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Re:
Well, Annicita, I can't honestly say that I'm glad we're not the only ones! I think it's a crime that somebody should look into to. Like you said ( and I wrote ) the cameras don't prevent accidents at all, and have just become money-making ventures for various municipalities. It's really a shame! 
posted by
JimmyA
on August 13, 2012 at 8:20 AM
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we have them here in missouri....some are short like you say....one municipality even had it on a stop sign intersection....it didnt stay there long....must have been determined to be a moneymaker and not an accident preventer....seriously....this municipality is ranked as one of the highest in issuing tickets....we have signs that tell us when a camera is in use for that light
posted by
Annicita
on August 12, 2012 at 11:50 AM
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Re:
I believe, shobana, that you may be one of the lucky ones! I honestly don't think that the powers-that-be would have several summons accumulate for you before finally "lowering the boom" on you with one, huge, hefty fine. Believe me, if they felt you technically ran a red light, you would probably have received your ticket posthaste! But now that this little tid-bit of info has been passed on to you, you might become more reluctant to chance those shortened yellow lights! Be careful! 
posted by
JimmyA
on August 8, 2012 at 6:48 AM
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Re:
Absolutely, mariss. Things are tough enough on people without certain authorities doing something underhanded like this. Yes you're right, you probably did enter the intersection legally under a yellow light. But according to most state's laws, if the light turns red while you're still in the intersection, then technically you've just run a red light! And that's what's been happening to thousands of people simply because the length of the yellow light was purposefully shortened! Terrible, isn't it? 
posted by
JimmyA
on August 8, 2012 at 6:41 AM
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We have those cameras installed at the traffic lights where we live and I can tell you that I have driven past those yellow lights, got myself in between yellow and red and shot off and still not given a ticket, not even in the mail. !! So now this write has me thinking - how come??
I hope they are not trying to surprise me with an accumulated undisclosed amount in summons!! - Gosh!But you are right, it does come in handy when you least expect it and welcome to my blog.
posted by
shobana
on August 7, 2012 at 11:38 PM
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I have suspected the same thing here; I was sure it turned red sooner than usual and I believe I had a wronful ticket to pay too. Glad to hear I was right, thanks for the info. It is better to get a ticket than be rearended, but this should not be legal to set these traps.
posted by
mariss9
on August 7, 2012 at 7:02 PM
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Re:
I hate to say it, TAPS, but that doesn't surprise me! No matter what anybody tries to prove or disprove, the courts will always uphold the "video," and you'll still have to pay. It's a shame, isn't it? You're lucky in that they finally removed those cameras!
posted by
JimmyA
on August 7, 2012 at 2:26 PM
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This is a very interesting post. My Sis got one of those tickets in the mail and was pretty put out about it. In fact so many people were mad about getting tickets for that one intersection that the camera there was removed. Sis still had to pay the ticket though.
posted by
TAPS.
on August 7, 2012 at 12:14 PM
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Re: JimmyA
What . . . were you here on a horse & buggy? If that was the case, it would have been interesting to see you attempt to beat those short yellow lights, cracking that whip and shouting "C'mon, Bessy!"! LOL 
posted by
JimmyA
on August 7, 2012 at 8:18 AM
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JimmyA
Oh I've been ti Jersey a few times and never got caught-uh-before the cameras. Actually before cameras were invented. LOL
posted by
WileyJohn
on August 7, 2012 at 6:54 AM
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Re:
I never thought of that, C C T! And I'm sure there were problems for the gentleman who had to stand there holding that Stop & Go sign too! Perhaps some of the drivers may have disliked him as well! So, personalities would have determined whether or not you received a ticket, and whether or not certain police officers would get run over!
posted by
JimmyA
on August 6, 2012 at 1:32 PM
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Re:
No, FSI, I wasn't overly surprised either! But what is surprising to me at this juncture is that those same "powers-that-be" haven't gone after Assemblyman O'Scanlon yet to shut him down! Exposing these little "governmental idiosyncrasies" is usually grounds for some type of retribution! We'll see how it all plays out over the coming weeks!
posted by
JimmyA
on August 6, 2012 at 1:27 PM
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Re:
See, luster? Because the system isn't "fool-proof," it almost seems a waste of time to place those cameras there! But like I wrote, it has made a difference when a certain accident or traffic stop needs that video proof as to what exactly happened. In that respect I don't mind them. But to shorten the yellow lights to catch people entering the intersection on the red just to write those extra tickets is deplorable! Good for you for choosing not to "rat out" your SIL!
