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Home > What are traffic enforcement cameras and how can they be avoided?
March 23, 2010
By: Lynn Bryant
Traffic enforcement cameras are used to catch motorists
that run red lights and exceed the posted speed limit. These
traffic camera systems are being utilized in many of the
major cities throughout the United States as well as other
countries throughout the world. The reason often cited for
installing these devices, is to reduce the number of traffic
accidents and related injuries. In general, these traffic
violation cameras do in fact seem to contribute to the
reduction of injuries related to running red lights and
speeding violations. However, their use often evokes a
certain amount of disapproval from many drivers.
Many drivers feel victimized by a system of automated
monitoring and automated ticketing. They feel the system
leaves room for error, and leaves drivers with very little
defense against their accuser. This is in fact a big
problem. Due to the nature of red light and speed camera
ticket systems, drivers are at the mercy of machines. If a
car is caught traveling through an intersection after the
traffic signal turns red or is calculated to be exceeding
the posted speed limit, a ticket will automatically be
generated and mailed to the registered driver on record.
Safeguards are supposed to be built into the system to
ensure that unwarranted tickets are avoided. However, that
does little to comfort drivers that may have received
tickets in error.
The following are three measures that drivers can use to
protect themselves from the ever present eye of red light
and speed cameras.
-
PhotoBlocker spray -- This product is designed
to be applied directly to your vehicle's license plate.
It creates an invisible coating that reflects the flash
of a traffic enforcement camera back towards the camera
itself, overexposing the resulting photo. The company
that manufactures this product, PhantomPlate, states on
the website that they do not assume any legal
responsibility for the use or application of their
product. They recommend that you check with your state
and local laws before using their product. They do state
however, that once applied the product is invisible to
the naked eye, making it virtually impossible to detect.
- Traffic camera detectors -- There are
products available on the market that provide an early
warning alert of nearby traffic cameras. One option is
to purchase a standalone
red light and speed camera detector that is
dedicated to providing this functionality. The other
option is to download a reliable and updated
database of traffic enforcement locations to your
existing satellite navigation system (GPS), PDA or
mobile phone.
- Traffic camera location websites -- A free
resource you can use to determine the location of both
speed and red light traffic cameras is the Internet.
There are several websites dedicated to maintaining an
updated database of all the traffic camera locations.
Some sites are dedicated to specific metropolitan areas,
but there are others such as
PhotoEnforced.com and
Speed Cameras UK that provides a searchable database
of all of the traffic camera locations in the United
States and UK respectively.
There will likely always be a fine line between what
constitutes a reasonable public safety measure, and what
constitutes a violation of individual's privacy and personal
freedoms. Whenever this conflict exists, individuals will
continue to turn to creative protective measures that they
feel gives them some sense of control back. It is however
important that we not lose sight of why there are specific
traffic laws in the first place. Attempting to avoid traffic
enforcement cameras should not equate to avoiding the basic
rules of the road.
About the Author
Lynn Bryant is a successful freelance writer and
contributor to Video-Surveillance-Guide.com. Your
definitive guide to video surveillance equipment, CCTV
cameras and wireless security systems for home and business.
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