[RP TownTalk] EXTERNAL:Re: Fwd: Speed Cameras in College Park

[McDougall, Sherene (Law)]

I too can understand the safety issue.  I received 2 tickets from the
cameras on East/West Highway & Taylor Rd area in July of this year, this
was just after the signs went up indicating it was a "school zone" area
and the cameras were put in place.   I wanted to contest the tickets but
wasn't given any information for that process so I had to pay the
tickets.  Anyhow, I would like to know what is the purpose of the camera
at the corner of Rt 1 (heading North to College Park) and East/West
Highway.  Is this for red-light runners?  I have seen it flashing when
eastbound traffic on East/West Highway have the  green light to turn
left onto Rt 1 and when the northbound traffic on Rt 1 are turning left
onto East/West Highway going west.

 

Sherene

 

From: towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org
[mailto:towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org] On Behalf Of Dwight Holmes
Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 1:34 PM
To: TownTalk
Subject: EXTERNAL:Re: [RP TownTalk] Fwd: Speed Cameras in College Park

 

>From a policy point of view - to promote safety - I think speed cameras
make good sense when you have a specific limited area of concern: school
zone crossings; bike path (or pedestrian) crossing.  From this
perspective locating them on Paint Branch where the bike path crosses,
or by Riverdale Elementary is a good use of a cost-saving tool. The one
on Connecticut Avenue in the postage stamp-sized "Village of Chevy Chase
View" (just happens to be a specific one I'm familiar with, between the
Beltway and Kensington) is clearly a revenue-collection device.  

On Wed, Nov 17, 2010 at 11:21 AM, Sarah Wayland
<sarah.wayland at gmail.com> wrote:

> I would say that the reason these
> camera are spreading like monsoon frogs has nothing to do with a
desire to
> invade our privacy; it's all about the money.

And safety - the speed limits are on these roads for a reason. Red
lights turn red for a reason. If people are regularly driving 55 mph
in a 35 mph zone, and running red lights, that's not safe. Because our
police can't be everywhere all the time, these cameras help them to
enforce the law.

We could hire more police who could then enforce the laws in person,
but that costs a lot of money. So yes, it is about the money - but I'd
argue that it is in part because it's a cheaper way to enforce the
law.

-Sarah



--
Sarah Wayland
sarah.wayland at gmail.com

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