Cameras not needed if we obey rules

March 7, 2005

Apparently there's no stopping the drive to put cameras at traffic lights. After a measure failed to find support in the Senate Transportation Committee that would allow what many in law enforcement see simply as another tool for safer roads, the committee has approved a similar measure, with a few touch-ups.

Amid concerns that small towns would use the cameras as "revenue generators" the committee proposal limits use to cities of 20,000 or more. Included are provisions that violations, which carry a $100 fine, can't be used against the motorist or affect one's driving record or insurance coverage.

We don't disagree that motorists who don't obey the traffic rules and signals are a hazard in our state. And we'd be thrilled if those people who see the yellow light as a sign they are supposed to speed up to make it through would realize it's a caution light - prepare to stop. No, we won't argue that better policing at intersections is a good move.

Yet even disregarding the insult to small town police departments, we're not sure cameras are the solution to motorists who apparently believe the rules are for everybody else. The cameras may indeed be a deterrent, but from what we've observed, unless there is an officer on the scene to write a ticket, many motorists simply don't care that they are putting lives in danger.

While it's true that our photographs are taken at many sites, including ATMs, convenience stores and the like, one downside to the intersection camera idea is that the camera doesn't always clearly picture the driver and the registered owner may not have been driving at the time.

According to published reports, police would look at the tapes and spotting a violation, would write a ticket for the vehicle's registered owner. The burden of proof that they were not driving, if that is the case, rests on the registered owner. That's not quite in line with the "innocent-until-proven-guilty" practice that has been around for a pretty good while, if memory serves, and upon which our justice system is based.

Then there is the time that would be spent on viewing the tapes. Some might say that time would be better spent on patrol.

Of course, not even thousands of officers nor constant vigilance on the part of all drivers can prevent every crash or a fatality that might result. Officers do a commendable job, and we appreciate their efforts, sometimes putting themselves in danger for our protection, but they can't be everywhere at once.

It's up to each of us to police ourselves and do the simplest thing of all: Obey the law. It's not that hard. Why do some of us have such a difficult time doing it?

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