Veto of Red-Light Cameras Urged
From today's Metro section:
The Fairfax County Privacy Council is urging Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) to veto legislation that would allow communities with 10,000 or more residents to install cameras to catch drivers who run red lights.A red light camera in use at Chainbridge Rd and Lee Highway during the 2005 pilot program. (Larry Morris)
The red-light camera program would replace an experiment that ended in 2005 in Alexandria, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Vienna and Virginia Beach and Arlington and Fairfax counties.
Safety advocates say red light cameras reduce accidents and aggressive driving, but privacy groups have raised concerns about personal liberties. In an e-mail alert sent to members and supporters yesterday, the Fairfax privacy group said red-light cameras violate the rights of drivers and contribute to rear-end collisions.
-- Eric M. Weiss
By Focus on Fairfax |
March 9, 2007; 10:08 AM ET
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Posted by: Mr. Y | March 9, 2007 11:01 AM
Do the red light cameras cause more accidents because people will slam on their brakes on too suddenly at a yellow out of fear of having their picture snapped? I am curious, because I don't really behave any differently if a camera is there or not. I gather there are people who do behave differently.
Posted by: Anne | March 12, 2007 4:40 PM
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Actually the Privacy Council *IS* a safety advocate in this case. VDOT's own study proved beyond any doubt that the red light cameras implemented by Northern Virginia jurisdictions caused more collisions, cost more money to motorists and generally provided no clear safety benefit. It's not that the jury is still out on Red Light Cameras, the jury is back and has convicted the Red Light cameras of causing more harm than good. Read the VDOT study yourself. Supporters of the Red Light cameras are actually the ones who don't care about your motoring safety.
Gov. Kaine should veto this legislation.
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