Texas Legislature to Police: No more speed cameras, warn drivers of red light camera

[Publius]

Texas Legislature Bans Speed Cameras

The Texas state legislature gave final approval yesterday to a bill banning speed cameras and requiring red light camera warning signs. Both measures were adopted in the state House by unanimous votes -- the speed camera ban, HB 922, on May 2 (bill text) and the warning sign bill, HB 1052, on April 19.

The warning sign legislation, authored by state Representative Bill Callegari (R-Katy), invalidates any red light camera ticket if motorists do not have advance notice of the presence of a ticketing machine at least 100 feet before the intersection. The speed camera ban, sponsored by state Representative Vicki Truitt (R-Southlake), puts an end to ticketing programs run by the cities of Rhome and Marble Falls. All other cities would be prohibited from issuing automated speeding tickets.

Both bills become law if signed by Governor Rick Perry (R).

As far as the automated speed cameras go, I agree 100%. The Constitution guarantees you a right to meet your accuser in a court of law, but these speed cameras (basically how they work is that they have a built-in radar, and if you're going a certain amount above the speed limit (adjustable by the police) they record your license plate info and mail you a ticket automatically) take out that option.

The reason policemen get called to court for these type of things is because, as the officer involved in the stop, they are technically the accuser. If there isn't a human being involved in taking the radar and writing the ticket, you have no recourse to face your accuser, and thus there is no way way that these things can be Constitutional.

As far as the red light cameras, I don't really see the point in having warning signs up. Seems it would be better at enforcing the law if they weren't; after all police don't have to put up a temporary sign that says "Law Enforcement Official Taking Radar Ahead" when they set up on the roadside to try and catch speeders.

[Stylerod]

Seems if one is made illegal becuase you can't "face your accuser" then both would be made illegal. Speed and Red Light. They are the exact same thing just getting your tag number for different reasons.

[motivez]

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Seems if one is made illegal becuase you can't "face your accuser" then both would be made illegal. Speed and Red Light. They are the exact same thing just getting your tag number for different reasons.

Agreed.

We used to have those around here, but I believe there was some scandal where the money gained from them wasn't being used for the purposes that it was supposed to.. so they disabled them

Personally I can't stand those things, especially the red light ones.. sometimes you're not going to slam on your breaks to stop at a light if you're already close, street conditions, etc..

I know they also did a study about accidents around them and found that there were far more rear-ends around them than at stoplights without..

[Publius]

Originally Posted by Stylerod

Seems if one is made illegal becuase you can't "face your accuser" then both would be made illegal. Speed and Red Light. They are the exact same thing just getting your tag number for different reasons.

Good point, and reason enough I would think to make it illegal. I don't understand why instead they're just putting up warning signs.

[SpicyMcVoodoo]

I drive by one of those "your speed is" signs every day, and it seems pretty inaccurate. I'll be with a group of cars that's going no faster than 35, and it'll flash 40-41-28, etc. The average is probably pretty accurate, but it has moments of extreme inaccuracy. It occurred to me that if there were a camera attached, the camera might snap you during those inaccurate moments, and by the time you got the ticket, you'd have no recollection of that moment or recourse. You'd just have to assume you really were speeding.

[Kytro]

I actually prefer the automated devices to be install in areas where accidents happen and speed is a major factor. Though they should give ample warning to people the devices are there.

The second thing is that the police department (governmnet prosecutors) are accusing you based on evidence collected. You could challange them to prove the accuracy of thier device in your circumstances (this has been done before)

Though I support the use of these devices, I only do so for dection of significantly dangerous speeds, and not as money making exercise

[imind]

how do they know you are the driver of the car? my experience with them has been that they only photo the license tag.

[Diesel66]

Originally Posted by imind

how do they know you are the driver of the car? my experience with them has been that they only photo the license tag.

They dont care. The tickets are similar to parking tickets, no points and the owner pays.

[imind]

Originally Posted by Diesel66

They dont care. The tickets are similar to parking tickets, no points and the owner pays.

a hypothetical:
you're at a party, someone grabs your keys, runs a red light, and returns. you get charged with 'the crime'?

you're at a party, someone grabs your keys, robs a bank, and returns. you get charged with 'the crime'?

in both instances the cars tag is photographed, and to cover all the bases, everyone is drunk and the establishment of an alibi is impossible (... its hypothetical) how is one different from the other?

[hsmith]

Originally Posted by imind

a hypothetical:
you're at a party, someone grabs your keys, runs a red light, and returns. you get charged with 'the crime'?

you're at a party, someone grabs your keys, robs a bank, and returns. you get charged with 'the crime'?

in both instances the cars tag is photographed, and to cover all the bases, everyone is drunk and the establishment of an alibi is impossible (... its hypothetical) how is one different from the other?

thus why they don't stick you with points, they just grab for your wallet