Dallas Red-Light Camera Dilemma

Safety or Revenue. Maybe I just don’t understand city politics. According to Dallas City Hall, drivers are not breaking the law enough and it is hurting the city economically. The red-light camera program has been so successful in getting drivers to obey the law, that the city’s projected revenue from violators will be more than $4.0 million under plan.

QUICK RECAP:
Drivers are running red lights.
Drivers are breaking the law.
Red-light lawbreakers are utilizing too many city resources.
Install red-light cameras.
Police do not have to monitor intersections.
Police have more time for real crime fighting.
City still gets revenue from violators.
The program is a success.

So in their infinite wisdom, City Hall decides to idle 25% of the installed cameras and delay the installation of the remaining cameras. City Hall also complained about having to give 50% of their revenues to the State Capital for a state funding program.

IDLE/DELAY RECAP:
The program has been successful.
Violations reduced up to 50%.
Intersections are safer and therefore do not generate enough money.
Dallas wants more money.
Dallas does not want to put up red-light camera warning signs.
Dallas decides to slow red-light program.

So after signing a losing contract for cameras, Dallas has to decide if it is worth it to keep the program going. They are also trying to figure out where to better put the cameras in a revenue versus safety dilemma. Shouldn’t that have been done before the installation?

WHERE DALLAS IS WRONG RECAP:
Dallas negotiated poorly on their red-light contract.
Dallas would rather have you run red-lights and pay fines.
Dallas does not consider the money saved from fewer Police/Fire/Rescue responses.
Dallas is stuck between your safety and revenue.

As a driver, I guess I am undecided on the whole red-light camera issue. As I am all for drivers obeying the law, and would love to see an increase in safety while driving in the Dallas area, at night, the strobe lights from the cameras pose an annoying distraction. El Paso, TX is looking into stopping their red-light camera program and Greensboro, NC has already shut theirs down. Where is the happy medium?


Read another Stew Pot article on The Texas Turn and Driving in North Dallas.


__________________________________________________________________





Search the Web for Related Topics and Information or Whatever You Desire

Custom Search