There’s been quite a bit of controversy in the DC area of red light cameras. You know, those automated monsters that take a picture of your license plate should you happen to run a stop light.
Some folks have argued that the city is simply using the cameras as a revenue source. And this is a bad thing why? Yes, yes, I know, the city’s police are supposed to ensure public safety. That might require them to get out of their cars, though, so don’t hold your breath for that one.
Some folks have argued that the red light cameras are a civil rights violation; that the photographing of someone without their permission is illegal. After days of listening to a myriad of stories about all the cameras and the stupendous monitoring center the Department of Homeland security (oh, come on! Do the Hitler Youth salute with me!) set up as a precaution for Dubya’s $40 million party but not one story about how those cameras have been removed and the monitoring center has been shut down this arguement seems pretty specious.
So citizens around the area have taken to purchasing license plate covers and sprays that try to defeat the red light cameras’ flash bulbs, obscuring the number so no ticket can be issued.
Why would you ever need one of these if you don’t run red lights?
Yesterday I sat in traffic behind a woman who had a piece of plastic that was so opaque over her back license plate I couldn’t read the numbers in broad daylight from four feet away.
Let’s not call it civil disobedience, people. It’s cheating. Don’t want to get photographed, don’t run red lights. It’s pretty simple.
Oh, yeah, and the last time I checked it cost $120 to run a red light in DC.
You’re spot on; it’s typically the grandest violators who do the bitchin’ and moanin’ about their civil rights. What about their “uncivil wrongs”; isn’t that what we’re really addressing? If everyone drove with concern and care for others, and didn’t willfully violate the ROTR (rules of the road), then we would all have little to fear. Under the misappropriation of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, we’ve given these miscreants something else to latch onto.