Cameras accuse 2,600 of speeding

[HighVelocity]

I have no sympathy for anyone speeding in a school zone. If you get caught then pay the fine and pay more attention to your speed.
If you're truly innocent then tell it to the judge like everyone else. Whether a uniformed officer sees you and writes the ticket or a camera gets you makes no difference.

 

[antarti]

Does anyone else think that the 20mph school zone is antiquated and needs to be reconsidered?

Aren't all playgrounds either fenced or in the back of the schools these days? Crosswalks need to be honored. Speed limit for most city streets is 35mph. Is this really a problem in 2005?

I've never (since I started going to school, many many years ago) seen a school crossing where there wasn't a local policeman more than a half-block away during morning arrival and let-out times. With all the traffic of buses and parents, and the police, Im stunned that somebody actually could drive over 25 in those zones during those hours.

The most deaths we have here are because of ill-planned bus routes (or the occasional lazy bus-driver who doesn't want to fight the traffic) which drop off kids on the wrong side of a 6-lane highway (like US19, already soaked with the blood of thousands of motorists) and force them to cross on foot, nowhere near a light or safe crossing.

Personally, I would hope the police would be out there personally, as every so often somebody won't stop when the buses put on their flashing lights (a real danger to the kids). What good is the camera gonna do then?

Is it to "serve and protect" or to "relax and collect"? Somebody better make up their mind.

 

[TheEgg]

Speeding in a school zone should be dealt with harshly. That said:

The take in fines in that 19-day period: nearly half a million dollars.

If anyone thinks that these automatic camera schemes have anything to do with safety, you have a severe cranial rectal insertion problem, and need to see a specialist at once!

 

[Can'thavenuthingood]

Nestor collects $19 from each paid ticket.

Smells bad.

$500,000 / 19 days = $26,315 a day x 365 days = $9,605,263 per year

$500,000 / 2600 alleged speeders = $192.31 each

$9,605,263 / $192.31 = 49,946 speeders x $19 each = $940,424 per year for Nestor at the ONE site.

Actually if setup properly, these gizmo's could pay for ALL of government, state, federal as well as local. We could then deep six the property tax and the income tax as well as the sales tax, the excise tax, the business tax, the business license tax, vehicle registration tax and the gun extortion tax, the gas tax, and the estate tax.

This idea has merit.

Vick

 

[Ryder]

The whole state is one giant speed trap. They must have the highest officer/citizen ratio of anyplace in the country. Who wants to see 3 cop cars every 5 miles? I see maybe 1 or 2 cops a month here if that.

The fact they caught that many speeders in Ohio amazes me. The few times I drove through (before making up my mind to detour around) EVERYONE was going at least 5mph under the limit. They all gave me the evil eye for passing them and I wasn't even speeding. I'll bet half of them were on their cell phones reporting me for driving like I knew what I was doing.

It's really sad for me to see so many people who lack the spirit to act freely.

 

[Desertdog]

The fact they caught that many speeders in Ohio amazes me.

You better read the story again. They didn't "catch" anybody. The hidden cameras snapped pictures and reported a radar reading of a speed that was higher than the speed limit. No police presence.

If each and every person would plead not guilty, and request a trial, the court would be so loaded down with cases that they would never be able to hear all the cases. And then, ask for them to prove the radar was calibrated correctly and making the ticket issuing officer testify should put a halt to the cameras being used.

 

[Freedomv]

I cannot believe the number of people who think that speeding on a road, any road or street is a right and that the rules of the road and laws can be ignored.

The fact that many take pride in the fact that they can consistently speed by 5 or 10 mph or more and get away with it.

It is a shame how self-important people are when they are driving on PUBLIC roads. They look down on a citizen who is actually driving within the speed limit and imply that he or she should not be on the road as if the road is their private road and others should not inconvenience them by driving the posted speed.

Darwin awards go out constantly to speeders and tailgaters, etc. unfortunately many innocents are co-recipients thru no fault of their own.

If you want to speed, go to a speed way/race track etc. to speed if that is your thing.

Weather you think so or not, speed causes or contributes to most accidents. And yes, the lack of speed is also the cause of some accidents.

My father told me many years ago to consider every car that goes by me a near miss and to drive accordingly.

If someone were to shrug off the rules of gun safety many would jump all over them, but not say a thing about speeding etc. Same difference.

It takes all kinds and they are all out there.

Rant over.
Vern

 

[Crosshair]

You forget Freedomv that speed limits are set so that 15% of people will speed. If we all drove the speed limit they would lower the limit even more. They need to set the limits at the maximum safe speed that the road can support. This would mean that many speed limits would have to be raised and would cut their tax revenue.

