|
|
|
|
filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
 Posted - 07/15/2009 : 03:20:21
|
More and more, we are under police observation when driving our vehicles. Speed and stoplight cameras proliferate, especially in Washington, DC where they are lagoon. Now, it seems, that there is a defense against this method of fund-raising in the name of public safety. Police chief denounces 'cowardly' iPhone users monitoring speed traps
By: Hayley Peterson
Examiner Staff
July 7, 2009
Area drivers looking to outwit police speed traps and traffic cameras are using an iPhone application and other global positioning system devices that pinpoint the location of the cameras.
That has irked D.C. police chief Cathy Lanier, who promised her officers would pick up their game to counteract the devices, which can also help drivers dodge sobriety checkpoints.
"I think that's the whole point of this program," she told The Examiner. "It's designed to circumvent law enforcement -- law enforcement that is designed specifically to save lives."
The new technology streams to i-Phones and global positioning system devices, sounding off an alarm as drivers approach speed or red-light cameras.
Lanier said the technology is a "cowardly tactic" and "people who overly rely on those and break the law anyway are going to get caught" in one way or another.
The greater D.C. area has 290 red-light and speed cameras -- comprising nearly 10 percent of all traffic cameras in the U.S., according to estimates by a camera-tracking database called the POI Factory.
|
Tough titty, toots, this ain't England yet. And you said it yourself: She said, "with the Internet and all the new technology, it's almost impossible to stop the flow of information."
|
And that is as it should be, indeed, must be.
|
"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
|
|
|
HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2009 : 03:35:35 [Permalink]
|
Google Earth can also be set up to show intersections where cameras are installed.
This is pretty much the same issue as cops hiding their patrol cars behind billboards. The problem in both instances is that the real first priority should be the prevention of the violations in the first place. In my opinion, hidden cameras or concealed squad cars don't help this as much as those that are visible.
The driving force for cameras, which I do not object to, should be prevention, not revenue enhancement. They need to be not only visible, but signage should boldly proclaim their presence. A scofflaw driver who knows where the robotic speed traps are will at least be slowing down in those, often critical, zones.
|
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
 |
|
|
Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2009 : 05:44:50 [Permalink]
|
We've used GPS point-of-interest applications for Speed Camera warnings for several years in Sweden.
The police are even posting notes in local papers which roads will be subject to extra surveillance, speed or otherwise. |
Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
|
|
|
Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
 Posted - 07/15/2009 : 05:48:26 [Permalink]
|
Originally posted by HalfMooner
The driving force for cameras, which I do not object to, should be prevention, not revenue enhancement. They need to be not only visible, but signage should boldly proclaim their presence. A scofflaw driver who knows where the robotic speed traps are will at least be slowing down in those, often critical, zones.
|
We have it that way in Sweden. There never are speed cameras without first giving warning signs about them. Like "Speed cameras 0-1.5km". They are more descreet than ordinary warning signs, but they are there. Still, people get caught speeding. 
Edited to add: Those cameras aren't hidden either, but plainly visible.
|
Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
| Edited by - Dr. Mabuse on 07/15/2009 05:49:22 |
|
|
|
Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2009 : 05:51:44 [Permalink]
|
The ultimate sollution to speeding with the new radar control:
 |
Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
|
|
|
Hawks
SFN Regular
Canada
1383 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2009 : 07:41:23 [Permalink]
|
| What's wrong with sticking to the speed limit? |
METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL
It's a small, off-duty czechoslovakian traffic warden! |
|
|
|
BigPapaSmurf
SFN Die Hard
3192 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2009 : 07:45:06 [Permalink]
|
Speed limits are downright unamerican and therefor the rest of the world should feel that way too.
