RED-LIGHT, SPEED CAMERAS & TICKETS: BILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS

 

 

 

David M. Bresnahan
March 3, 2006
NewsWithViews.com

The manufacturers of red-light and speed cameras typically sell their equipment to cities and receive a large percentage of the revenue from each ticket, creating a billion-dollar industry.

Lobbyists from the manufacturers of the controversial traffic enforcement cameras teach elected officials how to convince constituents that the cameras are all about safety. In the lingo of lobbyists it is called "framing the issue."

Virtually all the negative news stories about cameras that give unjust tickets to thousands of innocent drivers, or how the cameras have actually caused accidents to increase only reach a small audience. The stories are usually treated as local news and do not gain national circulation.

The result: the general public are not aware that there are major problems with the cameras in cities all around the world.

Despite the class action lawsuits, despite the news reports of cities refunding millions of dollars plus more in damages, and despite the fact that government studies show there are ways to reduce accidents without using the cameras, politicians are voting for the cameras and the revenue they produce.

Media investigations in Virginia, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. all showed that accidents increased at intersections where the cameras are in use. Government sponsored studies have shown that the easiest way to improve safety at intersections is to increase the length of time of the yellow light.

Politicians receive donations to their campaign funds. Lobbyists receive incentives from the manufacturers, and salespeople get gigantic commissions. Every ticket sent to an unsuspecting motorist puts many dollars into a lot of pockets, not just the local cities.

Now, if we can only come up with a way for people to make money by making traffic lights stay yellow longer we just might actually have safer roads. Until that happens it seems that our only defense against immoral and unjust traffic enforcement camera tickets is to put PhotoBlocker spray on our license plates.

I have it on mine, simply because I do not have the time, energy, or money that would be needed to go to court and fight a ticket that is sent to me in error. I claim the right of self-defense.

Published reports about PhotoBlocker reveal that journalists, doctors, lawyers, firefighters, teachers, judges, politicians, and even police officers are all using PhotoBlocker spray to avoid unjust traffic tickets.

PhotoBlocker is an aerosol spray that does not change the appearance of the plate to the human eye. The flash picture from a red-light or speed camera makes the plate unreadable because the light reflects back blinding the camera, similar to the effect of a flash picture in a mirror.

The spray works, according to published media reports of tests conducted by police and journalists. Illinois and New York have passed laws against the spray, which is further testimony that it works. There are no laws against the spray in other states.

The company reports sales of over 500,000 cans in 23 countries. Information about the product is available on the Internet at www.PhotoBlocker.com. Dozens of links to news stories and television news reports are posted on the site and make for interesting reading.

The bottom line for me is simply that I have no intention of letting my dollars end up in the pockets of lobbyists, salespeople, and politicians for something I did not do. I obey the laws, and I do not want anyone to speed or run red lights. But at the same time I do not want anyone to be victimized by a automated system that simply does not work as advertised.

If we all use this spray on our license plates maybe then the politicians will get the message and do what is right -- junk the cameras and lengthen the time of the yellow lights.

© 2006 David M. Bresnahan - All Rights Reserved