 

[jkswiss]

Gatso's as I believe speed cameras are called in the UK, have been the targets of NUMEROUS vandalisms. Popular methods include spray painting the lense, placing a tire on and burning, and pulling the post. These cameras costs around $20k a piece so they aint cheap. If speed cameras were as prolific around here in Washington as they are in the UK, I can't say I wouldn't turn a blind eye to someone vandalising those cameras. The majority of motorists that took a poll over there said they would do the same thing. The funny thing about the vandals is that they aren't typical vandals. They are frustrated, pissed off motorists that are otherwise law abiding. I read an article about a Swiss dude that got caught running over one. There are problems when the otherwise peaceful Swiss turn so cantankerous. I can honestly see where they are coming from. I don't like Big Brother watching over my shoulder like that. Pretty soon well be living in a 1984 like society.

 

[DRZinn]

Wouldn't be nothin' to ride by on a bike, stop for 10 seconds - and spray-paint the lens.

 

[coylh]

Speeders want to drive 10 m/h over the speed limit. When the freeway speed was 55 here, the type A's drove 65. The speed limit was increased to 60 a few years ago and now they drive 70.

My suspicion is that they're not happy unless they're going faster than the next guy. Have you noticed how New Yorkers cross insersections about 5 seconds before the "walk" signal? They must be in a hurry...

 

[chopinbloc]

i got caught by one of those mobile photo radars. my buddy told me some dude tried to serve the ticket because i used to live there. conversation went something like:
dude: "is andrew ***** here?"
my buddy: "no."
dude: "where is he?"
my buddy: "afghanistan."
dude: (after a loooong, confused pause) "uh, so when's he gonna be back?"


i wonder what would happen if people all over the country started spray painting and destroying these things. it would be especially interesting if it all happened on a specific day every year. like april 15th.

 

[Firethorn]

Speeders want to drive 10 m/h over the speed limit. When the freeway speed was 55 here, the type A's drove 65. The speed limit was increased to 60 a few years ago and now they drive 70.

My suspicion is that they're not happy unless they're going faster than the next guy. Have you noticed how New Yorkers cross insersections about 5 seconds before the "walk" signal? They must be in a hurry...

In my experience, this generally tapers off around 75-80.

As for the 85% rule, I thought it was that they found the 'average' speed, then multiplied that by 85%. Like what others have stated, in many areas most people speed.

 

[Freedomv]

I had never heard of speed limits being set for the purpose of collecting money. Although collecting money thru fines is a way of enforcing speed limits.
We have roads and streets here in Iowa, as I am sure that there are elsewhere, that are unsafe to travel on at speeds higher than that which is posted. (Around corners, intersections with high amounts of heavy industrial usage such as heavy trucks, farm tractors & implements, uncontrolled intersections and the like. The lay of the land has everything to do with it such as in mountains and road conditions such as ice and potholes etc.

Some of the posted speeds are established with a certain amount of "cushion" built in for error. That is to say not every vehicle may be able to travel that posted speed and not have an accident such as failing to keep a vehicle in ones own lane of travel. (Resulting in head on collisions, side swiping, going into ditches, rollovers and over cliffs etc.

Modern roads (interstates) are designed for high-speed travel,,,,,,,,,,,, within reason, for example, Montana's highways can be driven much faster than the Pennsylvanian turnpike.

Of course vehicle design and driver skill come into play when actually driving all road conditions, however that cannot be taken into account when establishing speed limits as there is no way to determine every drivers vehicle condition or drivers skill.

I for one hate speeders and other reckless drivers. (However I do admire wreck less drivers)

I live one mile from a major highway with a posted speed limit of 65 mph. When I enter that highway I have to make a judgment call as to weather or not to pull out based on the speed of the cars and trucks. There is a rise (hill) in the roadway that limits ones vision of oncoming traffic. If everyone would obey the speed limit and drive in the correct lane, I could enter upon the high way without a problem, however those that speed and cruise in the passing lane, greatly increase the chances of causing an accident in this situation as they come over the hill and over take a unforeseen slower moving vehicle. As a safety precaution I have to put the hammer down to avoid being over run by the speeders and if for some reason I can’t get up to speed (engine sputters, icy or wet pavement, etc) there is a very real and high potential for an accident. The high speed also reduces the amount of reaction time of the speeding drivers to respond to this situation.

I just reread what I am posting and find it hard to believe that I am explaining and posting the rudimentary knowledge that should be taught in school, drivers training or should be just plain common sense.
Just as there are rules to follow and common sense in the responsible use of firearms such as their limitations & potentials, liabilities, etc. that many experienced shooters know and follow so should the users of this nations roadways and highways know and follow the rules and use common sense.
If it takes a camera to catch and enforce speed limits around schools etc. so be it. After all, this IS about the children’s safety as well as others and has nothing to do with limiting anyone’s access to and using the streets and highways.

Continuance and clarification of rant over.

Vern

 

[Reno]

In my experience, this generally tapers off around 75-80.

As for the 85% rule, I thought it was that they found the 'average' speed, then multiplied that by 85%. Like what others have stated, in many areas most people speed.

Agree about speeds hitting a relative, driver-set "limit" around 75-80.

