- November 18, 2024
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Big Brother can help solve crimes
Dear Editor:
Well, here it is again: “Red light rollback?” above the fold.
I personally don't like Big Brother watching me everywhere, but think of the crimes that are solved by the cameras being everywhere.
I personally don't like the license camera that takes a pic of every car from north Interstate 95, entering Palm Coast.
But there are some pretty scary people that come down to Florida every day for "easy pickings.” And if this license plate camera can stop a crime or solve an abduction, so be it.
Now, the traffic cameras’ funding is really questionable, I agree, but I for one, don't run red lights — never have, except by accident. The biggest fault I can see is that the caution light needs to be just a tad longer (without advertising it to the public). That way we may not have all those rear-end accidents that I watch for in my mirror when I stop for a caution light!
The fees should be dissected and directed to the city and, of course, maintenance, rental, etc., but don't send it somewhere else. Any “profit” should remain in Flagler County (like parking ticket citations).
Oh yeah, a 12-15 mph "prudent roll-through a red light" is stupid. Right on red means the brakes should be applied, car stops, and the gears should change — before you slide through that red light!
Carol Propper
Palm Coast
Where are our state officials to help?
Dear Editor:
With regard to the May 8 article, "Red light rollback?":
When the state of Florida created ambiguous laws about right-turn-on-red procedures and took away from our fair city this important red light camera revenue, where were the men we elected to speak on our behalf in Tallahassee — Travis Hutson and John Thrasher? Don't we send them to the capital to speak on our behalf?
Merrill Shapiro
Palm Coast
Red light cameras are the best protection
Dear Editor:
I’m lucky I didn’t break an important bone falling out of my chair laughing at this front-page article. The last paragraph appearing on the front page quotes Jim Landon as saying: “Although the cameras do impact safety, the program has grown far beyond what the city intended when it implemented it” — and if you stop right there, you’d have to agree with me that the city believes there reaches a point where there’s too much safety to be worth it.
Of course, if you follow the comma onto Page 4 of the continuing article, it’s obvious it’s all about the state getting their sticky fingers into the pot by making this a Uniform Traffic Citation and, thus, upping the ante.
As Deep Throat said years ago, “Follow the money.” I guess what that says to me is that incorporated cities are powerless against state government.
In any case, I can’t conceive of a more egalitarian method for prosecution of traffic infractions than the red light cameras. I mean, the only people being fined are the ones who committed the crime; there’s pictorial evidence. Unlike, in the case of a burglary, whereas you’re responsible for your homeowners deductible, the perpetrator is responsible for nothing, and if he is caught you’re responsible for the taxes that keep him in prison.
Looking at it in that perspective, it seems idiotic to me that citizens would want to go back to intersections being “policed” by actual officers who have to waste their time sitting at an intersection waiting for an infraction to occur, and then, when it does, having the ability to “use their discretion” — whatever that means.
I’d like to applaud Councilman Bill McGuire for his stand on this issue.
Shirley Carter
Palm Coast
Red light cameras rob us of our judgment
Dear Editor:
I have been driving for 50 years, never had an accident in all that time, and now, suddenly, when I approach a yellow light, because of the red light cameras and their timing, I don't know whether to hit the gas or the brakes.
This robs me of the use of my judgment. Driver confusion causes accidents.
Bill Campion
Palm Coast
