traffic cameras as enforcement

[javasaurus]

News item on WTOP today:

Apparently a lot of people are upset about red-light and speeding cameras. Personally, I don't see the problem -- don't run red lights, and don't speed, and you don't get fined. But people are making the claim that the cameras are overly invasive, somehow invading privacy. What privacy? You're on a public road, in a situation where if a cop was there, he wouldn't be invading your privacy by pulling you over, right? So why is the camera more invasive than a cop?

What really got me was the woman they interviewed who said (I paraphrase): There are some laws where if they don't catch you, it shouldn't be illegal.
Well, lady, you were caught.

Sigh...

I know there are issues regarding who gets the money from the fines, and some other issues regarding administration of the cameras. But I just don't get why people feel they have the right to break certain laws.

Comments

Re:

[faireraven.livejournal.com]

Well, the point is not whether or not your spouse would fess up, but the fact that you are being forced to either take the lumps yourself, or to rat out your spouse. The burden of proof lies on you to prove you DIDN'T do it, instead of the burden of proof lying on the prosecuters to prove you DID.

Kind of runs the exact opposite of what a court of law is supposed to do. Innocent until proven guilty. Until someone can prove you were the person driving the car, you shouldn't be automatically declared guilty unless you can get someone else to fess up. In any other form of a court of law, it's up to the prosecutor to prove that you are guilty without a shadow of a doubt, and if they can't be 100% sure, there's a likely hood it could be thrown out or you are found not guilty. In traffic court, it seems to be up to the defense to prove that they didn't do it, rather than having the prosecutor prove that they did.

That's my biggest problem with redlight cameras. but that's me.

As to cameras, both cameras and pictures can be doctored. Not that I'm accusing the legal system of attempting to doctor pix, but a picture combined with eyewitness statement is always more believable than just a picture.