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light cameras enhance safety or revenue for cities
Larry Hawkins served as a county commissioner in Dade County until 1994, when he was voted out by his constituents after numerous allegations of sexual harassment. His defense? He considered many of these women "to be fairly unattractive",[url=http://woolricharcticparkasweden.albirank.net/][b]woolrich online shop[/b][/url], and therefore he would never have sexually harassed them. This argument was neither adequate or believable, and Hawkins left the office in disgrace. Though Hawkins attempted to discount these accusations in an interview not long before his defeat in 1994, the citizens of Dade County no longer found him worthy of re-election. Meanwhile,[url=http://parajumpersonsalestores.blogspot.com/][b]http://parajumpersonsalestores.blogspot.com/[/b][/url], in 2005 the Dade County Commission banned Hector Ortiz, and his company Horsepower Electric, from contract work for Dade County for two years. The Federal Government sensed Ortiz was heavily involved in a 2001 federal bribery case against Richard Mendez. Mendez was a bureaucrat that had overseen construction projects at Miami-Dade airports. Prosecutors accused Ortiz of paying Mendez money so that he (Ortiz) and his son could win construction contracts from Dade County. While technically acquitted from legal wrongdoing, Ortiz's direct involvement in unethical activities such as this leaves numerous questions in regards to his character. (1)
So what do these two men with an apparent disregard towards reasonable rules of conduct have in common? According to the Miami New Times, both of them now work for the Arizona-based company American Traffic Solutions (ATS). ATS is the corporation responsible for successfully lobbying the Florida State Legislature in 2010 to allow red-light cameras throughout the State of Florida, and owns 85% of the traffic-light camera business in the state. ATS, the company accountable for the arrival of red light cameras in the Tampa Bay Area, proactively blocked legislation in the Florida House of Representatives and Senate, sponsored by Republican Richard Corcoran of New Port Richey in 2011,[url=http://peutereyparkaonlineshopwomen.olimx.com/][b]peuterey jacken herren outlet[/b][/url], that would have repealed the laws allowing the devices. (8) This Arizona-based company has selected Larry Hawkins as a lobbyist, and Hector Ortiz as a subcontractor. American Traffic Solution's simple designation of two disreputable individuals to represent the corporation already calls into question the standard of ethics this business chooses to follow. (1)
Disclaimer: The Tampa Bay Libertarian Examiner in no way endorses Mitt Romney for President, despite the fact he has an advertisement placed in the middle of this article. Romney expresses no Libertarian political views in his approach to government, and his advertisment is completely out of place in a Libertarian column.
The justification used by American Traffic Solutions (ATS),[url=http://peutereyparkaonlineshopwomen.olimx.com/][b]peuterey online shop[/b][/url], state legislators in Florida, and law enforcement officials supporting the use of these cameras is "the safety of drivers". This claim has been debunked by numerous studies across the United States. One such study was conducted by The Washington Post in 2005. The article reveals how Washington, DC accumulated in excess of $32 million in fines over the first six years the city installed traffic-light cameras. Did the devices actually prevent injuries and collisions at the intersections where they had been installed? The number of car crashes at intersections with red-light cameras actually escalated by more than 100%, rising from 365 in 1998 to 755 in 2004. Injury and fatality-related crashes increased by 81%, from 144 to 262 accidents. The number of Broadside, or right-angle crashes (which are among the most dangerous), expanded by an additional 30% (81 to 106) from reported figures prior to the instillation of the cameras. Though supporters of the cameras in Washington, DC blamed the increase in accidents on the higher volume of traffic, there is one fact they could not explain away--the rate of accidents at these intersections did not slow in comparison to the intersections without the cameras. Also, the placement of the cameras throughout the cities led to critics questioning the city's true motives for using the devices. Nine of the intersections in Washington,[url=http://monclerwesteoutletbillig.albirank.net/][b]billig Moncler Jacken Damen[/b][/url], DC where the cameras were placed had "two or fewer crashes annually" in 1998 and 1999. Another seven of the chosen intersections "reported no crashes that led to injuries or fatalities" during that two year period. Officials in the city only selected "six of the twenty most crash-prone intersections" for red-light camera installation based on 1998 data. Even by 2004,[url=http://duveticaitaly.albirank.net/][b]Duvetica Sale[/b][/url], less than half (17 out of 45) of the most accident-prone intersections in Washington,[url=http://woolrichoutletfr.halod.com/][b]Doudoune Woolrich Parka Femme Outlet Woolrich Arctic Parka Pas Cher[/b][/url], DC utilized traffic-light cameras to "enhance public safety." Lon Anderson, a spokesman for the Mid-Atlantic region of the American Automobile Association (AAA), says these figures only reinforce his organization's opposition towards red-light cameras. "They are making a heck of a lot of money, and they are picking the motorists' pockets on the pretense of safety." (2)
