Big Brother cleverly introduces surveillance camera citing the need for more safety and security. Traffic cameras can be very helpful but they are also a way to monitor people closely and get them accustomed to being watched.
Traffic enforcement cameras are used to catch motorists that run red lights, exceed the posted speed limit, that use bus lanes and car pool lane improperly. These traffic camera systems are being utilized in many of the major cities throughout the United States as well as other countries around the world. The reason often cited for installing these devices, is to reduce the number of traffic accidents and related injuries. In general, these traffic violation cameras seem to contribute to the reduction of injuries related to running red lights and speeding violations. However, their use most often evokes a certain amount of disapproval from many drivers and in some cities the people have petition the government to remove them. [1]
The largest photo enforcement company in North America is American Traffic Solutions (ATS) which serves more than 230 customers and with more than 2,100 installed (3,000 contracted) camera systems throughout the United States and Canada. Its president and CEO, James Tuton, pioneered the road safety camera industry in the United States with the first Speed Safety Camera program implemented in Paradise Valley, Arizona in 1987. Intersection Safety Cameras followed nearly 10 years later. As the market has matured and grown, so has ATS.
ATS is the largest provider of road safety programs to America’s big cities, including: New York City; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri; San Diego, California; Seattle, Washington; Fort Worth, Irving and Arlington, Texas; New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Memphis, Tennessee; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Tucson, Mesa, Glendale and Scottsdale, Arizona. ATS also provides Canada’s largest Intersection and Speed Safety Camera program in Calgary, Alberta. [2]
Automated traffic enforcement systems designed to improve public safety and monitor vehicle speeds got the green light to continue operations in Iowa from a Senate panel in February 2011.
A three-member Senate Transportation subcommittee heard testimony for and against cameras used by law enforcement in five Iowa communities to identify speeding and/or red-light violations before deciding 2-1 not to advance a bill that would impose a statewide ban on the use of automated traffic enforcement systems and terminate existing systems currently in use.
Lt. Jeff Hembera of the Cedar Rapids Police Department said crashes at the city’s most-dangerous intersections that are monitored by cameras dropped by 40 percent from 2009 to 2010, while accidents on Interstate 380 are down 54 percent and there have been no deaths since speed-monitoring cameras went up last year.
In Cedar Rapids, $2.5 million was generated by the cameras in the first seven months the cameras were turned on. Cedar Rapids received $1,583,225 in revenue from the cameras during the first sevens months after they were installed. Another $1,017,900 went to camera vendor Gatso USA, a Beverly, Massachusetts-based firm. Gatso said the number of red-light citations issued by traffic cameras in Cedar Rapids dropped by 60 percent in the first seven months. [3]
Red light and speed cameras generate millions of dollars for Big Brother. He is installing thousands of them around the world to raise revenue for his tyranny. He does not care about safety. Many of his minions have a sincere desire to make the roads safe, but their good concerns have nothing to do with installing spy cameras. The cameras are there to rake in more revenue and spy on innocent Americans.
Endnotes
[1] Bryant, Lynn. “What are traffic enforcement cameras and how can they be avoided?” 3.23.2010. www.video-surveillance-guide.com/traffic-enforcement-cam eras.htm.
[2] www.atsol.com/about-us.html.
[3] Boshart, Rod. “Bill to ban traffic cameras in Iowa fails.” The Gazette. 2.10.2011. http://thegazette.com/2011/02/10/bill-to-ban-traffic-cameras-in-iowa.