Tuesday, December 16, 2003

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this here before.... but the topic of red-light cameras has jumped back into my brain since seeing an ad for this product which makes license plates invisible to photo-radar cameras.

There's been quite a bit of debate going on over the ethics of photo-radar. The self-righteous spout their "just don't speed" sermons until the day they get ticketed for going slightly over the speed limit on a deserted street in the middle of the night in perfect driving conditions. Then they change their tune. They become naturally indignant because they feel they're being unfairly exploited.

We are told that the camera's are to make the roads safer, but we know that can't be true. A photo-radar camera, after all, cannot discern road conditions, cannot take into consideration a driver's record, does not flash drivers who change lanes without signalling, or drivers who suddenly hit the brakes to avoid getting flashed.

Essentially, photo-radar would be a complete waste of tax dollars if it wasn't for the massive revenue it generated...... therein lies my fury. After all, it was us, joe public, who paid to get the damn things installed (by no choice of our own, mind you) and then it is us who promptly pay tickets for driving safely (albeit quickly) through abandoned intersections (I'm not talking about running red lights). This would be far less infuriating if we didn't know that the revenue generated by these cameras is worked into city budgets, meaning not only that they plan to make cash with the cameras, but that they depend on it.

So is safety really the priority?

You be the judge. I am a reliable and safe driver, and yet I have been dinged by these cameras too many times.

So does anyone know anything about this "photo blocker spray"? I'm thinking of investing.

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