Photo Radar at Traffic Lights [MRG] - Page 6 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

HotHotHeat · 03-05-2009, 09:51 AM

Where's the 'FU' Emoticon when you need it?

photon · 03-05-2009, 09:53 AM

What's a speed on green camera?

Tyler · 03-05-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

What's a speed on green camera?

There are new cameras in place at various intersections now that will photograph you and ticket you if you speed through a green light.

Rathji · 03-05-2009, 09:56 AM

Appears you got the same email I did. I posted it in the thread on Photo Radar at Traffic Lights.

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=50460

photon · 03-05-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyler

There are new cameras in place at various intersections now that will photograph you and ticket you if you speed through a green light.

You mean basically a permanent photo radar?

Tron_fdc · 03-05-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

You mean basically a permanent photo radar?

Yup.

Moooooooo goes the cash cow

peter12 · 03-05-2009, 10:07 AM

This stuff is pretty insidious.

Russic · 03-05-2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaxPower

That would trying to teach the wrong lesson though. Having cars that issue a ticket every time sometime types a text message on their cell phone while driving would save more lives than these BS cameras.

It's also important to remember that the intention of these cameras is absolutely not to teach anyone a lesson. It's about generating revenue... they want you to make the same mistake as many times as possible.

I hate to be "that guy" and I'm not looking to start an argument, but are there stats to back that up? I can only go on what I read in the papers and I hear "speed is considered a factor" far more than I hear about fatalities related to cell phone usage.

I realize it's a snobby thing to say, but I have a hard time getting riled up about this issue. If I don't speed I fail to see how this impacts me. Sure there is the very real possibility of them impacting the traffic flow, but of course we won't know that until they start being used.

Perhaps it is nothing more than a cash cow. Personally if the city wants to take money from people that are breaking traffic laws I fail to see a problem.

Russic · 03-05-2009, 10:11 AM

according to ctv:

Quote:

Police say the green light cameras will be brought online gradually and that five cameras at undisclosed locations will be implemented in the next month. Eventually, all 44 cameras will be upgraded.

The chances of even getting a warning are pretty slim if they are only using 5 cameras.

photon · 03-05-2009, 10:11 AM

Well crap I can't remember all these intersections! And you can't always spot the cameras easily. Basically I can't speed anymore.

You Need a Thneed · 03-05-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

Personally if the city wants to take money from people that are breaking traffic laws I fail to see a problem.

Yup, it's a voluntary tax. I have no problems with it. The money's got to come from somewhere, and if it's not coming from tickets, it's going to come from my taxes instead. No thanks.

Bob · 03-05-2009, 10:16 AM

So are these new installations or are they upgraded red-light cameras?

ken0042 · 03-05-2009, 10:17 AM

Threads merged!

You Need a Thneed · 03-05-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

Well crap I can't remember all these intersections! And you can't always spot the cameras easily. Basically I can't speed anymore.

Every intersection that has a red light camera has signs planted beside the road telling you this - in all four directions. These photo radar cameras are just the existing red light cameras that are being upgraded.

Rathji · 03-05-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

Well crap I can't remember all these intersections! And you can't always spot the cameras easily. Basically I can't speed anymore.

I think this is the best possible result from these cameras. If it slows everyone down to a reasonable amount so one person going slow does not disrupt the flow of traffic. Otherwise these things will become death traps as idiots see them as they are coming up onto the intersection and practically lock them up to avoid the ticket and get a dump truck bumper through their rear windshield.

Bobblehead · 03-05-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

according to ctv:

The chances of even getting a warning are pretty slim if they are only using 5 cameras.

When I first moved to Calgary in '98, I used to have a link to the website where the photo radar was going to be located this week. Besides the fact that 1/2 the locations were pretty general ("Deerfoot Northbound/Deerfoot Southbound/Other Areas of interest") they would move the website so often I finally gave up.

photon · 03-05-2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Every intersection that has a red light camera has signs planted beside the road telling you this - in all four directions. These photo radar cameras are just the existing red light cameras that are being upgraded.

Ah good point forgot about the signs, I don't run red lights so never look for the red light cameras. Thanks.

REDVAN · 03-05-2009, 10:50 AM

One thing I still don't understand...

Are the speed-on-green really speed on green? For example, at ANY time, if I am going 20 over (if I get a ticket for 10 over, I will fight it and demand they tell me what "reasonable" limit they've set their cameras to) will they nail me? Or will they just nail me if it turns yellow and I am ripping it through? I guess it's called "speed on green" but is that accurate?

Basically, I am looking to save money here.

Bob · 03-05-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REDVAN

One thing I still don't understand...

Are the speed-on-green really speed on green? For example, at ANY time, if I am going 20 over (if I get a ticket for 10 over, I will fight it and demand they tell me what "reasonable" limit they've set their cameras to) will they nail me? Or will they just nail me if it turns yellow and I am ripping it through? I guess it's called "speed on green" but is that accurate?

Basically, I am looking to save money here.

Yes, any time the light is green you are at risk for getting a ticket. Once it turns red you're theoretically back to a basic red-light camera. I've heard the threshold for tickets will be about 10 km/h over the speed limit, but that various depending on the intersection.

MaxPower · 03-05-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

I hate to be "that guy" and I'm not looking to start an argument, but are there stats to back that up? I can only go on what I read in the papers and I hear "speed is considered a factor" far more than I hear about fatalities related to cell phone usage.

I realize it's a snobby thing to say, but I have a hard time getting riled up about this issue. If I don't speed I fail to see how this impacts me. Sure there is the very real possibility of them impacting the traffic flow, but of course we won't know that until they start being used.

Perhaps it is nothing more than a cash cow. Personally if the city wants to take money from people that are breaking traffic laws I fail to see a problem.

No worries. The way I look at it, obviously speed is ALWAYS a factor in a crash (just like gravity is factor in my feet staying on the ground.), nothing groundbreaking there. But how often is speed the CAUSE of a crash? There's usually another cause that sets off the crash and only then does speed factor in.

For example, driving on Deerfoot/Hwy 2 every day to work, I frequently see people drift slightly into a lane beside them and then jerk suddenly back into theirs. 9/10 times as I pass them they're doing something on their cell phone. Crap like that is how accidents are set off in the first place and there is FAR less attention given by the police to address that. That's because it takes an actual police officer on patrol to catch that, which costs money.

Instead they install these cameras which, once installed, are nearly cost-free enforcement. Problem is they're not addressing the cause of accidents. I suppose I should have said in my previous post that "Having cars that issue a ticket every time sometime types a text message on their cell phone while driving would result in less accidents than these BS cameras."

For what it's worth, I would support these cameras 100% if they would come out and say something like, "The actual impact on public safety of these cameras is unknown. However, they will generate revenue which will allow the CPS to more effectively combat the escalating problem of gang violence in the city." But the cynic in me also believes that any revenue generated by these things will go towards more cops sitting on the side of the road with radar/laser guns.

I could continue rambling about why I think the speed laws themselves are at best outdated, but I've done that enough in other threads.