This is my Libertarian streak coming out again, but I really think that photo radar should be eliminated state-wide. Here is an article from the East Valley Tribune about some of our kookier legislators opposing the Governor's move to have photo radar statewide.
I don't agree with their criticism of the Janet Napolitano, but I would like the use of all red light cameras and photo radar to be put before the voters. I have a real problem with government surveillance of innocent citizens. I understand all of the safety arguments... A police state is a very safe place, but I still don't want to live in one.
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There's a big difference between red-light/speed-control cameras and surveillance cameras. It's possible to put restrictions on how cameras can be used, requiring a court order to use any such cameras in the investigation of any non-traffic-related crime. I'm all for protecting our privacy and civil rights, but we need to embrace technology for all the efficiency and fairness it can bring.
Sorry I do see it as surveillance... I think this is a slippery slope. There is too much incentive to expand these sorts of programs in the interest of raising revenue and further controlling behavior. I don't think that is what the governor is doing, but I do think the Scottsdale is very guilty of it. I think freedom from this sort of thing trumps the benefits.
I would be more willing to accept it if it were put to state-wide vote (or even city-wide).
For me the idea of selective, suspicion-based law-enforcement is scarier than automatic, universal law-enforcement using "surveillance". At least if the laws are fairly enforced, they will eventually be changed if they aren't in line with the public interest.
The primary reason why I think these machines would never pass a state-wide vote is because speeding laws are overly simplistic and don't always serve the public interest. When you're driving 50 in a 40 in a BMW on a deserted road, you're not endangering the public and shouldn't get a ticket. When you're driving 35 in a 40 on a motorcycle, weaving in and out of traffic during rush hour, you should.
For minor speeding laws, the best solution is to just let police officers exercise their own discretion. Red-light running/Illegal turns/Gross speed violations (+20mph) could be better enforced by cameras than squad cars, though.
There is a whole part of this that is very off putting to me. I have never gotten a ticket from one of the cameras, but yet every time I drive through Scottsdale, I think about it. Every time a light is green for a longtime, I start looking for a camera. I should be paying attention to traffic, but I find myself searching for the camera. I have also noticed how short a lot of the lights are in Scottsdale.
I think you are right that this would not withstand a public vote.
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