They like to watch
Huntsville city councilmen Thursday joined a growing chorus of lawmakers pushing for Alabama to allow the automated ticketing of drivers via traffic cameras.
A bill by state Rep. David Grimes, R-Montgomery, would permit $250 fines and mandate the erection of signs warning drivers that cameras are monitoring the intersection. Drivers wouldn't have to pay court costs, the tickets wouldn't cost points on a driver's license, and insurance companies would be barred from raising rates due to a camera-assessed ticket. The bill seems to be inspired by a desire to counter the atrocious driving habits of many Alabamians, some of whom decide on an impromptu, case-by-
case basis which traffic lights actually have authority over them.
From a public safety standpoint, this bill seems like a reasonable compromise that would help keep the more maniacal element of our society in check while not unfairly surprising people with tickets from hidden cameras. I'm still a bit troubled that drivers could be fined without an officer notifying them of their violation in person, but the provisions about court costs and insurance rates help to mitigate that concern somewhat.
One of civil libertarians' main worries about the cameras is that they would invade motorists' privacy, but courts have made it pretty clear that you can't expect much privacy when you're in your car. Of course, there's also the slippery-slope argument, noted in The Huntsville Times by Rep. Ray Garner, R-Monrovia: "Where does it stop? If they do red lights, they may move on to something else."
Oh, like staring down women's blouses and zooming in on their buttocks, you mean? Nah, surely that would never happen.
It seems like only a matter of time before enough legislators climb aboard the camera train to make automated ticketing a reality in Alabama. For our sake, I hope someone manages to keep an eye on Big Brother while he keeps an eye on us.
A bill by state Rep. David Grimes, R-Montgomery, would permit $250 fines and mandate the erection of signs warning drivers that cameras are monitoring the intersection. Drivers wouldn't have to pay court costs, the tickets wouldn't cost points on a driver's license, and insurance companies would be barred from raising rates due to a camera-assessed ticket. The bill seems to be inspired by a desire to counter the atrocious driving habits of many Alabamians, some of whom decide on an impromptu, case-by-
case basis which traffic lights actually have authority over them.
From a public safety standpoint, this bill seems like a reasonable compromise that would help keep the more maniacal element of our society in check while not unfairly surprising people with tickets from hidden cameras. I'm still a bit troubled that drivers could be fined without an officer notifying them of their violation in person, but the provisions about court costs and insurance rates help to mitigate that concern somewhat.
One of civil libertarians' main worries about the cameras is that they would invade motorists' privacy, but courts have made it pretty clear that you can't expect much privacy when you're in your car. Of course, there's also the slippery-slope argument, noted in The Huntsville Times by Rep. Ray Garner, R-Monrovia: "Where does it stop? If they do red lights, they may move on to something else."
Oh, like staring down women's blouses and zooming in on their buttocks, you mean? Nah, surely that would never happen.
It seems like only a matter of time before enough legislators climb aboard the camera train to make automated ticketing a reality in Alabama. For our sake, I hope someone manages to keep an eye on Big Brother while he keeps an eye on us.
posted by Alabamian at 1:40 PM
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