, how would YOU punish red light violators? The video shown on Channel 2 last week was pretty specific. Violators running into cars and people. Doesn’t Lembke have anything better to do in office during a recession?
Not allowing city to rape their citizens or other citizens is an important act in a recession.
What nobody seems to have asked is how many cars went through those intersections versus the occasional incident they chose to show? I would bet you would fall asleep or at least lose interest quickly if you saw all the cars and not just the “chosen” few.
Red light cameras do not make intersections safer. Red light cameras do make cities money and that is what it is all about.
what is Reed doing about his own aldermen (Gregali, Troupe, etc) who -as the Post pointed out recently - are finding creative ways to avoid paying their own red-light camera tickets?!! let’s start with legislation to fix that little loophole.
It will be interesting to see what Slay says about this one. It is ridiculous that there is not more warning on these signs. If anyone opposes this move then obviously the city, or some people in the city, are only about money. It is bad enough to get a red light ticket, but it is stupid to get a ticket for stopping a foot over the line at an intersection that doesn’t even tell you the cameras are there. The RFT story on all of this is interesting and well worth a look.
http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2008-03-05/news/red-alert-st-louis-officials-really-don-t-want-you-to-know-too-much-about-those-pesky-traffic-light-cameras/
If an actual RED LIGHT (the second most recognized symbol in the universe) isn’t enough of a warning to stop, what could possibly be on a sign that would be?
I don’t care for the red light cameras, but posting signs actually makes it worse. In Arnold, there are 3 red light cameras. All have signs that say “Photo Enforced”.
While I don’t disagree with that in principle, it causes the folks that would never run a red light to act overly cautious. As in worrying so much that they slam on the brakes because they “think” the light is going to change.
They are scared to death. Of course, the folks that don’t care will just blow on through anyway. And they usually won’t pay the tickets, since they are in a legal gray area.
My heart goes out to everyone who has been hit by a red light runner. It could happen to any one of us. I just don’t see how the cameras are helping. Except that there are more rear-end accidents as opposed to getting hit broadside.
Give folks the ticket they deserve for not having the good sense to stop at a red light. Why warn them? The light is there for everyones safety!