If you’re even somewhat
engaged in the less-than-mainstream news, it’s difficult to crack open a laptop
without reading about how this country is becoming a police state and the
evidence is strong, especially if you are a person of color.
One big problem
is the amount of surveillance law abiding citizens are subjected to every
single day. While the numbers of cameras on street corners are increasing, one
type of camera is becoming less prevalent: traffic cameras.
The traffic cam
programs, despite accomplishing all of the goals of law enforcement, including
fatal crashes and yes, revenue, are very unpopular with the people and we are
letting politicians know and in turn, they are slowly disappearing.
On Dec. 16, New Jersey’s Department of Transportation ended a five-year trial program after Republican Governor Chris Christie chose not to renew it, directing local governments that had participated to disconnect the systems and take down warning signs “as soon as is practicable.”
A few days later, Ohio Governor John Kasich, a Republican, signed a bill requiring towns to post officers alongside cameras to witness traffic violations, a rule intended to make it too expensive for local governments to continue camera programs.
“There’s some evidence that perhaps they do promote safety,” says Bill Seitz, the Republican state senator who argued that Ohio’s camera program amounted to an unfair levy on drivers, some of whom found themselves cited for making legal right turns on red lights. “The costs outweigh the benefits, and the revenue-enhancement feature of this predominates over safety.”
Other areas have canceled camera programs targeting speed-limit scofflaws. In December, Long Island’s Nassau County pulled speed cameras from school zones. They’d produced more than 400,000 tickets in just two months but triggered a public outcry.
“The program angered residents to a point where it was outweighing the improved safety,” says Cristina Brennan, a spokeswoman for Norma Gonsalves, presiding officer of the Nassau County Legislature. Neighboring Suffolk County announced it was scrapping plans to install speed cameras near schools in 2015. Speed cameras are banned in at least a dozen states, according to the IIHS.
While this is a great
piece of news to those who see this as a civil rights issue, traffic cams are
in one way very democratic. Traffic cams see no skin color. They see no
economic class. A CEO is just as likely to receive a ticket in the mail as a
store clerk.
On the other hand,
cities have been using traffic cams as a source of revenue and there’s nothing
democratic about that. While that CEO might see it as a minor nuisance, made up
by the minute or two saved by running a red light, to the store clerk, it can
represent several hours pay.
In most states, public
services are largely paid by property taxes and revenue collected by law
enforcement.
Regardless of anyone’s
feelings on traffic cams, the takeaway is that politicians are not out of
reach. If enough people get angry, they listen. The problem is that people only
get angry when something directly affects them. As long as law enforcement
primarily targets people of color and people of limited means, the majority of
people simply won’t care enough to get involved.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Since this issue first came up in
Charlestown, I have made it clear that I support the use of red-light cameras
as a way to curb red-light running and save lives. I do not see it as a civil
rights issue at all, given that there is no reasonable expectation of privacy
when driving on a public road and especially when breaking the law. It is
unlikely that Charlestown’s two sets of cameras will generate much or even any
revenue, but I believe the cameras will deter red-light running. - WC
Author Wendy Gittleson is one of the luckiest people on the planet. She
actually gets to make a living out of two of her greatest passions, writing and
politics. When she's not writing, she's hiking with her dogs, riding her bike
or cooking a great meal with her friends or loved one. Follow Wendy on Facebook, Twitter or Google Plus.