A Cop Tells Me . . .

[PKRWUD]

Jim-
I share your (and others) concerns. I too see the red light cameras as a potential doorway to more serious intrusions upon our freedoms. But right now, the way it's working here, the pros outweigh the cons, IMO. The cameras are still photograph cameras, not video cameras, and they only are activated when a vehicle enters the intersection after the light has turned red. If no one runs a red light, the camera isn't used. Ventura is going out of it's way to do this legally and fairly, thanks in part to the ordeal San Diego just finished going through, in which they were taken to court, and ordered to remove their cameras. This is walking the fine line in my mind, between being a good thing and being a bad thing. I have listened to and read arguements almost daily since the project began 18 months ago, and I'm still in favor of them. There is a very vocal opposition to them here, and if they do end up crossing the line into an invasion of privacy, the public would probably not have much trouble shutting them down. Hopefully it won't get to that point.

Take care,
-Chris