But Mt. Pilot has red light cameras…
In the little town of Mayberry Sheriff Andy Taylor was starting on his second cup of coffee when Barney Fife came storming in, “Andy we have to have red light cameras, Mt. Pilot has them”. Andy looked puzzled and asked, “Well Barney that’s what the Mayor said when he told us we had to build the fancy meeting center that no one goes to. The Mayor said if Mt. Pilot had one then Mayberry has to have one. We will be paying for that thing for fifty years. And Clara Edwards says we have to have a fancy new library because Mt. Pilot built one. Barney, you ever figure maybe we should just be Mayberry and not worry about what Mt. Pilot does?”
Isn’t that the way everything happens in Knoxville? Some other city has something that we have done without forever but because of the inferiority complex this town seems to have we just have to play follow the leader. Here is a new idea; maybe Knoxville should just be Knoxville.
The latest copycat move is red light cameras. I cannot think of a worse idea. Study after study show that they are unsafe. There is the moral issue of raising money by artificially shortened yellow light durations. For a town that is so determined to attract tourists it is hard to understand how this idea is rolling out the red carpet. Some one might want to point out that the Knoxville Convention Center is not doing very well and if you want repeat business a speed trap might not be the way to go about it.
Many blogs here locally have hammered home what a bad idea this is but to save you a little time I have prepared a primer. Take a look and call or email your City Council representative. Let them know that it would be better to implement a five second yellow light all through Knox county with a two second hold time on cross traffic. Tell them we do not need red light cameras what we need is a five second yellow light. You can do it.
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/citycouncil/members/
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051030/NEWS01/510300317/1002
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/02/288.asp
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/03/AR2005100301844.html
http://www.motorists.com/issues/enforce/georgiacenter.html
http://www.cityofknoxville.org/engineering/traffic/signals.asp
http://www.phantomplate.com/testimonial/weeklystandardPart2.htm
November 7th, 2005 at 2:11 am
Just say no to jobless losers who still live in Fort Sanders.
November 7th, 2005 at 8:33 am
Plaintiff lawyers are licking their lips over these cameras. They can easily show how the accident rates increase at every intersection. It’s a poor idea brought to us by folks who shouldn’t be in office.
November 7th, 2005 at 9:43 am
The easiest and cheapest way to increase safety at intersections is to increase the length of the yellow light. But that doesn’t bring in any revenue, which is what cameras are really all about.
November 7th, 2005 at 2:32 pm
Wow, debate before the cameras go in. While I’m firmly in the “they’re just money-cameras, not safety cameras” camp, but the fact that you are having debate before the cameras go in is a big thing. ‘Round here, they popped up like mushrooms. Then the debate started.
November 12th, 2005 at 6:42 pm
VIDEO DOWNLOAD: Special Report – Robocop Spy Cam Scam
http://radio.indymedia.org/news/2005/11/7566.php
PNTV producer John Lee was unable to attend the City Council meeting for First Reading of its new multimillion-dollar tax increase contract for its illegal Robocop Spy Cam Scam, due to his attendance to accept Hollywood’s award for Best Music Video of 2005. Instead, PNTV shall replay John Lee’s protected speech to Knoxville City Council, when it originally passed its illegal Robocop Spy Cam Scam ordinance in 2005. Lee’s footnoted lecture to Gangsta Gov’t shall now be replayed on a regular basis on CATV, in its uncensored Late Night weekend time slot.
http://www.lamusicawards.com/nominees.htm
http://piratenews.org
WARNING: Jew Karl Marx wrote the Communist Manifesto while living in London, England, for the Jewish banksters who now own the mortgages on every bankrupt “government” on Earth, including USA. Australia, a former prison colony of white slaves, is part of the British Commonwealth of over 50 nations, which is owned by the German Queen of England. “REDflex” Robocops is synonymous with RED Communism!
“Government control of Communications and Transportation.”
-Communist Manifesto, 6th Plank, written by Karl Marx in London, England
“It is extremely easy to beat this type of ticket in court. Your easiest defense is to simply throw the ticket away. If it does not come with a return receipt that requires a signature, there is no proof that you actually got the ticket and they cannot prosecute you on that. What the legal system wants you to do is just send in the fine and not ask any questions. This can be a big money maker for some communities. One other form of defense to utilize on your behalf is the fact that when you are accused in court you must be faced by your accuser. Obviously the computer cannot appear in court as a defense method for the prosecution. Also, you do not have to identify yourself as the driver of the vehicle because it would violate your sixth amendment rights against self incrimination.”
-Norman G. Fernandez, attorney at law, and Jes Beard, attorney at law in Chattanooga, Tennessee, JesBeard.com, “How to Beat a Speeding Ticket – Photo RADAR”
http://jesbeard.com/s11.htm