Comments on: Texas to Ban Traffic Cameras http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/ Jeff Nolan's take on investment, innovation, entrepreneurship and the technology industry Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:44:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: james http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-255192 james Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:43:02 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/#comment-255192 The trick is to get the police/city involved/paid and go fast at the same time. I wish we could driver faster "after-hours". Eg 80mph 7pm-6am. Shameless plug here: I help drivers be legal and fast. Please help with this openSource effort. Open Speed Limit Database http://www.osldb.org http://www.gpscruise.wikispaces.com -jim pruett The trick is to get the police/city involved/paid and go fast at the same time. I wish we could driver faster “after-hours”. Eg 80mph 7pm-6am.

Shameless plug here:

I help drivers be legal and fast.

Please help with this openSource effort.
Open Speed Limit Database

http://www.osldb.org
http://www.gpscruise.wikispaces.com

-jim pruett

]]> By: Jeff http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-137687 Jeff Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:06:26 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/#comment-137687 Jim, It's not a privacy issue because no one has an expectation of privacy in a public place. It's really a 4th Amendment issue, and more onerously, it's an issue about government outsourcing legal functions to private companies (which often run these camera networks, including the issuing of citations). The Texas law specifically went after traffic camera abuses, which is increasingly common, as local municipalities attempt to utilize them as a low cost revenue source. Furthermore, in California it has been found that in some instances traffic lights with cameras were being configured with tighter yellow light intervals leading to increased violations. I don't have a problem with public security camera networks being used as a law enforcement tool, I'm concerned about cameras being used as law enforcement, a subtle but important distinction. Secondly, your assertion that traffic cameras lead to lower accident rates is factually false. There has been an increasing body of research that actually points to increasing, not decreasing, accident rates where traffic cameras are installed. I think you need to do your research on this issue before attempting to argue a public safety position. Jim,
It’s not a privacy issue because no one has an expectation of privacy in a public place. It’s really a 4th Amendment issue, and more onerously, it’s an issue about government outsourcing legal functions to private companies (which often run these camera networks, including the issuing of citations).

The Texas law specifically went after traffic camera abuses, which is increasingly common, as local municipalities attempt to utilize them as a low cost revenue source. Furthermore, in California it has been found that in some instances traffic lights with cameras were being configured with tighter yellow light intervals leading to increased violations.

I don’t have a problem with public security camera networks being used as a law enforcement tool, I’m concerned about cameras being used as law enforcement, a subtle but important distinction.

Secondly, your assertion that traffic cameras lead to lower accident rates is factually false. There has been an increasing body of research that actually points to increasing, not decreasing, accident rates where traffic cameras are installed.

I think you need to do your research on this issue before attempting to argue a public safety position.

]]> By: jim cragg http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-137674 jim cragg Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:01:02 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/#comment-137674 This is a tired position, I know, but as true as ever; don't be a traffic criminal and you have nothing to fear from the cameras. How anyone can view this as a privacy issue is mind boggling. Those areas of the country (and internationally) that have used cameras for extended periods have found them to be very effective at reducing accidents, especially at high incident locations. Again, don't run the lights or exceed the speed limit and you will live long and prosper. This is a tired position, I know, but as true as ever; don’t be a traffic criminal and you have nothing to fear from the cameras. How anyone can view this as a privacy issue is mind boggling. Those areas of the country (and internationally) that have used cameras for extended periods have found them to be very effective at reducing accidents, especially at high incident locations. Again, don’t run the lights or exceed the speed limit and you will live long and prosper.

]]> By: The Evil Eyebrow » Blog Archive » This Week in Traffic: 25 May 2007 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-117510 The Evil Eyebrow » Blog Archive » This Week in Traffic: 25 May 2007 Fri, 25 May 2007 13:00:14 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/#comment-117510 [...] this is the first I’ve heard about this issue. I need to go look at this, because the full wording [...] [...] this is the first I’ve heard about this issue. I need to go look at this, because the full wording [...]

]]> By: Texas Looking To Ban Speed Cameras? | www.theirway.net http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-117479 Texas Looking To Ban Speed Cameras? | www.theirway.net Fri, 25 May 2007 11:20:25 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/#comment-117479 [...] in a single day. However, it looks like Texas may actually be heading in the other direction. Jeff Nolan points us to the news that Texas lawmakers have approved a ban on speed cameras. The law also [...] [...] in a single day. However, it looks like Texas may actually be heading in the other direction. Jeff Nolan points us to the news that Texas lawmakers have approved a ban on speed cameras. The law also [...]

]]> By: El Mike’s Blog » Blog Archive » Texas Looking To Ban Speed Cameras? http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-117299 El Mike’s Blog » Blog Archive » Texas Looking To Ban Speed Cameras? Fri, 25 May 2007 02:31:01 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/#comment-117299 [...] in a single day. However, it looks like Texas may actually be heading in the other direction. Jeff Nolan points us to the news that Texas lawmakers have approved a ban on speed cameras. The law also [...] [...] in a single day. However, it looks like Texas may actually be heading in the other direction. Jeff Nolan points us to the news that Texas lawmakers have approved a ban on speed cameras. The law also [...]

]]> By: Texas Looking To Ban Speed Cameras? - MTB - Technology Feed - All About Technology http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-117252 Texas Looking To Ban Speed Cameras? - MTB - Technology Feed - All About Technology Thu, 24 May 2007 23:26:14 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/#comment-117252 [...] in a single day. However, it looks like Texas may actually be heading in the other direction. Jeff Nolan points us to the news that Texas lawmakers have approved a ban on speed cameras. The law also [...] [...] in a single day. However, it looks like Texas may actually be heading in the other direction. Jeff Nolan points us to the news that Texas lawmakers have approved a ban on speed cameras. The law also [...]

]]> By: The Human Capitalist » Confessions of a Google Recruit http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/comment-page-1/#comment-117083 The Human Capitalist » Confessions of a Google Recruit Thu, 24 May 2007 14:20:28 +0000 http://jeffnolan.com/wp/2007/05/23/texas-to-ban-traffic-cameras/#comment-117083 [...] to Jeff Nolan for initially finding Jeff Barr’s original post. May 24th, [...] [...] to Jeff Nolan for initially finding Jeff Barr’s original post. May 24th, [...]

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