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| -Lurid Crime Tales- | |
| Police chief denounces 'cowardly' iPhone users monitoring speed traps | |
| 2009-07-17 | |
| Area drivers looking to outwit police speed traps and traffic cameras are using an iPhone application and other global positioning system devices that pinpoint the location of the cameras. That has irked D.C. police chief Cathy Lanier, who promised her officers would pick up their game to counteract the devices, which can also help drivers dodge sobriety checkpoints. "I think that's the whole point of this program," she told The Examiner. "It's designed to circumvent law enforcement -- law enforcement that is designed specifically to save lives." If only it were designed to save lives, I might go along with you. Show me the studies that correlate reductions in deaths, injuries, and property damage to the placement of your The new technology streams to iPhones and global positioning system devices, sounding off an alarm as drivers approach speed or red-light cameras. Lanier said the technology is a "cowardly tactic" and "people who overly rely on those and break the law anyway are going to get caught" in one way or another. Cowardly? Like basing your argument on B.S.? The greater D.C. area has 290 red-light and speed cameras -- comprising nearly 10 percent of all traffic cameras in the U.S., according to estimates by a camera-tracking database called the POI Factory. Lanier said the cameras have decreased traffic deaths. Red-light and speed cameras have been a hot topic in Montgomery County since Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signed a bill in May allowing local governments to place speed cameras in school and highway construction zones. Makes sense. As long as they are turned on only when there are kids in the area or hazards related to construction are actually present. Montgomery County police did not respond to calls and e-mails for this story. Ralph Ganoe of Silver Spring said he uses detection software from a Washington-based company, PhantomAlert, to avoid speed traps and crowded intersections. "Well, my pocket has money in it," Ganoe quipped, when asked about the software's impact on his driving record. "Everybody's got a heavy foot. ... Now I don't have to worry about where [the cameras] are at." PhantomAlert mimics radar detectors -- which are outlawed in D.C. and Virginia -- by alerting drivers of nearby enforcement "points of interest" via global positioning system devices. PhantomAlert keeps up to date on traffic enforcement through its users, who contribute information online. Founder and CEO of PhantomAlert Joe Scott claimed nine out of 10 police departments across the country support his software. "If police come against us, it's going to make them look like they are only [after] revenue" from the camera-generated citations, he said. Photo radar tickets generated nearly $1 billion in revenues for D.C. during fiscal years 2005 to 2008. Which I'm sure was donated to charity. Right? In the current fiscal year, Montgomery County expects to make $29 million from its red light and speed cameras. Lanier said efforts to outlaw the software would be too difficult. She said, "with the Internet and all the new technology, it's almost impossible to stop the flow of information." Smart cookie.
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| Posted by:gorb |
| #8 I agree that most of the accidents are from inattentive and, basically stupid, drivers. I ride the bus to Seattle each day and have a chance to watch what other people are doing while driving. Applying makeup (both women and men...), eating breakfast, having a heated conversation on the phone. Driving with dogs on their laps. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2009-07-17 22:51 |
| #7 Sounds good to me, a blow at Officials trying to fleece the citizens, and a exposure of a semi-corrupt Police Chief, looking to "Create", Lawbreakers. My father was a civil engineer who worked (Partly) on traffic flow, I'll bet most folks don't know there's a three second "Dwell" between the changing of a light to red, and the other street's changing to green, that's his idea, designed to cut down on collisions, when someone could NOT stop, (Short lights) and allow the lanes to clear. This Police Chief is trying to exploit that installed "Safety Dwell" and create criminals on those who simply cannot stop abruptly safely. In fact several different cities were sued over short lights (Meaning the time between red to yellow to green times, and putting policemen with electronic "triggers" to change lights deliberately for "Catching" people who simply could not stop in time. After several lawsuits, all states cities and communities were Forced by federal law to make ALL TRAFFIC SIGNALS the same length, and include the same "Safety Dwell", mentioned earlier. But the Real killer of "Short Lights" was the law that all fines went to the state, the community could NOT keep them.(Not profit) I'd investigaate wher the fines go. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-07-17 20:25 |
| #6 #3 Saw some stats somewhere that claimed %47 of accidents were due to poor traffic engineering.... When one considers the average low salary of traffic engineers in some suburbs.... one wonders why the figure isn't larger. Posted by: 3dc 2009-07-17 16:58 I find that % way too high (just IMHO). The vast majority of accidents (I'm guessing here) is caused by inattentive/unsafe drivers. There's a good % of "weather conditions" (another "unsafe speed" thing) accidents. There are, for sure, some poorly designed roads and streets, but State and AASHTO standards dictate most standard road design. IMHO, the drivers are usually the issue, whether speeding or not. I consider myself a pretty good driver, but on long-highway trips, I break out my Escort Radar Detector - it picks up the laser/radar signals from he guns and cameras so I slow down in time. Awesome investment to beat the revenue-generators |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-07-17 18:53 |
| #5 Well, Steve, you don't HAVE to pay the tickets. I just saw a car parked across from the elevator bank at O'Hare with a big yellow boot on it... That is where the real money is anyway. He should be arriving back right about now, patting himself on the back for finding such a great parking spot on his way out of town last Tuesday. |
| Posted by: Capsu78 2009-07-17 18:15 |
| #4 swksvolFF, in Chicago at least it's very clever. The violation is not a 'legal' violation but an 'administrative' one -- thus, no right to face your accuser. Indeed, no rights at all, as you'll find out if you get a notice. It's pay and shut up. The courts have allowed that in Illinois, but then, we have the best government money can buy. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2009-07-17 17:31 |
| #3 Saw some stats somewhere that claimed %47 of accidents were due to poor traffic engineering.... When one considers the average low salary of traffic engineers in some suburbs.... one wonders why the figure isn't larger. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2009-07-17 16:58 |
| #2 I seem to remember reading something recently about breathalizers and DUIs. Something about the right to face your accuser and the breathalizer itself could not convict a person only support the testimony and field test of the police officer. Now if that is right, then could that same principle be applied to traffic cameras? |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2009-07-17 16:57 |
| #1 I think they give themselves away. Assuming everyone has iphones and this software, those people would slow down for speed traps right? That is the point: to maintain a safe highway system right? I mean, unless those with iphones+ are blowing through all the other intersections they will be driving safer (and maybe a cascade effect with the car or 2 behind them), which causes less accidents, which keeps insurance rates checked and people unhurt. Now my solution would be to convert to an equine system. I'm sure that George Washington would agree that the act of riding invigorates the body and mind which would lead to better governance, or at least generate enough horseshit to cover the stench of DC politics. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2009-07-17 16:42 |