• News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
  • News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
Sign up Now (For Free)

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the latest automotive news in your inbox!

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!
News
Read Now
  • All News
  • Automakers
  • Automobiles
  • Auto Shows
  • Business
  • EVs & Environment
  • Guides
  • Lawsuits/Legal
  • Regulatory
  • Ride-Sharing
  • Safety & Recalls
  • Technology
Recent
  • The Rearview Mirror: A Sports Car from a Company You've Never Heard Of
  • Analysts Predict Declining Tesla Sales in Q3
  • Overlanding is the New Hotness
  • New Vehicle Sales Increase in September
  • Are EVs Affordable? Only if You’re a Luxury Buyer
  • Honda Takes Wraps Off New All-Electric Prologue
  • Mercedes to Offer True Self-Driving in Late 2023
  • Biden Meets UAW Picketers, Offers Support
  • Ford Halts $3.5B MI Battery Plant; Fain Slams Company
  • An Electric Acura NSX Could Be Coming
Editor’s Choice
    Reviews
    Read Now
    • All Reviews
      • Feeder
    • Classic Cars
    • Concept Cars
    • Convertibles
    • Coupes
    • Crossovers/CUVs
    • Diesel
    • Hot hatches
    • Hybrids
    • Luxury Vehicles
    • Minivans
    • Muscle Cars
    • Pickups
    • Sedans
    • Sports Cars
    • Super Cars
    • SUVs
    Recent Reviews
    • A Week With: 2024 Buick Encore GX Sport Touring AWD
    • A Week With: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 250+
    • A Week With: 2024 Mazda CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus
    • A Week With: 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV
    • A Week With: The 2024 BMW i7 xDrive60
    • A Week With: 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce AWD
    • A Week With: 2023 Toyota Camry XSE Hybrid
    • A Week With: 2024 Subaru Impreza RS
    • A Week With: 2023 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Desert Boss
    • First Drive: 2024 Polestar 2
    Editor’s Choice
      Guides
      Car Warranty
      • Endurance Warranty Reviews
      • BMW Extended Warranty
      • Extended Warranty For Cars Over 100k Miles
      • Extended Car Warranty Cost
      • Subaru Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Reviews
      • CarShield Cost
      • Aftermarket Car Warranty
      • CARCHEX Warranty Reviews
      • Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies
      • Used Car Warranty Companies
      • Best Car Warranty
      • Is CarShield A Scam?
      • Mercedes Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Plans
      Insurance
      • How To Identify A Car Insurance Company
      • Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • How Far Back Does A Car Insurance Company Look
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance For Used Cars
      • State Farm Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance From Progressive
      • Dollar A Day Insurance
      • Auto Insurance For SSI Recipients
      • Car Insurance Rates After A Suspended License
      • Auto Insurance For Salvage Vehicles
      • Average Cost of Dodge Ram 1500 Car Insurance
      • Car Insurance Florida
      • Full Coverage Auto Insurance
      • GrubHub Insurance
      • Amazon Delivery Auto Insurance
      Shipping
      • Car Shipping Companies
      • uShip Reviews
      • Auto Shipping From California To Hawaii
      • Montway Auto Transport Reviews
      • Cheap Car Shipping
      • Easy Auto Ship Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Miami
      • Auto Shipping To Alaska
      • Car Shipping Cost
      • Auto Shipping Hawaii
      • Auto Shipping Puerto Rico
      • Sherpa Auto Transport Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Atlanta
      • Auto Shipping Boston
      • Auto Shipping. Chicago
      About
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Sitemap
      TheDetroitBureau.com

      More than just “another” place to find news, reviews, spy shots, commentary, features, and guides about the auto industry. TheDetroitBureau doesn’t stop with the press releases or confuse a few lines of opinion with insightful, in-depth reporting.

      Contact Us

      Like what you see? Have some ideas for making The Detroit Bureau.com even better? Let us know, we’d love to hear your voice.

        Media
        Listen Now
        • Headlight News: All Episodes
        More from TheDetroitBureau
        • Guides
        • Latest News
        • Auto Reviews
        • Podcasts
        Headlight News

        TheDetroitBureau.com’s Headlight News offers a look at the past week’s top automotive news stories, as well as what’s coming up in the week ahead. Check out the week’s top story and our latest review…along with a dive into the past with this week in automotive history.

        home > news > Automobiles > Congressman Pushes Nationwide Traffic Camera Ban

        Congressman Pushes Nationwide Traffic Camera Ban

        U.S. lawmaker joins growing opposition; questions grow about both fairness and effectiveness.

        Paul A. Eisenstein
        Paul A. Eisenstein , Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
        Feb. 27, 2015
        Opposition to traffic cameras keeps growing.

        A U.S. Congressman has joined the growing chorus of opponents who want to see the end of automated cameras used to enforce traffic laws across the country.

        Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Colorado Democrat, has proposed a nationwide ban on the technology – which he contends is used primarily for generating revenue for cash-strapped communities. Congressman Perlmutter isn’t alone. Lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle have joined forces to call for a traffic camera ban in Tennessee, while a judge in Ft. Lauderdale this week ruled the technology violates Florida law.

        Auto Insight!

        But the bill proposed by the Colorado representative, the “Prohibit Automated Enforcement Act of 2015,” is the first attempt to block the use of cameras at a national level.

