In which Arizona wins

[unixronin]

Arizona is shutting down and removing all state-operated highway speed cameras, effective July 16.  Apparently they were instituted two years ago by then-Governor Janet Napolitano — yes, that Janet Napolitano — but haven't lived up to her projected $90 million annual revenue, not least because reportedly only 30% of Arizona speed-camera tickets have ever been paid.

Among those who criticized the financial motives of the system was Gov. Jan Brewer, then-secretary of state.

"She did not support the state photo-radar system because it appeared from the beginning to be designed exclusively as a revenue generator," Paul Senseman, a Brewer spokesman, said in an e-mail.

Comments

[merlinpendragon]

Finally - some news worth reading! Thanks!

[otherbill.livejournal.com]

Clarification: while the state is not renewing its contract with Redflex for highway speed enforcement, individual cities may continue to use photoradar. Originally, permanent camera installations were set up to catch red-light runners, but their scope has since been expanded to catch speeders as they pass through the intersection. In those contexts, they've been very effective at reducing accidents, especially at problem intersections.

Regardless, this is all a moot point if you don't speed to excess.

[lebo-superman.livejournal.com]

Even so, turning off the highway cameras is a step in the direction of freedom & liberty. Speeders are not a problem - people who cause accidents and/or are involved in accidents are. Speed limits are about as effective as Prohibition was, and for the same reason. It's never been viable to legislate morality.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

i like the note that only 30% tickets had been paid...

but the contrary note is that the others were likely fought, and that COST the state money, which must be deducted from the "income" from the paid camera tickets...

probably resulting in a loss.

also: AZ, as well as NH have recently been fighting the good fight with the Knife Rights guys, and have basically made knives fully legal... pre-empting (supposedly) any local stupid laws about length, type, or use... yay. will be looking into full details later after copious application of birthday steak [knives].

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[wyrdling.livejournal.com]

our city got rid of them for very similar reasons. people with good lawyers managed to void the tickets, and they turned out to be not at all worht the cost.
nevermind the other issues.

i see speeding tickets primarily as a cash flow issue.

[mazianni.livejournal.com]

ISTR reading an article about a year or two ago about speed trap cameras in some mid-Atlantic city. All the locals knew where they were and avoided them or slowed down. A relative handful of out-of-towners would get caught, so in effect the cameras were used to levy a tax on out of town travelers. At least, that's how the article was spun. Either way, probably not worth the cost of installing and maintaining them.