[shovel]

The problem I have with the speed cameras is that their *effect* is crippling, and wastes both time and fuel. On a clean 65mph highway in good weather with typical traffic density, 'most everyone will go 65-75mph, then when they approach the speed cameras they will slow down to 53mph, which of course jams up everyone behind them... then rocket back up to a few mph above the posted limit again right after the camera.

Same when someone gets flashed because they were speeding, regardless of whether or not makes logical sense (duh you ALREADY GOT POPPED) they will almost universally slow down to way under the speed limit.

Maybe that isn't what people SHOULD do, but it's what they DO do.

And that is why the cameras suck and I hope their implementors and supporters die of colon cancer. They waste countless hours of countless peoples' lives, every day. For revenue, NOT for safety. Causing traffic to rapidly change speed because of a money trap is NOT safer.

Same with the red light cameras... I don't have a link handy but one gentleman actually brought the case up before a Scottsdale judge and was able to prove that yellow light duration was reduced by half at the same time that a red light camera was installed. How the hell is that in the interest of safety? Sounds to me more like the city is gaming the intersections for maximum payout. Cha Ching! Well, I hope whoever gets that money at least spends it on domestic goods and services...

As a last note, whenever someone suggests that increased domestic surveillance is acceptable, citing "if you aren't doing anything wrong why would you mind being watched" , I tell them that's an excellent idea, I'll be over tonight to watch their wife shower - after all she's doing nothing wrong so she certainly shouldn't mind my presence in there watching her.