A growing number of communities in
St. Louis County have deployed speed-enforcement cameras. A letter from the St.
Louis County Department of Highways and Traffic, underscored the county’s
opposition to “the general use of photo enforced speed zones” on its roads. By
one count, as many as 10 local municipalities use speed cameras in one form or
another.
The county's position goes
something like this: St. Louis County-maintained roads run through communities
that have deployed the speed cameras. The county doesn't like them. But many of
the cameras are set up strategically so they are just outside the county's
right of way. Does this mean the County endorses speeding? After all, they only
catch people breaking the law.
An equally serious problem is the
speed limits are far too low on some high volume roads. One reader wrote he
recently received a ticket for doing 40 MPH on a 25 MPH road. He claimed he was
just moving with traffic and if he drove the posted limit, he would be holding
up traffic. He presented his case in court and the city attorney had the violation
thrown out. Many of the 25 MPH speed
limits were set 50 years ago. The fine for the 40 MPH violation would have been
$140.
STL County made it clear that there
will be no “photo enforcement” warning signs allowed within the right of
way.
The county asked that the city of
Pine Lawn "refrain from further deployment" of speed
cameras on Jennings Station Road. Ditto for the village of Hillsdale, which
maintains a speed camera on Kienlen Avenue.
In the meantime, expect to see more
of the cameras pop up. Just another reason to observe the posted speed limit as
a general rule. Good idea. We don't need more speeders.
I think the best story would be to investigate the company selling the cameras, and see who takes home the most cash after the "locals" and the company split the revenue. Where do you think local gov'ts got the idea to position the cameras "nearby , yet off the right-of-way" from? Because the company selling the equipment needs the cash flow too. No lesson in driving is learned here since the fines come without an actual officer explaining what you did wrong. Yet, the local speed traps just got more efficient in collecting fines. Almost fool proof isn't it?
ReplyDeleteDo you mean to say that you don't already know that it's wrong to speed or run red lights? You can choose to go to court and let the judge explain it to you. Besides, citations always tell you what they were issued for.
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