UPDATE: The $165.00 fine from a photo radar ticket is now directed to the state's general fund~this is part of the governor's attempt to generate money in order to continue to grow government despite facing a $2.3 Billion Dollar deficit.
In response to a couple of snide comments in the Today's News Herald discussion forum let me make the following clarification:
Monies generated by photo radar goes to the General Fund of the Cities from the City Courts and to the County general fund from the JP Courts. The surcharges go to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Fund (that goes to about 14 different entities in the criminal justice system) and then to the Clean Elections Commission. None of it goes to the state except through the surcharges.
I am always amazed that folks like to snap back and forth with accusing remarks over issues that they know nothing about. I must state again that the online discussion forum of the Today's News Herald is a disgrace to the paper and a poor reflection on the citizens of Lake Havasu City. I truly wish TNH would shut the feature down.
Showing posts with label photo radar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photo radar. Show all posts
Monday, May 5, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Photo Radar ~ Big Money Maker
Just heard on the news that the City of Scottsdale has made over $2 Million Dollars since installing photo radar cameras two years ago.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Constituent Mail: BHC Photo Radar
NOTE: I received this email from a constituent in BHC who, much like myself, strongly opposes Photo Radar. The constituent asked me to print this on the blog as he/she doubted it would be printed in the paper.
Dear Editor,
Bullhead City is not a sleepy little fishing town anymore. We are on the map as the home of the Arizona Tax Revolt that has taxing entities across the state realizing that the jig is up and that property taxes will soon be reduced and future increases limited. In the tradition of Paul Revere, Neil Young’s article has alerted us to the very real possibility of Photo Radar. This technology can be used to ticket BOTH red light runners and someone going a few miles per hour over the speed limit.
See their Press Release: http://www.redflex.com/public_documents/asx_announcements/2008-02-18%20Chillicothe%20Ohio.pdf
I am very much opposed to the deployment of this technology because it is simply too Orwellian, and frankly it being considered merely as a means of revenue enhancement. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Council approve it guided only by staff’s desire that the bureaucracy be sustained at its present level at a time when sales tax revenue has dipped. Of course the Council may be looking at Photo Radar as a means to fund expensive new pet projects like an aquatic or convention center. Apparently some Council members don’t consider speeding tickets given out by robots to be a tax on motorists, each of which will likely net several hundred dollars shared between the Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. and Bullhead City.
I believe that Bullhead City residents, already angry at the Police crackdown on traffic infractions while crimes like burglaries and worse go unsolved, would be willing to circulate a Referendum petition to require that Council approval of these systems be decided by the people. Or of course the Council could refer this question to the ballot themselves rather than deciding such a contentious issue for us. Speak up now or it may be too late!
Dear Editor,
Bullhead City is not a sleepy little fishing town anymore. We are on the map as the home of the Arizona Tax Revolt that has taxing entities across the state realizing that the jig is up and that property taxes will soon be reduced and future increases limited. In the tradition of Paul Revere, Neil Young’s article has alerted us to the very real possibility of Photo Radar. This technology can be used to ticket BOTH red light runners and someone going a few miles per hour over the speed limit.
See their Press Release: http://www.redflex.com/public_documents/asx_announcements/2008-02-18%20Chillicothe%20Ohio.pdf
I am very much opposed to the deployment of this technology because it is simply too Orwellian, and frankly it being considered merely as a means of revenue enhancement. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Council approve it guided only by staff’s desire that the bureaucracy be sustained at its present level at a time when sales tax revenue has dipped. Of course the Council may be looking at Photo Radar as a means to fund expensive new pet projects like an aquatic or convention center. Apparently some Council members don’t consider speeding tickets given out by robots to be a tax on motorists, each of which will likely net several hundred dollars shared between the Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. and Bullhead City.
I believe that Bullhead City residents, already angry at the Police crackdown on traffic infractions while crimes like burglaries and worse go unsolved, would be willing to circulate a Referendum petition to require that Council approval of these systems be decided by the people. Or of course the Council could refer this question to the ballot themselves rather than deciding such a contentious issue for us. Speak up now or it may be too late!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
SB 1470 ~ Photo Radar; Prohibition on Highways
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1470
photo radar; prohibition on highways
Purpose
Prohibits the use of photo enforcement systems on state highways to detect speed
violators.
Background
Photo enforcement systems, commonly referred to as photo radar, utilize digital cameras,
computers and radar sensors to detect violations of speed limit and red light laws.
