Regarding a couple of recent letters suggesting red light cameras are beneficial – let’s examine that thought.
First of all, the cameras are not monitored in real time. An actual police officer has to review each camera’s input for ‘alleged’ violations, and decide if an actual violation has occurred, at which time he/she initiates action to notify the alleged violator. Note that the camera observes the vehicle and tag number for identification, not the driver.
Due to time-consuming paperwork, the alleged violator may not receive notice of any action or fee that is due for several weeks, by which time there will probably be no memory of such alleged violation, plus who was actually operating the vehicle. The recipient of the notice will be left wondering “what is going on here?”…