Speed Traps in CA to Help Balance Budget

[SuperDuper! 230]

California drivers could get stuck with speeding tickets even with nary a cop in sight under a proposal tucked deep in the budget Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled today.

The Republican governor wants to let cities and counties install speed sensors in red-light cameras to ticket speeding drivers. Those whizzing by the detectors up to 15 mph above the limit would have to fork over $225 per violation. Those going faster than that would pay $325 under the plan.

Red-light cameras already exist in communities across the Southland, from Beverly Hills to Yucaipa. The governor wants to install speed detectors in 500 of those cameras, which would nab an estimated 2.4 million speeding violators per year, according to the finance department estimates.

That would net cash-strapped California about $337.9 million through June 2011. Every year after that, the program would generate nearly half a billion dollars, the finance department says. Local governments would get a cut of the proceeds.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010...ked-deep-i.html

Edited January 9, 2010 by Hopp

[Danno 1,228]

California drivers could get stuck with speeding tickets even with nary a cop in sight under a proposal tucked deep in the budget Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled today.

The Republican governor wants to let cities and counties install speed sensors in red-light cameras to ticket speeding drivers. Those whizzing by the detectors up to 15 mph above the limit would have to fork over $225 per violation. Those going faster than that would pay $325 under the plan.

Red-light cameras already exist in communities across the Southland, from Beverly Hills to Yucaipa. The governor wants to install speed detectors in 500 of those cameras, which would nab an estimated 2.4 million speeding violators per year, according to the finance department estimates.

That would net cash-strapped California about $337.9 million through June 2011. Every year after that, the program would generate nearly half a billion dollars, the finance department says. Local governments would get a cut of the proceeds.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010...ked-deep-i.html

There is always a "Silver lining".

Finally, a way to make some of the freeloaders pay into the system..... if they speed.

[Peikko 1,575]

Breaking the law is breaking the law - unless it's a driving offense, then it's protecting civil liberties, yay!

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

they just need to enforce the ban on driving while on a mobile phone - that will balance the budget

[one...two...tree 2,762]

they just need to enforce the ban on driving while on a mobile phone - that will balance the budget

Last night we witnessed a police officer talking on his cellphone while driving his patrol car.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

they just need to enforce the ban on driving while on a mobile phone - that will balance the budget

People have forgotten how to drive in California. 85 m.p.h. is the norm on the open highway, and that is the trucks. It's time for the CHP to slow things down, and write some tickets in the process. However, it is not the state that benefits by raising revenue, but the local and county governments.

[SuperDuper! 230]

People have forgotten how to drive in California. 85 m.p.h. is the norm on the open highway, and that is the trucks. It's time for the CHP to slow things down, and write some tickets in the process. However, it is not the state that benefits by raising revenue, but the local and county governments.

Not true, Lone. The state DOES get a chunk of $ every ticket. Thatz why our muscle-headed Gov is pushing this evil plan. Do a lil' more homework, and you will see....

PS, Im loving my Passport SRX radar and laser detector even more with this news....

Edited January 9, 2010 by Hopp

[nowhereman 1]

they just need to enforce the ban on driving while on a mobile phone - that will balance the budget

I agree 100%. The douchebags driving slowly in the left lane while talking on a cell phone are the problem, not people exceeding the speed limit (within reason of course).

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I agree 100%. The douchebags driving slowly in the left lane while talking on a cell phone are the problem, not people exceeding the speed limit (within reason of course).

I don't know. Of course, there are drivers who are completely incompetent, especially while talking on a cell phone, but others manage to drive while having a conversation with passengers. The law prohibits holding the phone, but you can still talk while driving, which I believe is the real distraction.

Personally, I'd like to see stores ban the use of headsets while in the check out lane.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

why is it when I see someone driving in a slow, assholish way.......they are always on a cell phone?

[SuperDuper! 230]

I don't know. Of course, there are drivers who are completely incompetent, especially while talking on a cell phone, but others manage to drive while having a conversation with passengers. The law prohibits holding the phone, but you can still talk while driving, which I believe is the real distraction.

Personally, I'd like to see stores ban the use of headsets while in the check out lane.

Dude, get with the times. Talking on cell phones while driving is so moot a danger and so 2009!

Cars will soon have full on computers and touch screens and internet for the driver to play with while speeding down the road.

As an example, Ford just unveiled this yesterday

http://media.fordvehicles.com/article_disp...rticle_id=31713

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Not true, Lone. The state DOES get a chunk of $ every ticket. Thatz why our muscle-headed Gov is pushing this evil plan. Do a lil' more homework, and you will see....

PS, Im loving my Passport SRX radar and laser detector even more with this news....

Fines would range from $225 to $325. The state would collect 85 percent of the money, using the projected $338 million to help pay for courts and court security as it scrapes for money to close a $20 billion deficit.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...1#ixzz0c8gM58I2

This is the proposal, not current law, and would apply to fines generated by the speed sensors. Courts charge the issuing agency court processing fees and security charges, besides the revenue sharing. Hidden in changes in the law for 2009, were increases for these fees added to the fine.

ETA: By the way, there is a widening project on Hwy 101 through Sonoma County, and Caltrans installed speed sensors right in the roadway.

Edited January 9, 2010 by Lone Ranger

[SuperDuper! 230]

This is the proposal, not current law, and would apply to fines generated by the speed sensors. Courts charge the issuing agency court processing fees and security charges, besides the revenue sharing. Hidden in changes in the law for 2009, were increases for these fees added to the fine.

ETA: By the way, there is a widening project on Hwy 101 through Sonoma County, and Caltrans installed speed sensors right in the roadway.

Indeed, Lone, we know it is just a proposal, and also know that water is wet, so no need to school us on that one.

The current law on redlight tickets and officer issued tickets ALREADY profits the State of CA. So surprised this is news to you. Ol' MuscleHead Arnold wants YOU to help bail out the state by speeding and running red lights.

Yes, fees increase the cost of tix, big. Those pesky cell phone tix for first-time offenders may say $30 fine, but by the time you finish paying to clear the tix, you are talking about a $120 tix.

Cheers.

-----

Quote from the LA Times from recent article on our topic.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-re...0,2706485.story

"The bulk of the cash collected from red-light violations, whether caught on camera or issued by patrol officers, goes to state and county programs.

With the most recent increases, red-light ticket penalties in Los Angeles County reached an average of $446 in August -- or about $500 when drivers elect to also go through traffic school so their violations aren't reported to insurance carriers.

"They're pricing themselves to the point the average citizen can't afford it," said Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine, a one-time LAPD traffic cop. "They say the punishment must fit the crime."

Zine is exploring ways to bring down the fines on red-light camera and other high-cost moving violations, possibly by treating them as city administrative infractions, similar to parking violations. He noted that courts are overloaded and cutting back services."

The state's share of the ticket revenue would be cut back under his plan, Zine acknowledged. But there might be court system savings by moving adjudication of some violations to the city, he said."

[Marzy 1]

Sensor

[mawilson 2,133]

Breaking the law is breaking the law - unless it's a driving offense, then it's protecting civil liberties, yay!

They are not even hiding the fact that the cameras are there to boost revenue for

the state, in a budget crisis. Yet you keep blindly defending them in the name

of "the law" and "safety" when it is obvious to anyone with a modicum of intelligence

that their sole purpose is revenue generation. Shame on you.