There are two types of photo radar systems, fixed and mobile. A fixed photo radar system
is the most common form of photo radar and can be installed on the side of a road or mounted
overhead in gantries, while a mobile photo radar system is mounted on a mobile device that
usually takes one of two basic forms: 1) a photo radar camera or sensor that can be moved from
one fixed location to the next; or 2) a photo radar camera or sensor that is mounted in a van or
tethered to a vehicle.
Photo radar typically utilizes two cameras to identify the vehicle and driver involved in
speeding or red light violations. One camera is utilized to produce an image of the oncoming
driver’s face while the other camera is used to identify the vehicle’s rear license plate.
Under most contracts in Arizona, when traffic violations are detected using photo radar,
the photo radar vendor reviews and validates the citation. Upon validation, a traffic citation is
filed against the registered owner of the vehicle in the appropriate municipal court having
jurisdiction over the violation. After the citation is filed, notice is sent by mail to the vehicle’s
registered owner. If the owner does not respond, a process server is sent to serve the complaint to the owner in person or may leave copies at the owner’s home with another resident of suitable
age and discretion. If the person in the photograph is not the registered owner of the vehicle,
municipalities may allow the owner to identify the driver and transfer responsibility for the
traffic citation.
Currently, there is only one statute, A.R.S. § 28-654, governing the use of photo radar to
identify traffic violations in Arizona. The statute requires local municipalities using photo radar
systems to display signs indicating to drivers on the road that a photo radar system is present and operational.
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
proposed legislation.
Provisions
1. Prohibits a photo enforcement system from being used on state highways to detect violators
of speed restrictions.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
photo radar; prohibition on highways
Purpose
Prohibits the use of photo enforcement systems on state highways to detect speed
violators.
Background
Photo enforcement systems, commonly referred to as photo radar, utilize digital cameras,
computers and radar sensors to detect violations of speed limit and red light laws.
There are two types of photo radar systems, fixed and mobile. A fixed photo radar system
is the most common form of photo radar and can be installed on the side of a road or mounted
overhead in gantries, while a mobile photo radar system is mounted on a mobile device that
usually takes one of two basic forms: 1) a photo radar camera or sensor that can be moved from
one fixed location to the next; or 2) a photo radar camera or sensor that is mounted in a van or
tethered to a vehicle.
Photo radar typically utilizes two cameras to identify the vehicle and driver involved in
speeding or red light violations. One camera is utilized to produce an image of the oncoming
driver’s face while the other camera is used to identify the vehicle’s rear license plate.
Under most contracts in Arizona, when traffic violations are detected using photo radar,
the photo radar vendor reviews and validates the citation. Upon validation, a traffic citation is
filed against the registered owner of the vehicle in the appropriate municipal court having
jurisdiction over the violation. After the citation is filed, notice is sent by mail to the vehicle’s
registered owner. If the owner does not respond, a process server is sent to serve the complaint to the owner in person or may leave copies at the owner’s home with another resident of suitable
age and discretion. If the person in the photograph is not the registered owner of the vehicle,
municipalities may allow the owner to identify the driver and transfer responsibility for the
traffic citation.
Currently, there is only one statute, A.R.S. § 28-654, governing the use of photo radar to
identify traffic violations in Arizona. The statute requires local municipalities using photo radar
systems to display signs indicating to drivers on the road that a photo radar system is present and operational.
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
proposed legislation.
Provisions
1. Prohibits a photo enforcement system from being used on state highways to detect violators
of speed restrictions.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
The Governor's Cash Cow: More on the Photo Radar Fiasco
Driver beware! Coming to a street near you...photo radar vans & stand alone cameras...the latest ploy by our Governor and her appointed state agency directors (cronies) in attempt to fill the state's coffers to sustain her reckless spending!
This information comes on top of the of over the recent dismissal of 500 photo radar tickets that were issued mistakenly due to faulty radar equipment. (See 1/30 Post)
This information comes on top of the of over the recent dismissal of 500 photo radar tickets that were issued mistakenly due to faulty radar equipment. (See 1/30 Post)
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The Photo Radar Fiasco
589 photo radar tickets dismissed due to a malfunctioning sensor! This announcement comes as the Governor reveals that she plans to use additional photo radar cameras as a yearly 90 million dollar revenue generator.
What say you?
What say you?
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