Some responses to evil traffic cams in DC [priv]

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [Politech] Privacy villain of the week: DC's traffic cams 
[priv]
Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 15:11:11 -0500
From: Jim Davidson <davidson () net1 net>
To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
CC: jplummer () consumeralert org

Dear Declan,

> In fact, placing traffic cameras on pedestrian-free highways
> like New York Ave. and Anacostia Parkway may increase danger
> on the roads by mixing drivers going at 'highway speed' and
> other drivers slowing preciptiously to below the too-low
> speed limit, anxious that a camera will snap them. This is
> a recipe for disaster that compromises both safety and privacy.

No doubt safety and privacy are not at stake, where as
gaining more money for the city government is the only
yardstick by which such camera placements are measured.

It is interesting to me that red light cameras are just
now being proposed for the first time, half-heartedly,
here in Houston.  Interesting because we have a vibrant
gun culture and numerous expert marksmen with paintball
guns who would be eager to treat these vile specimens of
Orwellian statism with proper disrespect.

Of course, before ramping up the intrusiveness of speed
trap and red light cameras there in DC, first the people
were disarmed.  I wonder whether there are three paintball
guns in all of the district, or the youth with sufficient
enthusiasm to paint some targets.

Regards,

Jim
 http://www.indomitus.net/




-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [Politech] Privacy villain of the week: DC's traffic cams 
[priv]
Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 08:12:26 -0500
From: Matthew Platte <plattem () inetnebr com>
To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
References: <40A98A49.90607 () well com>

Yes it is a stretch.

> It's not a stretch -- studies of red-light cameras have shown that
> panicky drivers are more likely to slam on the brakes when they see a
> yellow light for fear of the redlight cameras, causing rear-end
> collisions.

Rear-end collisions are caused by following too closely or driving too
fast or inattentive operation of the _following_ car.  Your privacy
argument is polluted by this lame appeal to the outrage of Fox TV's
C.O.P.S. audience.

--
-------^.^--
Matthew Platte
Lincoln, Nebraska




-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [Politech] Privacy villain of the week: DC's traffic cams 
[priv]
Date: Tue, 18 May 2004 20:24:27 -0400
From: Ben <bmw () carolina rr com>
To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
References: <40A98A49.90607 () well com>

I wish someone would hand a villain award over to the Charlotte, NC
program. The industry behind the cameras here has absolutely no
counterbalance and no basis in reality. The local news is as inept as
any at getting to the bottom of anything more than it's ratings
statistics. The only voice anyone hears on the subject is in a
commercial running around the clock where a young man sits at a cemetery
telling his dead friend about his school day.

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