The good news applies to all of you. The bad news is bad only to me.
The good: After this Thursday, the Arizona DPS's 76 photo radar cameras will be shut down. After years of denial that it was a way to squeeze drivers out of their hard-earned money, it's being shut down because it wasn't the revenue-generator it was expected to be.
That means that 55 mph I-17 (no, that's not a typo: 55!) will no longer be as bad a speed trap. And it also means that there'll be less risk of rear-ending or being rear-ended while avoiding idiots who hit the brakes and slow to below the speed limit.
County and municipal photo radar and cameras, including the infamous Show Low and Tempe cameras, will remain in service.
The bad: For the second time, Maricopa County served a photo ticket on me. I'm out another $240. For a long time, Maricopa did not send process servers to Pima. Even now, it's rare. I suspect that I was deliberately targeted, but it could be a statistical fluctuation.
Don't make nonselective enforcement of speed limits and traffic signals--especially of the I-17 speed trap--pay: never respond to a mailed complaint. Make counties properly serve you your citation. This is done less than 1/4 of the time. Chances are high that you will simply not have to pay your fine.
Showing posts with label photo radar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photo radar. Show all posts
Monday, July 12, 2010
Monday, November 30, 2009
Driving through "Photo Enforcement Zones": a guide for the perplexed.
This post is dedicated to motorists on the stretch of I-10 from the Maricopa County line to Tolleson city limits:
When approaching one of Maricopa County's fixed photo radar installations, you will be warned by at least two signs, one designating the "Photo Enforcement Zone" and another stating that the cameras are located 300 feet ahead. On seeing these signs:
Do not:
And if you are going to do any of the above, please get out of the left hand lane. You cause other drivers to have to apply the brakes, which wastes fuel and could cause an accident.
Drive safely and defensively, and never at a speed too fast for conditions.
When approaching one of Maricopa County's fixed photo radar installations, you will be warned by at least two signs, one designating the "Photo Enforcement Zone" and another stating that the cameras are located 300 feet ahead. On seeing these signs:
- If you live more than one county away, do nothing, but remain alert, as some drivers will stomp on the brake. Maricopa County is not serving tickets to Pima County or elsewhere in person, and Arizona law does not consider mail delivery proper services. After 180 days, the county's claim is no good.
- If you have a plate cover lens obscuring wide-angle view of your license plate, do nothing.
- If you live in Maricopa County or an immediately adjacent county and do not have a plate cover, check your speedometer. If you are not driving eleven or more miles per hour over the speed limit, do nothing.
- If you are driving eleven or more miles per hour over the speed limit, gently reduce your speed to "ten over". If possible, do this without applying the brakes.
- Continue to drive "ten over" or at your previous speed if less than ten over until you have passed the cameras.
- Increase your speed to what is appropriate for conditions, if applicable.
Do not:
- Abruptly brake at the first sign.
- Slow to the speed limit if the prevailing safe speed is greater than the speed limit.
- Slow to below the speed limit, "just in case".
And if you are going to do any of the above, please get out of the left hand lane. You cause other drivers to have to apply the brakes, which wastes fuel and could cause an accident.
Drive safely and defensively, and never at a speed too fast for conditions.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Yes, it's legal to beat photo radar!
As reported in Wednesday's Daily Star, the Senate Transportation Committee refused to approve a measure to ban license plate covers.
That means, that products such as the PhotoShield and Reflector covers will remain legal in Arizona, at least under state law.
Such a ban was not likely to affect spray-on products like PhotoBlocker, which do not in any way obscure the letters or numbers on a plate.
Yes, those are affiliate links. If you want to promote PhantomPlate's products on your website, you need only sign up at their website for their affiliate program. If you own an auto parts or simiar store, they are also looking for dealers.
That means, that products such as the PhotoShield and Reflector covers will remain legal in Arizona, at least under state law.
Such a ban was not likely to affect spray-on products like PhotoBlocker, which do not in any way obscure the letters or numbers on a plate.
