Just how does the camera Help?

[labman]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510999,00.html

Doesn't the DMV have a list of license plate numbers? Why wait until one shows up on the camera to check it against insurance lists?

Interesting that the infernal cameras cause more accidents. Are more people stopping for red lights and getting rear ended? Once people adjust to having the car in front stop for a red light, would the accidents go down?

Is the ACLU actually doing something constructive for once?

 

[The_Jeff]

IMO any fines for uninsured vehicles should go into an insurance pool to reimburse law-abiding drivers for their uninsured motorist coverage.

The gov'ts job is to enforce the laws, so if it's a law that you have insurance and people flout it, everyone else is a victim and should be reimbursed.

I would rather they immediately impound the car, and if it appears to be worth less than $300, the driver as well for a night in jail, until the fine can be immediately paid.

If I ran the world and wanted insurance complaiance, I'd make a rear window decal with policy expiration date on it... and a $50 reward for turning in your neighbor or the guy in front of you. Cancelling one's insurance would require sending the decal back in. So simple... and so contrarian to the way we accomplish anything.

 

[4wdrifter]

insurance agents here in CO have to report anyone who has dropped insurance every month. i got pulled over when i transfered from WA to denver and believe me it is a giant PITA

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: labman
Once people adjust to having the car in front stop for a red light, would the accidents go down?


In SF, the intersection of Geary and 19th Ave was, due to red light runners (up to 3 or 4 seconds into red!) one of the most dangerous crossings in the city. Several years ago cameras and warning signs were prominently mounted. Before the cameras were put up, I witnessed crashes due to red light runners on a monthly basis. Those were crashes with cars going often over 50 mph! Since the cameras have gone up, I haven't seen a single crash. I still see people running red lights there, but probably 90% less often compared to a few years ago. I have not seen an increase in rear-end collisions due to red light cameras. There are also red light cameras on many other intersection, mostly on the main arteries downtown. All those intersections seem to be safer now with drivers being a bit more observant.

Why the DMV can't make sure that registered cars are insured is incomprehensible. In CA, in order to register a vehicle, one must produce evidence of insurance. What I don't know is why the insurance company does not have to report non-paying drivers to the DMV.

 

[oilyriser]

What if your insurer cancels your policy but doesn't notify you?

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: oilyriser
What if your insurer cancels your policy but doesn't notify you?


I guess you should read the fine print in your insurance contract.

 

[moribundman]

For example:
Quote:
If we cancel your insurance for non-payment of premium because we have already given you two notices during the term of your policy as described in section 1.7.3, or if we cancel for any other reason, we will notify you in writing. We must give you five days notice if we deliver the notice of cancellation in person, or 15 days notice by sending the notice of cancellation by registered mail to your last known address. The 15-day period starts on the second day after we mail the registered letter.

 

[oilboy123]

Well I don't like the Big Brother kinda thing.......I like the idea of sending the fines to a fund for drivers that are under insured.
Good luck getting any municipality to give up the money......

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: oilboy123
Well I don't like the Big Brother kinda thing.


Neither do I, but if you'd witnessed the number and kind of accidents caused by reckless drivers here that I have seen, you might also be in favor of reducing the number of accidents with an automated system.

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: labman
Interesting that the infernal cameras cause more accidents. Are more people stopping for red lights and getting rear ended? Once people adjust to having the car in front stop for a red light, would the accidents go down?


Don't they often reduce the yellow light time so they can collect more revenue? I can see that causing problems for drivers who don't maintain a reasonable following distance.

Provided the yellow light time is reasonable, I don't have a problem with red light cameras. People really shouldn't be entering an intersection when the light has already turned red. I've probably cut it close enough that I entered an intersection after the light was red a couple of times, and I wouldn't argue if I had received a ticket since I was potentially endangering others. I have no excuse but impatience.

$90 fine for driving without insurance? Did I read that right? Saskatchewan is fairly lenient (up to $1000 fine), but when I was in Alberta, where they have private insurance, fines ranged from $2500 to $10,000.

 

[NJC]

I think traffic cameras are a good idea. It's caused me to stop for yellows that I might have otherwise ran ... and not sure if the [censored] things are even working. It's like the cardboard police cars.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: rpn453
Don't they often reduce the yellow light time so they can collect more revenue? I can see that causing problems for drivers who don't maintain a reasonable following distance.


Here the yellow period is very long. They definitely didn't shorten it when they put the cameras up. I believe that overly long yellow times actually invite red light running, because "I can still make it."

May I point at the fact that in the US there is no yellow light between red and green? Many other countries have a yellow phase between red and green.

As for the tailgater who can't stop in time, well, the yellow light that causes him to hit the car in front of him is not the reason for doing so; he's a reckless moron who doesn't keep a safe distance.

 

[labman]

While we may not have a yellow between red and green, we have 4 way red. I actually think that is a dumb idea. Since people know the light is still red the other way, they go ahead and run the red light.

 

[oilyriser]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
For example:
Quote:
If we cancel your insurance for non-payment of premium because we have already given you two notices during the term of your policy as described in section 1.7.3, or if we cancel for any other reason, we will notify you in writing. We must give you five days notice if we deliver the notice of cancellation in person, or 15 days notice by sending the notice of cancellation by registered mail to your last known address. The 15-day period starts on the second day after we mail the registered letter.



Talk is cheap. They don't always notify.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: labman
While we may not have a yellow between red and green, we have 4 way red. I actually think that is a dumb idea. Since people know the light is still red the other way, they go ahead and run the red light.


That's hilariously stupid. Why not just implement 4-way green?

 

[andyd]

When a camera catches me and I get fined, can I send the RMV a picture of money ?

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: labman
While we may not have a yellow between red and green, we have 4 way red. I actually think that is a dumb idea. Since people know the light is still red the other way, they go ahead and run the red light.


The calculations for the required yellow interval include the 4 way red as part of the yellow interval.

So, if, prior to the 4-way red you had a 5 second yellow, now you'd have a 3-second yellow and a 2-second 4-way red.

The 4-way red is a relatively new idea, apparently it didn't exist prior to about the 70s.

 

[TooManyWheels]

Cameras here have produced the results they expected - increased rear end collisions, fewer side impacts, possibly fewer deaths. Lots of debate but zero consensus about whether it has been a good thing overall.

 

[labman]

Nobody has addressed my original question of how the cameras help on the uninsured problem.

I still think the 4 way red is a dumb idea that has lead to more people running red lights. If indeed they have robbed the yellow cycle for the 4 way red, they have made compliance harder.