Beverly Hills Robo Cop
Don't you hate it when pinheads zoom through your neighborhood at 80 m.p.h.? It's unsafe AND illegal.The Mayor of Beverly Hills has proposed a cost-efficient way to enforce traffic laws and promote public safety: photo radar in neighborhoods. Great idea, right?
Right. That's why "privacy advocates" are opposing state legislation to let the city install the devices.
And we can't have technology costing jobs, can we? So the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, "the union that represents CHP officers, also lobbied against the measure, contending the city should simply hire more officers to patrol the streets," AP reports.
While they're at it, why not just rip out all those new-fangled "stop-lights," and hire someone to direct traffic at each intersection? Plus, those automatic elevators are outrageous! Bring back elevator operators right now!
Posted by Walter Moore @ 5/16/2006 10:16:00 PM
11 Comments:
Why doesn't Beverly Hills just close off the canyon roads? No more cut-through traffic.
Cuz you can't close a public road that easily. It takes a long time. They will be up to their neck in lawsuits.
It seems to me that Beverly Hills brought this traffic problem upon themselves.
Beverly Hills killed the 2 freeway back in the 60s, so the only place for the traffic to go was onto their city streets. And if they hadn't built parking structures on the old rail right-of-way along Santa Monica Blvd they could improve the street like they are doing with that money pit in West LA and in West Hollywood.
Speeding on residential streets is a major concern in cities across the U.S. Many have installed "speed humps" as a solution.
Installing photo radar may discourage people from speeding, but it won't physically stop them from doing so. Furthermore, many scofflaws don't get ticketed because the photo radar can't get a positive ID on them or the car they're driving.
In BH, photo radar won't stop speeding, but it will expand the scope of government, generate revenue for the bureacracy, and result in lucrative contracts for politically-connected photo radar concerns. When I consider your political views, Mr. Moore, I'm quite surprised that you would support such a dubious use of taxpayer funds.
The cost of speed humps (pouring and maintaining asphalt) is probably far less than the cost of photo radar (buying cameras, staffing, issuing tickets and other paperwork). In addition, speed humps will actually stop speeding, whereas photo radar won't. Last but not least, speed humps won't draw the ire of privacy advocates or the CHP.
Sometimes the best ideas, and the ones least invasive to taxpayers, are "low tech."
I saw 3 BH motorcycle cops on Sunset near the WH border yesterday around 3:30. They were sitting together talking (maybe they were getting ready to position themselves to give tickets?) Instead of sitting around gabbing, maybe those resources could be used to give tickets to these supposed speeders?
If you know how to do it, it's not too difficult to get out of a radar speeding ticket given by an actual cop. I got out of 2 tickets recently were i was clearly driving over the posted speed limit. I suppose it would be possible to get out of one of these automated tickets by requiring maintenance records of the cameras, calibration documentation, etc.
I don't see why BH doesn't look at other traffic calming measures such as roundabouts, traffic circles, "ped heads", stamping the roadway, etc.
Speed humps aren't effective at all. Since they are made with ashpalt, they will, over time deteriorate and have to be replaced. Several factors can deteriorate them, mainly weather. Asphalt is susceptible to breaking up because of the material used. It's a hardened liquid.
Maybe putting in some vegetated medians in some areas will help slow down traffic.
Just a few thoughts.
Look at the experience with traffic control cameras in Scottsdale, AZ and you'll see why they are a terrible idea.
They don't create safety, since you do not receive a citation until weeks later. Instead they are revenue creation tool. Generallly, most of the money is plowed back into the creation of more photo radar cameras.
i've personally gotten away with not paying those camera and radar tickets. I usually get them at La Cienega and Wilshire.
Here's the trick:
When you get caught in the intersection, put your visor down and hide your face. When you get the ticket, contest it. Tell the judge that you were having lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants there and it could have been one of the valets taking your car for a joyride. If they ask for a receipt, tell them that you paid cash (you were cheating on your wife or girlfriend so you could not leave a trail).
It's worked for me four times. Twice with the same judge.
They'll just throw it out.
The cameras have a lot of deterrent value. If I see the "photo enforced" sign I won't enter the intersection even with a yellow light just to be safe. Of course we learned recently that the cameras in the City of LA hadn't been working for months, much to the surprise of the City Council. There's not a lot of deterrent value if you know that the cameras don't work.
It should be the duty of the prosecution to prove that you were driving the car at a particular time. Since the driver didn't provide ID to the officer (there was no officer) then I don't see how they can get convictions in any of these cases. And it should be within your 5th Amendment rights to not have to tell the judge who was driving your car at the time the ticket was issued.
And if you're a man, grow a beard or shave so that the picture on the ticket is different than how you appear in court.
Well, you right-wing, xenophobic piece of shit, I finally agree with you on something...
Camera takes picture while still in yellow.
GOT INTO THE CAMERA WHILE "YELLOW LIGHT STILL ON, received a ticket for$380.
will be very dangerous to STOP on yellow light- due to safety avoiding being rear ender- by car behind.
CAMERA WAS NOT CALIBRATED!!!!
Wilshine BLv eastbound arriving to crossing Santa Monica Blv
PLEASE BEWARE- is a camera ticket trap-
Better say MAFIA with a Flag.
I feel abused , violated and trapped.
THE CAMERAS FLASHED LIGHT SOO STRONG, I got blinded, that can cause an accident by driver being blinded & dissoriented.
Be know about this BH Camera trap SCAM
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