Do Marylanders appreciate their photo speed enforcement cameras?

[howaboutme]

What is the public opinion of the "public private partnership" where big business sets up cameras, operates and profits by ticketing the public at large for speeding in highway zones with artificially low speed limits?

The bottom line of photo enforcement is really about corporate profits and handing off money to the municipality, even though they claim it is about public safety. Any opinions on this website? http://www.stopbigbrothermd.org/

[madinmaryland]

1. I hate them. They are just revenue generators for the towns/counties.

I hate the idea that corporations are making a buck off of these things.

[HighLowRoller87]

2. I agree and the one thing that drives me up a wall is

they give you the option to fight it in court. How can you defend yourself when out of the blue, you get a ticket you were not expecting two weeks later?! You have no choice but to cough up the money because you have no evidence and then if you lose in court, you have to pay the court fees on top of the ticket. A complete set up to purge money out your wallet.

[HighLowRoller87]

6. It truly disgusts me. Forgot to add that.

[jdm9955]

7. +100

[LiberalEsto]

3. Hate them

Many people, including me, cheered when we read local news reports that a few of the evil cameras were vandalized.

[howaboutme]

4. Corporation gets 40% cut

Actually the corporations make about 40% of the camera take, according to the web site above.

The photo camera concept is tolerable if it was proven to be about safety, and that cameras were installed only in locations where statistics factually bear out that there are real problems with speed related accidents....but we all know that they are about profits and revenue.

They reduce speed limits to artificially low levels to purposely to snag offenders in their web.

This is an interesting perspective from those in Europe.

http://www.speedcam.co.uk/gatso2.htm

[Mutley]

5. Not a fan

I got busted by one going 65mph on 695 near Liberty Rd. It would have been nice if the state had put them up themselves so at least they would get all of the money for it.