[Scan-DC] License Plate Readers

[Dewey3]

Here's the funny thing about DC... tickets are NOT supposed to be a means
of generating revenue.  Rather, tickets are meant to increase safety by
decreasing the chances of repeat offenders and discouraging first
offenders.  HA!!!  DC has already PUBLICLY talked about how they are
increasing their camera count to reduce their deficit.  I have yet to see
one, or even know how they are going to operate, but DC is supposed to also
be getting stop sign cameras!  Now with that said, I have always said that
DC is least at a win-win scenario.  If you are ticketed, it's the vehicle
and not the driver that gets the ticket.  How is this win-win... because
the city gets their money, yet you do NOT get any points (the gift that
keeps on giving... insurance).  I have no studies to back this up, but my
bet is that a very large number of the city's automated tickets are paid
without question since that is the end of the story as opposed to
contesting a human issued ticket HOPING for a dismissal, traffic school,
reduction in fine, dismissal of points, or any combination of the above AND
a loss of a day's pay.  Just my two cents for the day.

Dewey
MPDC - Retired
(1983 - 2010)

On Tue, Jan 15, 2013 at 9:30 AM, Sheldon Daitch <SDAITCH at bbg.gov> wrote:

> rick,
>
> well, anytime you have two points and calculate the speed based
> on time and distance, it has to be average speed, because there is
> no way to determine instantaneous speed at any point between the
> the two timing location points.
>
> I know there are speed cameras which determine the vehicle speed
> as it passes the camera installation.  I don't know the details on
> speed calculation, that is, if the vehicle has a speed change in the
> speed determining zone if too much speed change will not allow
> the system to detect a speeder.
>
> We are being told the newer cameras have license plate recognition
> and if the same plate number appears at the next (or successive)
> camera systems, and the math determines that the plate could not
> go from point A to point B without speeding, the plate number is
> flagged for a ticket.  So, if the system is in place and works, it does
> seem that tickets could be issued for speeding, based on calculated
> speed determined from time.
>
> In your Illinois example, it does seem certain vehicles (trucks) are
> targeted.   I don't think other vehicles should be exempted.
> Speeding is speeding.
>
> At least in Kuwait, the camera tickets do not seem to go against
> the driver, but against the vehicle.  I don't think they mail out tickets
> but they do collect the fines at vehicle registration time.  Don't pay
> the ticket, you can't renew the registration.  Now, interestingly
> enough, there are no plate changes, no stickers, nothing, so
> it is impossible to determine from looking at the plate that the
> registration is or is not current.
>
> 73
> Sheldon