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Health & Fitness

Why "Red Light Cameras" are wrong for Lower Merion

Adam Fried's comments on "Red Light Cameras"

I would like to comment on the proposed "red light cameras". I believe hiring a private, for-profit company to install and run a red light camera program is wrong for several reasons. Law enforcement's first goal and its motto is to protect and serve citizens, not to profit by way of sub-contract. The Lower Merion Police Department is a publicly funded social service with a set yearly budget. The LMPD needs to operate within this budget instead of looking for additional sources of revenue that equate to an additional tax on the very citizens it serves. Secondly, the idea of an unmanned camera snapping a photo of our license plates and sending us a fine via mail is Orwellian to say the least. It is a complete and total infringement on our civil liberty and privacy. A machine that is designed to record and process as many "violations" as possible assumes our guilt, without witness of an actual law enforcement officer. The private company that assesses the monetary fine has done extensive market research to set the amount of the fines just low enough to be considered a nuisance. $85 is the average amount. Of course, when this amount is paid by the citizen, Lower Merion Township will only receive a percentage of the total. Most citizens do not have the time or will to contest this amount by wasting a work day in court. Lastly, the private company that enriches itself off the public claims that red light cameras will deter the running of red lights and cut down on accidents. Why should we believe their biased statistics? Conflicting data shows that distracted driving such as texting and/or talking on the phone is a primary cause of red light violations and the cause of many accidents. A camera that collects money does absolutely nothing to change this behavior. It is my opinion that a "red light camera" is a lose-lose situation for everyone involved except for the contracted for profit company. It is unwise and unjust to employ this in Lower Merion. If you agree with the above, please contact your Lower Merion Township commissioner. Thank You Adam Fried

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