As you know, we believe that the driving force behind these candid cameras is and always has been, MONEY. You can read our take here, here, here, and here. There's no doubt that this system is a money maker and that the city takes a large chunk of change to the general fund with every citation issued. Here's the problem... with "success" comes a drop in revenue.
If the program was truly about public safety, then enforcement would remain in these "important" intersections (Remember, they were ostensibly chosen due to their high accident rates.) and the Mayor and Chief Schultz wouldn't be playing Russian roulette with the photo enforcement equipment. The cameras would be a vital tool and therefore worth paying for just like any other form of public safety.
(Sidebar)Chief Schultz and Mayor Marty will tell anyone who will listen that the cameras change driving habits. Perhaps that's true... people are certainly slamming on their brakes rather than risking having their photo taken. But, are wary drivers simply avoiding photo enforced intersections? Route selection is certainly part of one's driving habit and the Eye Mobile has certainly been avoiding Marty's Picture Taker Money Makers. To date, we haven't seen a study that correlates the traffic count before and after installation of photo enforcement cameras, to accidents before and after installation.
We're wondering if the Mayor has gotten word that the Governor plans to sign either or both of the red light camera bills sitting on his desk. If so, money for new Candid Cameras would instantly dry up and this administrative sleight of hand would allow the city to make at least some money from the existing program.
(End Sidebar)
If you look at it another way, Mayor Marty and Chief Schultz's favorite fishing hole is all fished out. What do you do when they aren't biting at your favorite spot? Yep... you move on, find a new fishing hole.
7 comments:
Yep! Lets take this circus on the road. Now, when fishing, obviously you don't go where the fish aren't biting. Better yet you don't entrap someone who has no money. So now we're going to get sneaky and move these around the Northeast even more. There's a great location which I know would just rake in the bucks. The entrance to Tanoan on Academy. Can't miss with all those big fish swimming in and out of their deep pool. How about Central & Tramway? Could get all those big bucks out at Four Hills. Afterall, Marty's ruined his appeal out there when he put the speed bumps in their streets, and Don's not far behind him in popularity either. So, screw 'em.
One can only hope that come election time, people don't forget and mimic the same sentiment.
'Ole citizen Hubbard went to the cubbard to feed his poor dog a bone. When he bent over,Marty took over, now Marty has a bone of his own." Dukes would be proud, but not jealous.
Central and Tramway. Please, don't give 'em any ideas.
The spin has been kicked off. They now have the Lt. who oversees the program on the government channel talking about how great the program is. Bet he gets promoted soon!!
Crime and the moral decay of a society, begin with the examples that are set by government and the politicians who are in charge. They know who they are. Do they know that we also know who they are?
Interesting that there are no red light cameras on Rio Grande, near the Chavez estate. Speeding and light running are rampant there.
I have avoided spending money in Albuquerque if at all possible since the lights went in. I shop in Los Ranchos, Rio Rancho, the county, or on line. I stay out of court, and Marty loses money. I've cost him many times in GRT what he's gotten out of me in red light fines.
Lucky for him, Wal-mart is playing the perfect villian. He's already proposing to buy the controversial Wal-mart site on Osuna for a balloon landing strip!
Oh they know all right. That's why they are scamming as much and as fast as they can. There's a court room waiting for each and every one of them. A sure sign that the end is near, is when reignations and early retirements start to occur. The kitchen was getting hot; that's why we have three new Deputy Chiefs.
David Iglesias looked the other way.
Central and Tramway may soon become a reality. Central and Eubank camera is now up and running. Got blinked twice this afternoon within one hour. First time car in front of me intentionally? hit his brakes mid intersection and blocked me from continuing through intersection with what is now a really short yellow light. Funny how the yellow lights get changed when these lights go up. I guess that makes me a really bad driver even though I have never had a ticket otherwise in my life.
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