Bullshit new Colorado traffic law (the expletive is warranted)

[crimsonblue]

Colorado: Freeway Photo Radar Approved
Colorado approves freeway speed cameras. Creates possibity of ticket for failing to move over for photo radar van.

The legislation then makes it possible for police to ticket any vehicle that passes a speed camera van that is parked on the side of the road if the motorist had been in an adjacent lane and failed to "move over" to the left. Several states already require motorists to take similar actions for marked ambulances and police cars, but Colorado will become the first to add "privately owned vehicles as are designated by the state motor vehicle licensing agency necessary to the preservation of life and property." Tow trucks "approved by the public utilities commission" would also fall under this broad definition of safety vehicles.

full link: Colorado's fun new traffic law

[BlueJazz]

1. Damn!...During this time, police would issue newly boosted fines of up to $540.00....

$540.00 ?? Are they Crazy? That's 2 weeks pay for a lot of Folks.

Again...Fuck the poor.

[Chan790]

2. I'm thinking of fun people could have in response:

Me...I'd find something which makes the photo radar van useless (signal jammer? UV light source?) and park it nearby. Frequently. If it doesn't work...they'll stop using it.

Someone might resort to good old vandalism. (Not that I'd ever suggest breaking the law.)

If you have faith in your fellow man to actually do the right and logical thing...you could take a civil-disobedience/glut the courts strategy. Write an editorial suggesting that not only do you suggest people contest every single ticket*, but actually actively ignore the law so that such a large backlog is created of outstanding tickets that it brings the traffic court to a halt. You'd see blanket dismissals and possibly a rescinding of the law just to get the courts functioning again.

* - It's fairly easy...most states have a law or previous legal decision stating that safe driving conduct and the safety of other vehicles on the road is the paramount law. Argue that compliance in your specific situation would have created a hazard (ie. caused an accident, impeded an ambulance, cut off another vehicle). The onus then shifts to the prosecutor to prove that no hazard existed as a result of compliance. No prosecutor is going to spend $1000s on subpoenas, scene reconstructions, tracking down witnesses, etc. to enforce a one $540 ticket; imagine how much 10,000 are going to cost him.

[Hawkeye-X]

4. That's right - Expect a glut of "Not Guilty" - and demand trial by jury

And the prosecutors will, hopefully, decide that this new law isn't worth the effort or the budget to prosecute and offer suspended tickets/dismissal just to save costs.

Our budget is still tight...

Hawkeye-X

[Hawkeye-X]

3. When I saw that - I knew it'll be challenged..

And trust me - it will..

Not that I'm going on I-25/I-70 on the highway construction anytime soon - thank G-d TREX is finished.

Hawkeye-X

[Rhiannon12866]

5. Are they short of funds, or what? Sounds over-the-line, to me...

Another insane law to piss off the taxpayers...:crazy:

[begin_within]

6. Let me guess - Lockheed Martin supplied the cameras

[crimsonblue]

7. Colorado is giving Texas and Florida a run for their money...

in the "Worst State" department. For a state with such a rich history of activism and liberalism, the fundies sure have taken complete control and screwed nearly everything up. I cannot believe that the state is privatizing law enforcement. Complete bullshit.