Given prior public debate about setting up photo radar on Avon Mountain and on I-95, as well as West Hartford’s ‘warnings only’ photo radar… well, given the tightness of the budget and congestion on Connecticut highways, it’s not surprising that some photo traffic enforcement measure would have some traction in the Connecticut legislature this session. From the Courant:
Camera traffic enforcement bills have never gotten traction in Connecticut, but several have again been introduced this year to place radar cameras on state highways to nab speeders or to allow municipalities to install cameras at intersections to catch red-light runners.
So far, all but one have flopped, and the lone survivor still faces major problems — including criticism that camera enforcement bills aren’t all about safety but are partly motivated by a thirst for government revenue during a state budget crisis.[…]
The lone bill to survive the transportation committee would allow a two-year trial of using cameras for red light enforcement in New Haven, though the original measure would have covered all cities and towns. Another proposal — to use radar cameras for highway speed enforcement — was killed by the committee, though it was offered by Gov. M. Jodi Rell. The governor’s office refuses to pronounce it dead, but for now the New Haven bill is considered the only live one.
[S]ome — like Sen. Donald DeFronzo, D-New Britain, Guerrera’s fellow transportation committee co-chairman — say that it won’t be many years before a traffic camera bill becomes law, based on citizens’ gradual acceptance of camera surveillance all around them.
"Almost any business you go to, they’ve got cameras," DeFronzo said. "Larger cities have authorized cameras," such as New York and Philadelphia, to catch red-light runners. "In Europe, [radar cameras for speeders] are prevalent."
He said people commonly walk around now with "little video cameras … in their cellphones. You can be totally minding your own business, but if you look unusual or do something odd, you can end up on YouTube. It doesn’t have the same shock value that it used to."
Slippery slope, anybody?
It amazes me that there is budget to put cameras on street intersections but not enough money to pave the roads and fix all the pot holes.
They say these cameras do not have facial recognition capabilites but its only a matter of time before they do. I guess step one is to get cameras up ever where for the sake of monitoring traffic and later unveiling their true intentions of monitor everyones movements through cameras and RFID chips etc.