It's 85th percentile, not just 85% of the average speed, but I've got a hunch that there are quire a few roadways out there that no test has ever been done, and the limit is arbitrary (and too low).

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Does anyone else think that the 20mph school zone is antiquated and needs to be reconsidered?

Aren't all playgrounds either fenced or in the back of the schools these days? Crosswalks need to be honored. Speed limit for most city streets is 35mph. Is this really a problem in 2005?

Sadly, I wish you were kidding on this, but you probably were not. I cannot even begin to fathom how it is that you think school zone speed limits are antiquated. Apparently, since you asked if all playgrounds are either fenced or in the back of schools that you think school zone speed limits are to protect kids on the playground. If that was the case, the the speed limits would go on all day long.

School zone speed limits are to protect kids as the go to school or leave school and are limited to those areas immediately around the school where the greatest concentration of pedestrian students will be.

School zone speed limits will not be antiquated until either school kids are no longer pedestrians around schools or kids gain the ability to be struck by a vehicle going 30-50 mph and not be injured or killed.

 

[DRZinn]

Speeders want to drive 10 m/h over the speed limit.

I want to drive as fast as I safely can. On the freeway that might be 100, depending on traffic. In other places and situations it might be 20. But when I'm in a situation where 100 mph is perfectly safe, who are you (or the government) to tell me I can't?

 

[xd9fan]

the beast needs to be fed

 

[coylh]

DocZinn:

who are you (or the government) to tell me I can't?

Driving as fast as you want is not an inalienable right.
It's not a human right, in any sense that I'm aware of.
So, it's permissible for the state to regulate your driving speed.

In addition, the roads are a shared resource, so it's reasonable that I, and everyone else who shares them, have a say in how they're used.

 

[DRZinn]

Driving as fast as you want is not an inalienable right.

As long as I'm not endangering anyone else, YES IT IS.

Given that there must be some sort of guidelines as to what is or is not dangerous (and given that there are stiff fines, right or wrong), I usually obey most traffic laws.

When breaking the law harms no-one,explain to me how it is wrong?

 

[Ridgeway]

I want to drive as fast as I safely can. On the freeway that might be 100, depending on traffic. In other places and situations it might be 20. But when I'm in a situation where 100 mph is perfectly safe, who are you (or the government) to tell me I can't?

agreed
1 arbitrary number for everyone is absurd
there is a very big difference in driving 90 mph in a porsche 911 versus a ford explorer

I adjust my speed depending on the type of vehicle I'm driving.



fortunitly there are laws in some areas against driving too slow for the flow of traffic, even if you are driving over the speed limit, especially useful for those people whom desire to drive exactly the speed limit in the left hand lane- they are often far more dangerous than the tailgater and speeder imo

 

[Ridgeway]

DocZinn:

Driving as fast as you want is not an inalienable right.
It's not a human right, in any sense that I'm aware of.
So, it's permissible for the state to regulate your driving speed.

In addition, the roads are a shared resource, so it's reasonable that I, and everyone else who shares them, have a say in how they're used.

should the limits not be reasonable though?

i won't argue that school zones should be higher- they make sense being 25 or whatever they may be in each area


but 55 on expressways is indeed very antiquated- many such roads could easily be 70-80 mph...

 

[VARifleman]

When I was in CO and ID, the speed limit on the highways was usually 75. Know what I noticed? People going 70-80, pretty much everyone going 75 with a couple of exceptions. The speed limits are simply too low in some areas and they're just adding revenue when there isn't an increase in safety because of it. They recently did a test of the similar red-light cameras and found they did absolutely nothing, and sometimes increased the problem, probably due to changing the light to bring in money. Police are certainly not protectors here (they never have been), they are simply tax collectors.

 

[Ridgeway]

When I was in CO and ID, the speed limit on the highways was usually 75. Know what I noticed? People going 70-80, pretty much everyone going 75 with a couple of exceptions. The speed limits are simply too low in some areas and they're just adding revenue when there isn't an increase in safety because of it. They recently did a test of the similar red-light cameras and found they did absolutely nothing, and sometimes increased the problem, probably due to changing the light to bring in money. Police are certainly not protectors here (they never have been), they are simply tax collectors.

too add to what you said

a similar study on speed traps and the affect on safety would be interesting

for instance:
i'm sure most of us have seen the proverbial crown vic running radar around a bend or a hill and subsequently everyone slamming on their brakes

what is worse, going 10 mph over with the flow of traffic, or quickly braking, increasing the chance of the soccer mom on the phone behind you in a minivan w/drum brakes, rearending you

also why is it in such instances as seeing a cop running radar, people see the need to drive *below* the speed limit
often I follow people that slow to 5-10 mph under the limit...sure we don't need to speed by, but @ the very least go the speed limit

 

[JohnKSa]

Seems I recall that they were doing this using a camera in a parked and unattended van in TX some years ago. The van never lasted very long...