Traffic fines are being issued electronically (Dubai...my prediction..US in less than a year.)

[seriousstan]

Source: khaleejtimes

DUBAI —The Dubai Police have started issuing traffic fines electronically, according to Colonel Nader Fekri, Deputy Director of the General Department of Electronic Services Department.

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He stated that 13 mobile phones with special specifications had been distributed to traffic officers to issue traffic fines by taking a still picture of the vehicle which was found jumping the red traffic signal, or was seen parked in a slot reserved for special needs people or on the prohibited margin of the roads.

“The system is the first of its type in the world and it saves time and effort of both the police and the motorists involved in traffic offence. He explained that motorists are informed about the fines via an SMS on their mobile phone or through e-mail. A picture of the location where the motorist had committed the violation and type of violation is recorded by the Dubai Police GPS system or mobile phone cameras,” he said.

“Very soon,, the traffic police will be able to take the pictures by using video cameras where it would be possible to add voice commentary giving details of the vehicle committing the offence and provide more images to assist in identification of violations,” Fekri pointed out.



Read more: http://khaleejtimes.ae/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2007/June/theuae_June54.xml§ion=theuae

[Erika]

1. W will contract with Dubai for law enforcement for the U.S.

Our taxes out flowing.

[DRoseDARs]

2. The Texas state legislature just had bills limiting or preventing such activities.

Chickens, hatching, counted before that. You know the drill. ;)

Article-in-full because of its brevity:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/25/texas-legislature-bans-speed-cameras-requires-warning-signs-for/

"Ah, Texas. Home to internet hunting, overhead bananas, and WiFi'ed rest stops, the Lonestar State will set yet another precedent by passing a bill onto the governor that would ban speeding cameras and require warning signs to be posted around red-light cameras. Yes, the same state that wanted transponders in every single car registered in the state is now just one signature away from giving heavy-footed drivers something to cheer about. Both measures "were adopted in the state House by unanimous votes," and along with the speed camera ban comes legislation that will put an end to the ticketing programs run by the cities of Rhome and Marble Falls while prohibiting any other cities from enacting such practices in the future. Of course, it should be noted that the bills wouldn't go into effect until September 1st of this year, so you should probably still utilize your cruise control whilst traveling over this long weekend."

[seriousstan]

3. It is it's own country.

[papau]

4. It has been in the US for last 5 years - I know because I have to budget for those fines in DC since

I am always 3 to 5 miles per hour over the speed limit and the letter they send you has the photo of the car and license and the back of my head - very hard to fight. I swear the DC budget counts the fines as a major income source.

[Downtown Hound]

5. We've had cameras on certain traffic lights in my town for years now

If a car runs a red light, the camera takes a picture of its license plate, and then shortly afterwords, the owner of the car gets a ticket in the mail. The controversial thing about it is that the owner of the car isn't always the person who is driving it, and they have no recourse if the offender refuses to pay the fine, other than never loaning them their car again.

[Solon]

6. Dude, we have high speed cameras on overpasses to catch speeders around here...

They take a quick picture, and you get the ticket mailed to you in a few business days. Granted, I never was issued a ticket, but a buddy of mine was. Same deal at intersections.

[Oldtimeralso]

7. Chicago Makes a Ton of Money

from the red light cameras, and now the Illinois State Police are using video to enforce speed limits in construction zones

[Solon]

8. I don't really have a problem with them...

its a public safety issue, first and foremost, and, while driving on public roads, you don't exactly have a right to not be recorded at all.

[Socal31]

17. True.

But where does it stop? Do we want to end up like Britain? Its just like nobody wanting a cop to be following them all the time, even if they arent breaking any laws. Most people I know would not be comfortable with that.

[Psephos]

18. If you're concerned about safety, you should be against these cameras

They are associated with increases in accident rates in the intersections where they have been installed.

Here's a good reference page that links to a number of comprehensive studies showing adverse effects on safety through the automation of traffic offense citations:

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/04/430.asp


Examples:

A 2005 Virginia DOT study found:
"The cameras are correlated with an increase in total crashes of 8% to 17%."

A 2003 Ontario Ministry of Transportation study found:
"Compared to the average number of reported collisions occurring in the before period, the average yearly number of reported collisions increased 15.1 per cent in the after period."

(Links to the full text of these and many other studies are on the page cited above.)

Apart from the irony of these "safety" cameras decreasing safety (but increasing revenues), there are serious civil liberty issues at stake, too.

[LeighAnn]

19. Here's a pic of my boyfriend acting a fool

This wasn't in Dubai, either

[TheMadMonk]

9. Australia has fixed red light & speed cameras. Has done for years.

All of them clearly and multiply signposted, and yet people still get caught and then have the nerve to complain about revenue raising.

Personally I think the signs be taken down and cameras relocated at random intervals. Make the camera (or at least housing) visible - let an alert driver have that much warning. Revenue raised to be shared between trauma treatment facilities, road maintenance, and driver education.

Obviously certain safeguards would have to be in the system to prevent it being used for general surveillance and monitoring. The first would be to ensure that it only takes notice when a vehicle is breaking the road rules.

[DuaneBidoux]

10. Cameras in Houston at lights give tickets automatically. And I am glad!

Houston has an absolute epidemic of people who run red lights. I've almost been hit (seriously) twice in just the last year.

[skids]

11. So what happens if you lend your car to someone?

Guilty until proven innocent?

[kineneb]

12. first there has to be someone w/cell phone

and connection with tower...way too many dead spots in our county.

out in the country-

If no one sees you going over the speed limit, did it ever happen?
(tree falling in forest, etc.);-)

[Endangered Specie]

13. In a nearby city (Fayetteville) a girl crashed into a red light camera pole

and the passenger was killed when the camera dislodged and fell on her.

Even though it was a freakish accident, the city is rethinking red light cameras.

[blues90]

14. we have then here in los angeles

I can understand the cameras to a point however I feel the $350 fine is excessive . I got one ticket in all the 40 years I have been driving , not by luck but because I drive the way one should .

I entered a green light going 10 MPH and I was surprised when I got the ticket in the mail . it had times and position of the car .

I went back and timed the yellow to red light change and it was 1.2 seconds and the camera caught me just before I was across the four lane intersection , it turned green to red in 1.2 seconds and there was no way of knowing when the light first turned green .

Everyday I go through this light gunshy now and everyday i see three cars turn on red but they entered the turn on green .

I checked other camera lights and they were 10 seconds from yellow to red . I paid the fine because there is no way to fight this thing . However I have been almost rear ended serveral times as have other people because they now know they risk a $350 fine and I get people blowing the horn behind me because I know the light will change before I can make it , now I go around the block to avoid the damn camera .

All they need to do is extend the yellow timing to be fair but they could care less , I feel it's more of a hazzard than a deterent .

In calif for many years the only chance you had to make a left was on yellow when most all lights have no left turn green arrow .

[Jester_11218]

15. They have been in NY for years

Nothing new here.

[DrDan]

16. Germany has done this for decades

I know first-hand - received one in the early '70s

[Trajan]

20. In the environs of Portland, Oregon ....

Some municipalities have Stop Light cameras, and some have Photo-Radar rigs, typically a movable van which can be parked at nearly any location.

A citation is mailed to your home, with the captured image and a bail bill attached ...

[DemBones DemBones]

21. We've had cameras here for years. nt