        “Automated traffic technology should be used for improving public-safety purposes rather than local governments relying on these devices to generate revenue,” Perlmutter said in a written statement.

        The measure would bar the use of both red light and speed enforcement cameras, except in school and construction zones.

        (Toyota putting its quirky, 3-wheeled i-Road into car-sharing programs in Japan and France. Click Here for more.)

        The technology has become increasingly controversial in recent years, even as the use of traffic cameras rapidly expanded. Proponents claim the devices can help expand the reach of local police departments, and improve road safety. They downplay the revenue aspect, though with many communities around the country struggling for cash, the ability to rapidly nab errant motorists at a single intersection can help prop up local budgets.

        Opponents have a long list of counter-arguments. They contend the use of traffic cameras does not give a motorist the right to face their accuser in court, for one thing. And there have been a number of incidents in which tickets have been tossed due to malfunctioning camera systems.

        But the results of several studies could further stir up the debate. An auditor examining the use of cameras in the Denver suburbs told state lawmakers that they “cannot demonstrate (the technology) has had a tangible impact on improving public safety. A University of Tennessee study came to a similar conclusion in 2013.

        Last month, researchers at Texas A&M delivered mix findings, noting that while there is evidence to suggest red light cameras have reduced the number of T-bone crashes at intersections, there’s also been an increase in rear-end crashes as motorists slam on the brakes rather than risk a ticket.

        Critics also point to the indictment federal officials won last August against an executive from Redflex Traffic Systems, one of the largest camera system provider, along with a former Chicago city hall official. They were charged with conspiring to rig the camera system to boost revenues for the city. According to the Chicago Tribune, the technology had, by then, raised more than $500 million in ticket revenue.

        (Lexus leads industry in vehicle reliability, but Buick closing the gap, says new study. Click Here for the latest.)

        The State of Arizona several years ago dropped a costly and controversial program using cameras from Redflex due to questions about their accuracy – and the fact that they brought in less revenue than expected softened support, as well. More than 60 California cities also have dropped the technology, including Los Angeles, San Diego and San Jose.

        As of October 2014, there were 140 speed camera programs in use in the U.S., according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That has dipped slightly, to 138. The IIHS says red-light camera programs have meanwhile fallen from 540 to 467 since October 2012.

        A number of other states and municipalities may soon abandon the technology. Colorado state lawmakers are taking up the topic. And, last December, Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed into law a bill requiring that, as of March 23, 2015, a police officer be stationed at all camera locations to witness a violation before a citation can be issued.

        The City of Toledo is planning to sue. But a federal ban, like the one U.S. Congressman Perlmutter is proposing, would make that case moot.

        (Click Here to find out why auto recalls are expected to remain high.)

        How to Care for Your Car

        Cheap Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice

        Best Extended Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice
        Recently Published

        The Rearview Mirror: A Sports Car from a Company You’ve Never Heard Of

        Yesterday

        Analysts Predict Declining Tesla Sales in Q3

        Sept. 29, 2023

        Overlanding is the New Hotness

        Sept. 29, 2023

        3 responses to “Congressman Pushes Nationwide Traffic Camera Ban”

        1. Jorge says:
          February 27, 2015 at 9:58 am

          IME in Germany, speed cameras are definitely being used by small local municipalities to generate revenues, not for safety purposes. I have even seen areas where the previous speed limit was lowered and speed cameras installed to reap revenues while actually snarling traffic as the 50 KMH limit use to be 70 KMH.

          I’m all for vehicular safety and my suggestion would be to force all drivers to actually learn how to drive properly and competently. That in itself would drastically reduce accidents and injuries.

          When we have professionally trained police officers that don’t know enough to slam on the brakes, turn off the ignition or shift the trans into neutral after they kick the floor mat under the accelerator pedal, resulting in death to three people… we have a serious problem in the U.S. with driver incompetence. A driver’s license is not a God given right and should only be issued to those with proper driving skills.

          I have also observed in many areas of the U.S. a complete disregard for speed limits. I’m not sure what has changed by I routinely see a lot of people driving 60-80 mph on 45-55 mph roads. There seems to actually be less police presence in many areas perhaps due to budget cuts? When I drive the speed limit and almost every single car passes me, you need to wonder what the rationale is.

          BTW, my speedometer has been confirmed accurate and it concurs with my portable NAV system, so it’s not like I am going less than the speed limit.

          Reply
        2. Jim says:
          February 27, 2015 at 2:09 pm

          People that would like to see these cameras banned are people who just don’t like to get caught breaking the law.

          Reply
          1. Jorge says:
            March 1, 2015 at 2:12 pm

            No actually your belief is not true.

            I do not speed but these cameras are clearly used for revenue purposes primarily and safety as a secondary claim. I hope everyone who speeds gets ticketed because they have no respect for the law and many who speed are dangerous drivers, IME.

            History has shown these cameras not only have reliability issues they also do not necessarily improve safety at all. Then when you find some of the camera companies are so unethical as to conspire with municipalities to rig the cameras to issue bogus tickets, you know there are serious ethical issues with this hardware.

            Reply

        Leave a Reply Cancel reply

        Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

        Share this article:
        © The Detroit Bureau 2023
        • Guides
        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms of Use
        • Affiliate Disclosure
        • Contact Us
        • Sitemap
        Follow Us: