Below is a commentary submitted to the Orlando Sentinel regarding a recent front page article ( Feb. 21, 2007) where Orange County Commissioner Linda Stewart was planning to implement a red light camera system without apparent research on unexpected consequences.
Regarding your big article on Red-Light Cameras - It was not fully researched - accidents will increase as well as lawsuits
CaliforniaOrange County Commissioner Linda Stewart and the Sentinel have acted emotionally on the proposed implementation of red-light cameras and clearly have NOT adequately researched the actual experience of other states with red-light cameras. My knowledge from California newspaper articles is that accidents will go UP, as well as LAWSUITS against the County for implementing the cameras.
I moved here from California last year to escape dumb, politically correct politicians who make unsubstantiated decisions. In Orange County, California (home of the original Disneyland!) they experimented with red-light cameras and found that accident counts actually went UP because people would start running a yellow light, then look up, see the cameras that generated high fines, and slammed on the brakes to prevent getting fined. Then the guy behind them crashed into them and caused accidents. Stewart and the Commission indicate a continuous bad trend among Florida government officials where they emotionally make a decision from facts provided by equipment suppliers without researching the experience of other agencies with the equipment. The Commissioners and the Sentinel should research articles written by the Orange County, CA newspaper, the Orange County Register. It is
a Libertarian newspaper, so they research government program costs and boondoggles more in depth than most newspapers.
Your article does say that “research shows the number of rear end crashes may increase…” but you don’t give any statistics or the source of the “research”. The few “facts” in the article
quote experience with camera statistics where no fines are incurred. Once fines are incurred, behavior changes among drivers and crash counts go up according to the articles I read 2-3 years ago in California.
Secondly, the County should NOT be looking as a law enforcement problem as a reason to raise income. Then there is never an incentive to actually fix the problem. I have seen cases where cities establish parking fines while refusing to put more than one sign per block so they can continue to collect fines because many people don’t see the ONE no parking sign on the block.
The Sentinel should not let these politicians emotionally implement costly programs without professional, objective research into the success or failure of similar programs elsewhere.
And finally, oh, yes, no one mentioned all the lawsuits against the government for implementing a program where research already shows it increases those rear-end accidents. Those forecasted revenues from fines will disappear in about 30 minutes after
the attorneys get through with the County government. Everyone should research the case history of what happens with red-light camera caused lawsuits. Then they might also be sued for not providing warnings in 13 (or more) foreign languages about the ines.
Ms. Stewart should fully research the experience of other agencies using objective, professional advisors before pulling the trigger on costly government boondoggles. Otherwise, she should be voted out of office.
Vance Jochim
Lake County Fiscal Rangers
Tavares, FL