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Arizona Backs Off Its Speed Camera Program
crimeandpunishment writes to inform us that Arizona is putting the brakes to a controversial and contentious speed camera program. The cameras have been used along highways in the Phoenix area and in vans throughout the state. While the cameras are used throughout the country, Arizona's program was the widest use of the technology, and the decision to drop it is a setback for those who argue that the cameras slow speeders, reduce accidents, and free up police for more serious matters. "The camera program was instituted by Brewer's predecessor, Janet Napolitano, now the Homeland Security secretary. Cameras were introduced in September 2008 and were added until all 76 were up and running by January 2009. Lawmakers considered repeal proposals within months, but set the issue aside and appealed for calmer debate when a passing motorist fatally shot a camera-van operator doing paperwork in his marked vehicle in April 2009."
You do realise that a) we're talking about speed cameras here and not CCTV and b) it was CCTV that helped capture the man behind the recent bomb attempt in New York by catching pictures of him, don't you? Guns wouldn't have helped in either of those situations.
Well this is the same state that passed the law that effectively makes people of latino descent (or anyone with something odd about them) need to carry their birth certificate or other ID on them at all times, regardless of their nationality. They also passed a law requiring that their presidential candidates need to prove they were born in the U.S. What did you expect from the state ranked 50th in education? Somehow I don't expect enlightened thinking and rationality out of the bunch running AZ right now...
Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is the war room!
Yay lets all slide down the Slippery Slope!
Maybe we should ban all cameras everywhere. Make it illegal to own a camera because it is possible that someone someday may use it to violate someone's privacy. I mean if we allow cameras to exist its only a matter of time before they are recording our moves everywhere!
Dude, slippery slope arguments are stupid. You like to be able to go over the speed limit, and speed cameras make it difficult to do so. Just be honest and say that, don't make some stupid slippery slope argument about privacy.
I hate school zones. Are these kids too stupid to stay out of the road? Is this the only place where children ever cross the street? What about all the accidents from the dumbass that slams on his brakes from 45 to 20 when he notices the school zone at the last second? Why can't the same idiot go back to 45 when the zone ends? The only reason these stupid zones exist is so cops can make money writing tickets. If the kids are too dumb to stay out of the road, then let darwin do his job.
This may sound like a troll, but isn't Arizona the same state that passed a law authorizing police to arrest people on suspicion of being illegal immigrants? The same legislature is now worried about infringing the privacy of its citizen drivers?
This strikes me as hypocritical. On the one hand, you can detain mestizos and other darker-skinned workers. You can hire them to work as nannies, dish washers, laborers, gardeners, etc, all the while holding the sword of Damocles over their heads: if you get uppity, or get in trouble, we'll get you arrested. On the other hand, you can't photograph or otherwise bring the state apparatus of law enforcement to bear on white people speeding in public.
This sounds like two different set of rules for two different social classes. Oh, I forgot: the USA is a classless society.
Alejo Hausner
Why would they? The UK still operates at a deficit, so there's nothing to compensate. They're just less negative for fining those who endanger others on the road.