FC: Washington DC traffic cams are being used to boost revenue

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20020927-4563013.htm

   Mayor says cameras will make city money
   By Brian DeBose
   THE WASHINGTON TIMES

        D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams yesterday said he wants to expand
   the use of traffic cameras because the city needs the money.
        "The cameras are about safety and revenue, and the way not to pay
   that tax is to not be speeding," Mr. Williams said.
        The mayor's comments were a change from earlier this year, when
   Mr. Williams told a radio audience in February that the purpose of the
   traffic cameras was to "calm" dangerous streets not generate revenue
   for the city.
        The latest comments also contradict months of disavowals by
   Metropolitan Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey, who has steadfastly
   contended that the cameras are about safety, not revenue.
        But on yesterday's "Ask the Mayor" program on WTOP Radio, Mr.
   Williams said looming fiscal problems forced the city to get creative
   in closing a potential $323 million budget deficit.

   [...]




-------------------------------------------------------------------------
POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list
You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice.
To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html
This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/
Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Like Politech? Make a donation here: http://www.politechbot.com/donate/
Recent CNET News.com articles: http://news.search.com/search?q=declan
-------------------------------------------------------------------------