Friday, February 3, 2012

Caught In Traffic

Here is the text of an email I sent today to my elected representatives in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate, as well as the governor's office:

I’m writing to oppose HF 2048, i.e. the traffic camera ban.

I can’t think of a single reason why individuals and municipalities (not to mention their representative politicians) would oppose using technology to sustain already existing laws.  Traffic cameras, and the fines they may impart, are a ‘win’ in almost every conceivable way.

Traffic cameras keep the roads safer for drivers, especially law-abiding ones.  They make money for municipalities.  They free up resources for law enforcement to spend on more important things. The list goes on…

Sure, there could be some legislative tweaking.  For example, fines might be reduced – that may also be a way to limit the money made by the private companies behind the cameras.  But those are just details.

The fact is, those who oppose traffic cameras are afraid of something, and it isn’t Big Brother.  Opponents are afraid they will no longer be able to break the law while no one is watching.

Automated enforcement technology isn’t Big Brother.  It’s a behavior modification tool (like any camera is), and it clearly works.

We have the power, in the form of technology, to continue doing good here.  I would expect our elected officials to not stand in the way of that.

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