Yes, those are affiliate links. If you want to promote PhantomPlate's products on your website, you need only sign up at their website for their affiliate program. If you own an auto parts or simiar store, they are also looking for dealers.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Tucson City Council asks for the monkeywrench
Speed limits are the sort of law we only tolerate due to discretionary enforcement. Without enough police to catch every violator, the police--unless it's time to fill quotas--tend to go after more dangerous--and more profitable--offenders and let those of us going eight over on Speedway at eleven at night slide.
Tucson's City Council voted 7-0 tonight to undermine our grudging respect of traffic laws by installing red-light cameras and photo radar systems at intersections and purchase and staff a roving photo radar van at a cost of roughly $100,000/year. Although the threshhold speeds will be set--initially--to a tolerable eleven over, mechanistic enforcement does away with the illusion that speed and red-light enforcement are done primarily to protect the public safety.
Photo radar and red-light cameras are intended to be revenue generators, a way for the city to better fund its bloated budget without raising taxes. As such, as was noted by (outgoing Pima County LP vice-chairman) Rich McKnight, the only credible person who bothered to show up to tonight's meeting to speak against the program, they're a waste of the taxpayers' money.
It doesn't take much to monkeywrench a photo-radar system. Mail isn't proper service for a citation; ignoring a mailed ticket is probably the best response, as the city has 180 days after the supposed infraction to properly serve the ticket, which may be more expensive than it's worth. Distorting or reflective plate covers or highly reflective license plate spray may thwart the photo system.
And, of course, it's not unlikely that some local character will have one beer too many and use the cameras for pellet-gun practice. Moreover, a photo-radar van sounds like a blank canvas for a street art project, allowing the speedily creative to put three-foot, chartreuse smiley-face stickers or Mystery Machine style decorations all over it while its crew waits for Sanjay to stick the dozenth doughnut in the box. Not that I'd advocate anything illegal on this blog, of course. Hyperactive imaginations aren't banned, yet.
The best case for us is a victory for David Cain and removal of Tucson's system before it's even fully implemented. Otherwise a long fight to make this as fiscally and politically unprofitable as possible is ahead. Until then, if Maricopa County's experiences are representative, expect tens of hours--and thousands of dollars--of hassles.
The Pima County Libertarian Party hasn't found anyone to challenge City Council incumbents this year. Takers?
Tucson's City Council voted 7-0 tonight to undermine our grudging respect of traffic laws by installing red-light cameras and photo radar systems at intersections and purchase and staff a roving photo radar van at a cost of roughly $100,000/year. Although the threshhold speeds will be set--initially--to a tolerable eleven over, mechanistic enforcement does away with the illusion that speed and red-light enforcement are done primarily to protect the public safety.
Photo radar and red-light cameras are intended to be revenue generators, a way for the city to better fund its bloated budget without raising taxes. As such, as was noted by (outgoing Pima County LP vice-chairman) Rich McKnight, the only credible person who bothered to show up to tonight's meeting to speak against the program, they're a waste of the taxpayers' money.
It doesn't take much to monkeywrench a photo-radar system. Mail isn't proper service for a citation; ignoring a mailed ticket is probably the best response, as the city has 180 days after the supposed infraction to properly serve the ticket, which may be more expensive than it's worth. Distorting or reflective plate covers or highly reflective license plate spray may thwart the photo system.
And, of course, it's not unlikely that some local character will have one beer too many and use the cameras for pellet-gun practice. Moreover, a photo-radar van sounds like a blank canvas for a street art project, allowing the speedily creative to put three-foot, chartreuse smiley-face stickers or Mystery Machine style decorations all over it while its crew waits for Sanjay to stick the dozenth doughnut in the box. Not that I'd advocate anything illegal on this blog, of course. Hyperactive imaginations aren't banned, yet.
The best case for us is a victory for David Cain and removal of Tucson's system before it's even fully implemented. Otherwise a long fight to make this as fiscally and politically unprofitable as possible is ahead. Until then, if Maricopa County's experiences are representative, expect tens of hours--and thousands of dollars--of hassles.
The Pima County Libertarian Party hasn't found anyone to challenge City Council incumbents this year. Takers?
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