I'm on the Next Door forum and there's a heated debate going on over hidden speed traps. Apparently the county is putting forth an effort to cut down speeding, and (with the permission of the property owners) is setting up radar with police cars in private driveways, parked in barns and in other covert spots. I'm surprised at the differences of opinion. Side 1: Evil money-grubbing government is just trying to pry dollars out of our wallets. And how can we trust law enforcement when they resort to such sneaky tactics? They should put cop cars out in the open...after all, the goal is to get us to slow down, right? Side 2: The goal is to stop people from speeding all the time, and to obey the law. If you violate the law, there are consequences. And it's for everyone's safety. The method they use to accomplish this is irrelevant. So what's your opinion?
Good afternoon to all- Mr. Brunner- very interesting situation and question. My opinion is that if I'm speeding and get caught, that's my fault. Police can hide where they want and conceal how they want. if I'm breaking the law, then I deserve what I get- a ticket. "Evil money-grubbing government" indeed. The law is the law, thanks for the interesting post. you all be safe and keep well- Ed
I have no problem with speed traps if they are manned by police officers. I am totally against robot cameras issued mail-in tickets. I think the vehicles need to be pulled over as well, so it would be a two-position set up, with one unit doing the detecting and one doing the citations. More expensive perhaps, but more constitutionally legal. The speed cameras were thrown out of this state because they were deemed unconstitutional by the Alaska Supreme Court. They began as "only in school zones during school hours", then expanded into school zones even at night in the summer, then they were placed everywhere in major cities. They made the mistake of citing a wealthy attorney who was willing and able to fight it through the courts. When it was tossed out, there were 1300 unpaid tickets that were dismissed and all those who had paid got refunds. It wasn't a money-maker here.
Bottom Line is, there are those that simply want to speed and get away with it. They don't want Red Light Cameras either. These folks have never hauled any livestock/horses before and want to keep them safe.
I don't see the problem with robot speed monitoring cameras. After all, they are cameras so there's obviously proof of culpability. I didn't like the red light cameras because they caused many rear-ending accidents. I don't care whether the police hide or not. I don't see how anyone can claim "entrapment" since they were speeding no matter where the policeman was.
I do not have a problem with the hide-away patrols. In our city it has gone both ways and now it's just the cameras are located in high traffic areas not so much as for speeding being the focus though to me. Drivers tend to weave in and out when it's congested definitely an accident waiting to happen.
I don't care where the police hide as long as it's not in my driveway; at least I can confront my accuser. I do not favor traffic cameras because they don't generally show who's driving the car. The ticket is going to go to the registered owner of the car, and just because my name is on the title, that shouldn't mean that I am going to have to either pay the ticket and get a ding on my driving record, when I may not have been the driver, or turn in whoever was driving my car at the time. That makes me guilty unless I can prove that I am innocent, and our legal system wasn't designed to work that way. They should have to prove that I was speeding; I shouldn't have to prove that I wasn't. Plus, we all know it's about revenue, not safety.
Your responsible for your auto and who you let drive it. if someone drives your car into a deadly accident you can be sued. I tell my daughter to take her name off sons insurance, her and husband can lose all they worked for. Look at the witch Barbara Mandrell who sued the kids father involved with her in a wreck. I liked her till that happened, she took the poor farmers home away from him because he let son drive. The reason for anger against her is because me and many others think it may have been her fault. She was driving fast, in a hurry and not paying attention, basically in her own words till she lawyered up,
I guess if you rent it. never thought about that. But I was thinking today for first time in years about rental cars. My daughter has an electric car and I don't like her driving the thing, especially on trips like to Florida thru ga. She has it up for sale now. They ordered it years ago ,now she regrets it, her husband wanted one. I would guess whoever the vehicles name is in is responsible?
I don't care where they hide if they lock up these lunatics driving so crazy. Long as it is legal of course.