December 15, 2004 6:05 AM

Efficient law enforcement or Big Brother?

Red light cameras prompt pedal-to-the metal debate: Insurers say they might raise rates; others counter that adding monitors is the safe thing to do

At first glance, it seems like a great idea: mount cameras on traffic lights on some of the most dangerous intersections in the city of Houston. Bingo…instant traffic enforcement, right? The city likes it because it increases enforcement (and revenue) without requiring a police officer be on the scene to write a ticket…or at least that’s what they’re telling us. The reality is a fair bit different.

It seems like a win-win proposition for the city, but motorists might not think it such a wonderful idea. Imagine receiving a citation in the mail. You don’t remember when, or where, or even how, but the Houston Police Department is demanding $75 from you. Who do you talk to? Where do you go to fight the ticket? Or do you do what so many of us have done and just pay the damn thing because that’s infinitely easier than taking time out of your busy schedule to fight City Hall? It’s not as if the city makes it easy or convenient to contest a traffic ticket.

Under the city’s plan, a driver can be cited as many times as humanly possible without having points assigned to their driving records. If it sounds like a virtual gold mine for the city of Houston, believe it.

Not surprisingly, auto insurers are less than enthused about the plan. Since insurers generally factor moving violations into their rating calculations, this plan would make it more difficult to accurately rate the risk factors inherent in insuring a driver. This is no small thing when you are essentially gambling on how much of a risk a driver poses.

It’s difficult to imagine that the city of Houston’s primary interest is in anything but collecting additional revenues. If they were truly serious about traffic enforcement and public safety, they would find a way to put some teeth into this proposal. The bottom line of the city’s proposal IS the bottom line- their own. Public safety? Sure, it would be nice if this program actually resulted in fewer accidents and fatalities, but those would be fortunate side effects.

Of course, there is also the civil liberties aspect of this proposal, and that is no small concern. Other cities, San Diego chief among them, have had to eliminate their own similar programs. In San Diego’s case, it was discovered that the company that installed and maintained the city’s traffic camera’s received a kickback on each citation issued by their system. It is difficult to argue that your chief concern is public safety when your supplier is being paid a commission on each citation.

If Houston goes ahead with the ill-advised, poorly-though-out, and inherently unfair program, it likely won’t be long before some enterprising attorney get it tossed on it’s ear. There are some legitimate constitutional issues in play here…never mind the fact that it runs counter to the very American concept of being able to face your accuser. When your accuser is a camera and a computer, what opportunity for due process do you really have?

Isn’t there a better way for the city of Houston to squeeze money out of it’s citizens? Can’t ANYONE at City Hall recognize this travesty for the non-starter it is? I understand that Mayor White wants to have fewer officers dedicated to policing intersections. There is certainly nothing wrong with this goal. What IS wrong, however, is coming up with a misguided plan such as this one as a means of reaching that goal.

WE DESERVE BETTER.

blog comments powered by Disqus

Technorati

Technorati search

» Blogs that link here

About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on December 15, 2004 6:05 AM.

Giving credit where credit is due was the previous entry in this blog.

And even when your service is complete, we can call you up whenever it serves our purpose is the next entry in this blog.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

Contact Me

Powered by Movable Type 5.12