On the other side of this issue are the opponents of red-light cameras who retail several concerns over the constitutionality of these devices. The Wall Street Journal contributed an article on this political topic in August of 2011. Questions arise over the matters of due process and a citizen's right to privacy. Sioux Falls, South Dakota deactivated its cameras in 2010 over concerns from pending legal action against the city. The lawsuit alleged the devices did not definitively capture the image of the driver operating the vehicle. Since the photo only provides evidence of the car that could not be challenged, the argument from the plaintiffs contended there was no way to prove beyond a reasonable doubt who was actually behind the wheel. The Minnesota State Supreme Court ruled red-light cameras in the city of Minneapolis unconstitutional based on the same precedent--traffic-light cameras automatically assume the owner of the vehicle must be the person violating the traffic law. The presumption of guilt associated with the devices does not take into account whether or not the drivers were simply keeping up with traffic, have a fear of their breaks failing on wet roadways,[url=http://duveticadeutschlandshop.halod.com/][b]Duvetica Deutschland[/b][/url], or could possibly be just trying to avoid an automobile accident with a reckless or speeding driver. Also, many citizens view these devices (which draw striking similarities to "Big Brother" in George Orwell's 1984) as a blatant invasion of personal privacy. (3)
Peter Borg of AOL Autos exposes another issue of illegality regarding traffic-light cameras. When comparing the length of a yellow light in two otherwise identical intersections, data shows less time elapses between the green and red signals in the intersections utilizing traffic-light cameras than those without the added technology. In the State of Texas, statutes require traffic lights to remain on yellow for at least 4.7 seconds when "speed limits are 50 miles per hour or faster." New Jersey laws state the duration of the yellow portion of the traffic-light cycle must be no less than four seconds. In both states, studies indicated intersections equipped with the traffic-light cameras allowed only three seconds between the green and red lights. If the issue involves safety,[url=http://duveticaitaly.albirank.net/][b]DUVETICA Italy[/b][/url], it seems logical a yellow light would actually last longer to allow clearance for more cars, and to reduce the number of rear-end collisions at intersections. Why would cities need to shorten the span of time between green and red lights at intersections equipped with traffic-light cameras? (4)
During its intense lobbying operations in Tallahassee and South Florida, the Orlando Sun-Sentinel reports American Traffic Solutions (ATS) spent up to $1.5 million persuading and possibly bribing "public officials and contributing to political campaigns." ATS is the main camera supplier in Florida,[url=http://duveticaitalia.webmium.com/][b]Duvetica italia[/b][/url], and now has contracts with more than 65 cities across the state. Just as recently as 2005, these devices were confined to the Florida Panhandle municipalities of Pensacola and Gulf Breeze. The exponential growth throughout the state is in direct response to questionable marketing practices and thinly-disguised public relations schemes by the company. ATS hired lobbyists to patrol "city halls" around the state and in Florida State Capital of Tallahassee. One of these "groups" working directly for ATS is the National Coalition for Safer Roads. The "coalition" circulated "supportive letters" to be signed by police chiefs. (5) While ATS spokesman Charles Territo claims the cameras' primary goal is to save lives, some estimates show that this corporation is allotted over 30% of the revenue from each ticket. (4) The company paid 17 "registered lobbyists" in Tallahassee an average of $400 an hour. ATS recruited local "political heavy-hitters" such as Ron Brook and George Platt to promote the installation of traffic-light cameras in Broward County. In Palm Beach County, former Republican State Representative Sharon Merchant lobbied for RedSpeed, an additional red-light camera company in the State of Florida looking for cities that want quick money, regardless of the ethics used to acquire the revenue. Yet another traffic-light camera distributor, Traffipax, Inc., selected two retired police chiefs to promote the "cause of safety". ATS spent thousands of dollars on food, alcohol, and rounds of golf at the local country clubs to earn the support of police chiefs and politicians across Florida. The company remains persistent, and often requests one-on-one meetings with its potential clients to avoid the possibility any dissenting voice might interfere with its business objectives. ATS seems both unwilling and incapable of taking "No" for an answer. (5)
