Editor: The story about work zone safety missed the mark. Let’s look at NYC first, then I’ll get to Pennsylvania. I know several people who live in, work in, or used to live in NYC. Others live in New Jersey. All of them think that the sole purpose of automated enforcement there is to raise revenue. They described the various tactics used with the cameras, including some bizarre interpretations of the law for their placement. One person insisted he got a bogus ticket, and fought it in an administrative court, which proved to be a total joke.
In PA, State Rep. Robert Leadbeter put out a memo in advance of a state bill to ban all forms of automated traffic enforcement. The state has seen it’s share of problems with red-light, speed, and stop-arm cameras. Other states have realized cameras may cause problems, so they banned them.
The problems with camera enforcement are well-documented, and worldwide. Poor engineering, predatory ticketing, possibly more crashes, possibly errors, no real ability to fight a ticket, etc. Do a search for Top Twenty-Five Photo Enforcement Felons and read it.
No mention that the actual problem is underposted speed limits. Solutions are to post speed limits at the 85th percentile, use the zipper merge, do night work, etc. Problem solved. With proper engineering, you then only cite the worst offenders, and make all tickets points-only. Remove the money.
James Sikorski Jr.
Wapwallopen, PA
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