One more thing about red light cameras

Apparently, someone at City Hall saw the recent imbroglio about the red light cameras and decided to speak up. Those red light cameras are saving us from ourselves.

The statistics about tickets issued and accidents reduced aren't the most interesting part of the story. That's buried at the bottom, where city staff told the council that expenses for the program are bigger than revenues. I realize that no one on the council pays any attention during these briefings (and certainly no one in the media), so I'll quote from a story earlier this year: "But had the council delayed the vote two weeks, council members would have been forced to plug a $140,000 hole in the Dallas’ 2007-2008, since revenue from the 40 new red light cameras is included in City Manager Mary Suhm’s budget proposal."

If the cameras aren't generating enough revenue, we're going to have budget problems later this year. What will have to be cut to pay for the red light cameras? This is smoke and mirrors, not sound public policy.

I've taken a fair amount of grief for this, but I'll say it again: If we want red light cameras to make the roads safer, then let's install red light cameras for that purpose. That's a terrific idea, and I'm all for it. But if we want to balance the budget, then let's cut programs or raise taxes. Doing stuff like this might fool the council in the short term, but it's no long-term solution to the city's annual budget dilemma.

Comments

[Quentin Mendoza]

It's ironic isn't it? If the cameras fulfill the purpose for which they're intended, fewer drivers will run red lights and fewer tickets will be issued. Q.E.D. the amount of revenue from fines will decrease. I wonder if this has influenced how the cameras are deployed, a few at a time rather than all at once.

Furthermore, if the statistics are to be believed, I think it's great that cameras are helping to decrease the number of accidents. On the other hand, how selfish is our society that it takes the threat of a ticket to make us think twice about beating a red light? No, we're not worried about hurting someone or destroying their property -- that's why we pay insurance right? But when we might have to fork over $75 out of pocket, well, we better slow down then.