posted by
JimmyA
on August 6, 2012 at 1:21 PM
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Well it puts the frighteners on me, the only chance I take is going through yellow and clipping red. I prefer the old way of man, in front turning a stop and go notice.That had its problems if the man did not like you.
posted by
C_C_T
on August 6, 2012 at 11:46 AM
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That's how I feel about cameras that witness things as well. I also think of Big Brother as being more in the private realm...I can't say that I am surprised that the powers that be shortened the yellow light.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on August 6, 2012 at 9:19 AM
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I see crimes being commited on the news as the camera watches, why would anyone commit a crime at certain places. Those cameras on stop lights in some areas have been stoped. Some parts of LA they shut then down. My SIL was driving my car and had gone through a light, they went after me and I kept telling them it wasnt me, but wouldnt tell them who it was. Shortly after that they didnt do anything about those tickets
posted by
Lanetay
on August 6, 2012 at 9:06 AM
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Re: JimmyA
So, Wiley, it's not just us! Sometimes it's hard for people to believe that certain government agencies would purposefully manipulate or doctor something just for the sake of cashing in on various unsuspecting citizens who thought they were following the "rules." If you've avoided Ottawa all this time because you're an admitted "yellow light runner," then I would suggest never planning a trip down here to Jersey! By the time you got home, those "red light" tickets piled in your mailbox would end up costing you more than the trip itself!
posted by
JimmyA
on August 6, 2012 at 8:12 AM
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Re: Greed Greed Greed and the more difficult it becomes to balance the book
Yes, Kabu, greed certainly does play a big role in such endeavors from our various government agencies. In my experiences, I never take a chance on any yellow light, and will always stop regardless. But while I'm slowing down to stop, I always keep a sharp eye out for the person behind me. Many will think that we both would have made that yellow light, and may actually speed up to get through the intersection. It's a dangerous cat & mouse game I know, but I'd rather tick off the driver behind me and wait another minute or two at a red light, than take a chance of running that "short" yellow, and getting a ticket in the mail!
posted by
JimmyA
on August 6, 2012 at 8:03 AM
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Re:
Well, adnohr, things may be somewhat different in Canada, but unfortunately down here in the states, such unscrupulous behavior from various government offices is not uncommon! Believe it or not, the red-light cameras were never in place to prevent accidents . . . just to record them, and the occasional red-light runners. It was hoped that, if people knew of the camera's existence at certain intersections, they would be less-inclined to chance that "short yellow" and stop well before the lights turned red. We have a thing down here called "speed traps" that are also fairly common. You're traveling down a road with a posted speed limit of 40 mph. The road curves, and suddenly you're facing a sign that reads 25 mph. Short of slamming on the brakes, by the time you slow down to the new speed limit, the police officer parked just beyond that speed limit sign is already preparing to pull you over for doing 35 in a 25! And yes, it's all done just to fill the coffers of many a tiny town, and admittedly so! Is there any way for John & Jane Q. Public to fight these things? Not in this lifetime!
posted by
JimmyA
on August 6, 2012 at 7:58 AM
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JimmyA
A very touchy subject here in Ontario. We once had a Premier, Bob Rae, who ruined his reputation as being a human being with a brain by installing those cameras everywhere, on provincial highways. Well, they made millions before the government was taken down and a new Premier installed.
Now the city of Ottawa has them for light crashers just like New Jersey does, so we don't go to Ottawa a lot because I'm a yellow light runner and have been for 60 years. LOL Great post and truly throws a light on the entire matter. LOL
posted by
WileyJohn
on August 6, 2012 at 6:44 AM
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Greed Greed Greed and the more difficult it becomes to balance the books
that these law enforces are probably skimming cream from in some way, the more they will cheat.
I agree with you that if a person isn't breaking any laws, camera's and other intrusions shouldn't concern them ...except that where does Big Brother Stop!as you have shown and this is just one area.
posted by
Kabu
on August 5, 2012 at 10:39 AM
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Maybe the citizens should force the proven crooked administration to put things back as they were. Accordingly to what you have written, accidents were less frequent before the cameras, and the whole idea is to prevent accidents, isn't it? No-one will ever believe it is just to fill to coffers with more $$ from fines!
posted by
adnohr
on August 5, 2012 at 10:15 AM
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