Comments on: Government malpractice, red light camera update

By: ohmygoodness

ohmygoodness — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 18:48:20 +0000

It’s too expensive to lengthen the yellow? Bullhockey. That’s hardly something for a city employee to decide, anyway. I already pay taxes for safety not stupidity, although you’d never know it here.

All I can promise is that when I get rearended at one of these things, the city of Knoxville will be a codefendant in my lawsuit. I WILL have whiplash.

By: Windaria

Windaria — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 17:52:23 +0000

Funny thing is, the elderly generation has that problem… the thing with the younger generation is that so many of them are so liberal that they believe that the media is lying to cover for conservatives, and they believe people like Barbara Boxer as being oracles of the truth.

Sadly enough, it goes both ways.

By: Blounttruth

Blounttruth — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 02:26:52 +0000

Certainly the goal here is for increased revenue. The catch phrase for .gov revenue is safety and/or Child safety, really touches the heart of the elderly voter who still believes in an honest politician, and this is how they get away with it. I remember growing up and in my household if a politician said that diseased pig�s asses were attacking from the sky, we headed for the storm cellar. Until the older generation passes on local .gov’s will continue to take full advantage of the citizenry and get away with these very types of things. Now what we need is a civilian group put in charge of the lights to make sure all judges, off and on duty officers, and all political figures are ticketed the same as the general public. This will get the cameras out of here faster than a cat can lick its ass.

By: robert

robert — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 01:50:14 +0000

The colonials shot folks over just this type stuff. Not us though, we happily wear whatever weight chains we are requested to put on by the authorities.

By: David A. Garrett Jr.

David A. Garrett Jr. — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 22:05:55 +0000

Bastards

By: Ravenwood

Ravenwood — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 21:12:57 +0000

Local politicians will always be in favor of red light scameras. In Virginia it was authorized by the state 10 years ago as a pilot program, implemented and administered by the localities, and then allowed to expire by the state legislature. No longer having the legal standing to continue the red light camera programs, many localities simply turned them off and left them in place, hoping that one day the state legislature will reauthorize their use. Falls Church, Fairfax, and Arlington wait with baited breath for the state legislature to let them turn them back on and start issuing tickets again.

By: The Comedian

The Comedian — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 19:49:37 +0000

One more thought.

Would it be too expensive to change the yellow timing to 5 seconds because it is a labor intensive job that could not be accomplished at almost no marginal cost a the time of camera installation?

Is it too expensive because it would require too much study & planning to justify the change?

Is it too expensive because they’re too lazy to change the programming on their central computer?

Or is it too expensive because it destroys the revenue model of the red light camera operation, thereby “spending” too much money in the sense that a tax cut “spends” money.

By: The Comedian

The Comedian — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 19:21:38 +0000

I don't have a dog in this (red light camera restricted) race, but I note the following with some irony. Mr Geldmeier's name has the typical, and likely minimum qualifiacation for his job, Professional Engineer (P.E.) designation after his name, but he isn't listed as a P.T.O.E.. Far be it from me to declare anyone not qualified to be in a certain position due to the lack of a some outside qualifier, but it may be a handy thing to use this as an excuse to demand that someone outside of this contract be given a chance to review the plan.

By: JustJohnny » Red Light Round Up

JustJohnny » Red Light Round Up — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 17:50:18 +0000

[...] He said that Mark Geldmeier was the person that suggested the red light cameras to the Knoxville Police Department. When asked if the red light cameras were Geldmeier’s idea Hall responded yes. …. The question is simple, is this about revenue or is it about safety? — SayUncle [...]

By: CL

CL — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 17:32:13 +0000

While the city has control of the yellow light, that doesn’t keep Redflex from suggesting that the length be shortened and the city from honoring the request. The fact that the guy who suggested the cameras is in traffic engineering leds me to think that the length of the yellow will be shortened. I keep thinking that someone has be getting some kind of kick back on this.