I have realized that red lights and stop signs are merely cautionary. The number of drivers I see each day that flat out disregard them in the DSM metro is crazy.
Speed camera
- Thread starter FallOf81
- Start date
Do you loan your car out so often and to so many people that you’re worried you may not know who was actually driving it? You should make a log book.
Your contention is valid--these cameras are put up in the name of safety, but the real reason is to generate revenue. That's been shown resoundingly with both speed and stop light camera set ups.Full disclosure, I regrettably started one of these threads.
Among other things, I was mad that I got the ticket 4 or 5 weeks after it happened, so I didn't remember the offense. It was coming out of some small town in NE IA on a state highway. I went back and looked and I'm guessing I started to accelerate to get back to highway speed too early. It was my bad and I paid the ticket.
I still contend that many of these cameras aren't going up because there have been safety issues due to the speed of traffic. Many of these are victimless offenses, so it isn't the same as stealing a package off of a neighbor's doorstep and getting caught on the Ring doorbell. It's more like Ring strikes a deal with your city and sends a ticket when it records someone pulling into your driveway without a turn signal on.
Yes I get it, don't speed and you won't get a ticket. I'm glad to know there are so many CF'ers that when they get pulled over and the officer asks why they are going so fast, they will answer; "it doesn't matter, if I wasn't speeding you wouldn't have pulled me over."
At this point, everyone is aware that most of the speed cameras are not put up for safety reasons. The minute they added cameras at the location on 235, we knew it wasn't about safety. That portion of 235 never had a serious issue with accidents before the cameras and they still don't today. The register did a story a few years back and showed the impact. Before the cameras, there were 5-10 accidents in that area, then the cameras were put in place and those accidents dropped down to 3-5 for 3 years ,and every since they've averaged between 5-10 again. In that same time, the number of tickets went to 60k per year.Full disclosure, I regrettably started one of these threads.
Among other things, I was mad that I got the ticket 4 or 5 weeks after it happened, so I didn't remember the offense. It was coming out of some small town in NE IA on a state highway. I went back and looked and I'm guessing I started to accelerate to get back to highway speed too early. It was my bad and I paid the ticket.
I still contend that many of these cameras aren't going up because there have been safety issues due to the speed of traffic. Many of these are victimless offenses, so it isn't the same as stealing a package off of a neighbor's doorstep and getting caught on the Ring doorbell. It's more like Ring strikes a deal with your city and sends a ticket when it records someone pulling into your driveway without a turn signal on.
Yes I get it, don't speed and you won't get a ticket. I'm glad to know there are so many CF'ers that when they get pulled over and the officer asks why they are going so fast, they will answer; "it doesn't matter, if I wasn't speeding you wouldn't have pulled me over."
I believe one in CR was actually put up in a place with an accident problem.
The DOT has been against these cameras, which says a lot.
99.9% of the time, the speed limit is determined by engineers. If there is a reduction in the speed limit, there is a reason behind it.
I notice you didn’t address the “face your accuser” part. I don’t really have a strong opinion on traffic cameras although if used correctly and not as a revenue generator I’d be more favorable. I’m just sick of the face your accuser nonsense being brought up all time like it is some sort of magic thing.
Edit: To answer your question, no. That is why the owner gets the ticket and not the driver. It has nothing to do with someone’s inability to cross examine a camera in court.
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Not exactly. Depending on the intended classification of the road (arterial, collector, residential, etc.) the city or state has already a speed limit in mind. The road is then designed at least 5-10 mph more than the intended posted speed limit as a safety factor.
Yeah, and the roads are designed to those speed limits. But if the speed limit goes from 65 to 55, there's a reason behind it. And the reason isn't to give out speeding tickets.
Windsor Heights would like a word with you. I believe it's been upped but they at one time had a 25mph speed limit that they ENFORCED. There was no way that 25mph was the appropriate speed.
Highways/Interstates are different and I would tend to agree with you.
Yep, everytime I go through there I slow down to about 70, only to have some clueless dimwit fly around me going 80 completely oblivious to why I'm slowing down.
You have to be going at least 75 to get caught. Don't go more than 10 over and you have nothing to worry about. They used to have a police guy running radar right at the top of the bridge coming from the south.
You have to be going at least 75 to get caught. Don't go more than 10 over and you have nothing to worry about. They used to have a police guy running radar right at the top of the bridge coming from the south.
25 mph going down University Ave. in Radar Heights and this is a commercial zone. If you were going downhill westbound, you could get a speeding ticket while never touching the gas pedal.
Despite that same area being 30 mph now, one could argue that a 25 mph is warranted in that area with it being a residential and business district. I know that area is now a two-lane plus TWLTL, I can't remember if it was always that way.
I definitely agree that the strict enforcement in that area is kind of lame, but it doesn't have anything to do with the actual speed limit.
Really depends on where you area. Some towns/cities speed limit setting is much more political than technical.
Got busted for going 63 in a 45 driving thru Waterloo. Had no idea they had these speed cameras now. I am assuming it got me coming down to speed from the Interstate/Hwy 218. $100 fine sent to me in the mail. Not happy about it obviously, but I will slow down faster now that I know it's there.
Well, the way the Marion police write citations they probably don't need the money.
Maybe I should set up a speed camera in my yard and gain some income from any cars that speed through my neighborhood.
Are people driving in your yard? If they are, you should absolutely do that!
Are you talking about the 6th amendment that says you have the right to face witnesses against you in court? If you are, then I don't think you are applying it correctly here. It doesn't require there be a witness to convict someone of a crime, just that if there is a witness there is a right to have that witness testify in court and cross examine them for your defense. Can you imagine how many people would get away with crimes if it was required to have someone witness the crime to prosecute? It doesn't work that way at all.
Ohh? I did not know this and this is valuable information. I go that route maybe a few times a year down to Osky. I never knew they put cameras up and I usually drive around 75 on that highway.