Red Light Cameras

Gwinnett County, Georgia - 20 May 2009

Recently, red light cameras were in the news again.

King Rushnell, a driver caught by the red light camera at the intersection of Indian Trail and Lawrenceville Highway (U.S. 29/S.R.8) in Lilburn, took his ticket to court. The reason being is that he stated that the sun distorted the picture, making the color of the light impossible to see. Lilburn Municipal Court Judge Charles Barrett III agreed with him, and dismissed the ticket. This comes on the cusp of some cities, mostly in Gwinnett County, getting rid of these devices. Among those municipalities are Suwanee and Norcross. The operational costs are too high, because there aren't as many red light camera photos being taken.

So, when it comes down to it, red light cameras weren't really about safety -- they were about generating revenue. Side-end collisions may've been decreased because of the implementation of the cameras; however, rear-end collisions were increased, because people would slam on their brakes, so as not to get a ticket. In my opinion, a rear-end collision can be just as bad or worse than a side-end collision. The reason that I say that is because if a larger vehicle contacts a smaller vehicle from behind, they could crush that car, possibly pushing that smaller vehicle into the intersection, where that car could be T-boned.

Red Light Cameras Gone?
(courtesy of scanaugusta.net)