New Jersey Lawmaker Proposes Statewide Red Light Camera Ban After Misuse Becomes Clear

A New Jersey state senator wants to re-institute his state's ban on the use of red light cameras. On Thursday, state Senator Michael J. Doherty (R-Washington Township) introduced legislation to that would force the eventual removal of the devices. Doherty also started an online petition to rally support his bill.

"Although red light cameras were sold to the public as a way to make dangerous intersections safer, it's become clear that municipalities are primarily interested in the revenues generated by the cameras through tickets and fines," Doherty said in his statement on the bill's introduction. "There is little if any evidence that the use of red light cameras in New Jersey has reduced the number or severity of accidents at the intersections where they are used. When combined with serious questions regarding personal privacy and the process and constitutionality of being ticketed by a machine, I believe it's time that we put this ill-conceived red light camera experiment to rest."

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iamdabest1 - 5/24/2012 7:50:59 AM

+2 Boost

finally a politician with a brain !

Gambit - 5/24/2012 12:07:37 PM

0 Boost

Isn't revenue generation the whole point of fines for tickets anyway?

vdiv - 5/24/2012 4:40:28 PM

+1 Boost

Discouraging dangerous/illegal behavior is the whole point, the revenue is to pay for the enforcement. Red light/speeding cameras do not accomplish any of these.

commander104 - 5/24/2012 12:47:38 PM

+1 Boost

NJ has too many COPS driving around with their radar on all the time...

commander104 - 5/24/2012 12:48:28 PM

+1 Boost

FYI...they are phasing out X band and increasingly using Ka. X band RIP.

vdiv - 5/24/2012 4:46:33 PM

+1 Boost

That's because most of the traffic lights in NJ use X-band radar to detect vehicle presence at the intersection, and many automatic sliding doors do the same. So using an X-band radar for speed measurement is hampered. X-band also scatters a lot making it easier to detect.

Here in VA the coppers are now almost entirely using laser. That's dangerous as it can blind people and should be banned.