As of January 2012, no court in the State of Florida has questioned the constitutionality of red-light cameras. Judges in municipalities around Tampa Bay,[url=http://peutereyparkaonlineshopwomen.olimx.com/][b]peuterey parka[/b][/url], some of whom may possibly receive salaries partially supplemented by the extra revenue generated from these devices,[url=http://monclerwesteoutletbillig.albirank.net/][b]http://monclerwesteoutletbillig.albirank.net/[/b][/url], have consistently ruled in favor of laws protecting these machines. According to The Truth About Cars, one such case from Aventura (just outside of Miami) reached the state Court of Appeals in November 2011. In a divided two to one ruling, the judges concluded the city of Aventura did not violate Florida law by allowing American Traffic Solutions (ATS) to initiate the issuance of tickets from their red-light cameras without first asking for permission from the State of Florida. When rendering its decision, the majority ruled that a "traffic control infraction review officer" that is appointed "for the distinct purposes of viewing recorded images and issue corresponding citations" does not violate section 48-26 that allowed cameras "to serve as the sole basis of issuing a notice of violation in direct conflict with section 316.007,[url=http://woolrichoutletfr.halod.com/][b]Woolrich Parka Femme Outlet[/b][/url], Florida Statutes." While these two judges also utilized the passage of legislation in the Florida State Legislature in 2010 as a legal precedent for their ruling,[url=http://woolrichswedense.gengfl.com/][b]http://woolrichswedense.gengfl.com/[/b][/url], they blatantly disregarded the crafters of this bill "specifically rejected attempts to include retroactive language legitimizing camera programs that started before 2010." The case in Aventrua dates back to 2009, which is prior to the bill's passage by the State House and Senate in 2010. In her dissent, Judge Leslie B. Rothenberg argued "Aventrua created a different standard of proof and liability for red light violations with penalties conflicting with those set by the state legislature." She continued her explanation by stating "The city is essentially utilizing the state's uniform traffic control devices, approved and regulated by the state for enforcement of the state's uniform traffic control laws, to punish violators through the city's own enforcement program and to pocket the revenues it collects for its own benefit." (6)
Eric Ernst accentuates this "revenue, not safety" point-of-view through an editorial he contributed to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune in August 2011. His article discusses how Houston, Texas voters rejected the use of red-light cameras in a charter referendum. American Traffic Solutions (ATS) challenged the results in court, and in turn nullified the voice of the citizens in Houston. In the end, the Houston City Council allowed the opinion of its constituents to prevail, and now ATS is seeking $25 million from the city. Though law enforcement and public officials present their case on the "premise of public safety", Ernst proposes the honest explanation behind the installation of these cameras is money. Sarasota Police Captain Paul Sutton has promised his city an "extremely conservative" revenue estimate of around $650,000 per year. Ernst reveals how former State Representative Ron Reagan of Bradenton, who sponsored red-light camera legislation for five years until successful passage of the bill in 2010, has retired from his position in the state legislature, and now works for the National Coalition for Safer Roads--the previously mentioned "coalition" sponsored by and working in tandem with ATS. Could Reagan's actual reason for proposing traffic-light cameras throughout the State of Florida possibly have anything to do with borderline-bribery from ATS lobbyists, and the promise of a job with the corporation upon leaving public office, instead of public safety? (7)
For voters that feel these red-light cameras are unconstitutional, there is still an opportunity for the State of Florida could outlaw these devices during the 2012 legislative sessions. Plakon's bill,[url=http://woolrichoutletfr.halod.com/][b]Woolrich Arctic Parka[/b][/url], HB4177, is the latest attempt to overturn legislation that permitted the proliferation of the devices across the state. Republican State Representative Richard Corcoran of New Port Richey proposed a similar bill in 2011. While the Florida House of Representatives legislation narrowly approved the legislation (59-57), intense pressure from American Traffic Solutions and its supporters prevented the bill from passing in the Florida Senate. (8) Any citizen that believes red-light cameras are truly an unconstitutional invasion of personal privacy and violate the right of due process should contact local State Representatives, State Senators, and Governor Rick Scott to voice his or her opposition to these revenue-enhancing machines. There is still time to influence the outcome, but constituents must act quickly to ensure their votes and opinions are more valuable to politicians in Tallahassee than campaign contributions from unscrupulous corporations.
(1) Francisco, Alvarado. (13 October 2011). "Miami-Dade's red-light-camera bad boys Larry Hawkins and Hector Ortiz." Miami New Times. (04 October 2005). "D. C. Red-Light Cameras Fail to Reduce Accidents." The Washington Post. (25 August 2011). "On Red-Light Cameras and the Constitution." Wall Street Journal--Law Blog. (17 March 2011).
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