P.S. Hawks did you feel that quake(that no one predicted) or was it too far... |
"...things I have neither seen nor experienced nor heard tell of from anybody else; things, what is more, that do not in fact exist and could not ever exist at all. So my readers must not believe a word I say." -Lucian on his book True History
"...They accept such things on faith alone, without any evidence. So if a fraudulent and cunning person who knows how to take advantage of a situation comes among them, he can make himself rich in a short time." -Lucian critical of early Christians c.166 AD From his book, De Morte Peregrini |
|
|
|
pleco
SFN Addict
USA
2998 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2009 : 07:49:26 [Permalink]
|
If they were really concerned about saftety, then require the car manufactures to install a device in the car that can sense what the speed limit is and govern the engine not to go over it.
But I think their concern is focused elsewhere... |
by Filthy
The neo-con methane machine will soon be running at full fart. |
|
|
|
|
Simon
SFN Regular
USA
1992 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2009 : 07:53:45 [Permalink]
|
| I think the focus of the patrols has a natural tendency to shift from prevention to revenue enhancement. |
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
Carl Sagan - 1996 |
|
|
|
Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2009 : 08:15:27 [Permalink]
|
Originally posted by pleco
If they were really concerned about saftety, then require the car manufactures to install a device in the car that can sense what the speed limit is and govern the engine not to go over it. |
If they were really concerned about safety, then they'd mandate that steering-wheel airbags be replaced with large steel spikes, pointing directly at the driver's heart. Nobody would go over 10 MPH. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
|
|
|
Hawks
SFN Regular
Canada
1383 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2009 : 08:38:22 [Permalink]
|
Originally posted by BigPapaSmurf
P.S. Hawks did you feel that quake(that no one predicted) or was it too far...
|
I live in Canada now, so it would have been too far away. I should, perhaps, update my profile...
P.S. I assume that the quake was in NZ. I haven't read anything about it. |
METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL
It's a small, off-duty czechoslovakian traffic warden! |
|
|
|
moakley
SFN Regular
USA
1888 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2009 : 09:10:46 [Permalink]
|
Originally posted by HalfMooner
In my opinion, hidden cameras or concealed squad cars don't help this as much as those that are visible.
|
On my drive home there is a section of interstate where the speed limit drops from 70 to 60. Within a couple of miles you can pretty much gaurrantee that there will be someone there waiting. Last night was a little different a police car with low profile lights and office standing just in front of the car were plainly visible on the side of the road. That stretch of road I am normally driving about 66-67 mph. AS I got closer I could see the officer getting back in his car and thought "Oh  !". But just then another car passes me.
The officer was plainly visible last night if you were paying attention. |
Life is good
Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned. -Anonymous |
|
|
|
astropin
SFN Regular
USA
970 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2009 : 09:14:50 [Permalink]
|
Back in the day they had a slogan "Drive 55 and bring them home alive". I had my own version, "Dive 75 and bring them home alive SOONER". I hate speed cameras....there is something fundamentally wrong with them. I don't think it's about safety at all....it's all about the money.
I did a report on traffic safety some years ago....they safest speed you could drive was 10mph OVER THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. Not the speed limit and not 10 over the speed limit but over the flow. You were 5X more likely to be involved in a fatal accident if you were moving 10mph below the flow of traffic. Of course that was on the highways....surface streets might be another story. |
I would rather face a cold reality than delude myself with comforting fantasies.
You are free to believe what you want to believe and I am free to ridicule you for it.
Atheism:
The result of an unbiased and rational search for the truth.
Infinitus est numerus stultorum |
|
|
|
moakley
SFN Regular
USA
1888 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2009 : 13:36:23 [Permalink]
|
| According to the Speed Forum Presentations West and Dunn Speed Curve the safest speed to travel is within 2 deviations of the mean speed. While in Kloden's work fatal injuries increase exponentially with speed. So in driving since there is nothing to win, but a lot to lose I believe I'll just blend in. Of course no longer being invincible changed my driving habits more. |
Life is good
Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned. -Anonymous |
|
|
|
 |
|
Beating the rap
