And people wonder why I hate driving in West Hartford. From the Courant:
Speeders beware — you are being watched.
But the speed-detection camera installed this week at Boulevard and Whiting Lane is a kind of compassionate Big Brother that just wants to slow down drivers. Those photographed traveling 45 mph or faster at this 30-mph location will get a photo with a warning letter.
The legislature prohibits using these radar cameras for enforcement purposes, so the joint effort by police, the engineering office and the public works department amounts to a public awareness campaign.[…]
Only one speed-detection unit at a time will be equipped with the camera. After this introductory period, drivers won’t know which of the units has the digital eye, McCue said.
The camera will photograph cars traveling 15 mph over the speed limit or faster. Each image shows the vehicle, with a magnified view of the front license plate.
Kraus’ staff will download the images and keep them in a computer file that will be available for public viewing. Printouts of the images will be given to the police department.
A “public awareness campaign”. Riiight.
“Friendly” radar cameras (those that don’t automatically give you a ticket) are ok but drivers are unaware of their speed until days later when they get the notice in the mail. By then, it’s too late.
Studies have shown that driver speedcheck signs (also knows as radar speed displays or driver feedback signs) instantly tell drivers their current rate of speed and can warn them that they are driving too fast. Studies show, these devices are one of the most effective (and cost effective) means of slowing traffic. There is a website with links to over a dozen studies on the subject of traffic calming. If interested, check out http://www.stopspeeders.org
Don’t complain about your next tax increase, waste of money.