it seems traffic laws are not about public safety....

[Evermore]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23710970

Discuss

[ClakarEQ]

$ > human safety

quick review of link, didn't read word for word.

Can't say I'm shocked, not sure how turning them off will generate revenue though, how will folks know if they're on or off LOL. I can see how you save some bucks by having them off but still, this is an ultimate irony IMO

[Naethyn]

Would they still not serve the same purpose if they are on or off? If they have worked so well as a deterrent, and there is no way to tell if one is on or off, people will still fear them.

Great irony though!

[Evermore]

you can tell. the ones here have bright lights that shine when in operation. if you see them it's too late.

[Tikker]

$ > human safety

to be fair, that equation works for the drivers as well as their city council

the only reason people drive slower is to avoid the monetary penalty, not to be safer


so it's really not all that callous to say $ > human safety, since everyone involved agrees on that formula

[Evermore]

the difference being Tikk is that these local governments ( at least in Philly anyway ) put these up under the guise of them being for public safety and not about the money. Here they are now talking about taking them down because they arent making any money...

[Gypsiyee]

I dunno, I think it would be terribly naive for anyone to think anything like that was only for the purpose of public safety. I mean, there's a reason that toward the end of the month you see 29387492387432 cops sitting with radar vs. 3 or 4 throughout the rest of the month. I obviously can't speak for all places, but in some areas there are (or at least were a couple years ago) quotas in place that the officers are expected to meet.

I don't think it's really any secret that the money from tickets is put toward government funding, at least it shouldn't be. I don't think it's something that needs to be explicitly said. Fines are dual purpose.. to punish and to collect. no shocker there really.

[Tikker]

the difference being Tikk is that these local governments ( at least in Philly anyway ) put these up under the guise of them being for public safety and not about the money. Here they are now talking about taking them down because they arent making any money...

I know what you're saying, and I don't disagree

But I think that the only thing that tends to get people to slow down is the threat of monetary penalty

threat of death is not a deterrent

[Evermore]

true but now that this has worked why remove them?

[Gaazy]

A town near here called Summersville has raffles every month for like flat screen plasmas and all kinds of crazy shit. Dunno how it works, but id say its the more tickets you give, the more chances you have to win. They are the WORST for speed traps and radar. In the 3 mnile stretch of 55 mph highway through town, you count count no less than 2 or 3 and up to 5 on any given day

[Evermore]

yea but thats moonshine country meets dukes of hazzard down there...