Wow. Menlo Park Red Light Cameras aren't cheap

[spamtrap1888]

http://thenewspaper.com/news/41/4103.asp

$5600 a month, per intersection, so breakeven is 12 tickets a month.

[gpsman]

x-posting left intact

On May 17, 6:24 pm, spamtrap1888 <spamtrap1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> http://thenewspaper.com/news/41/4103.asp
>
> $5600 a month, per intersection, so breakeven is 12 tickets a month.

"Commencing on the expiration of the Warning Period for each
Designated Intersection Approach, Customer shall be obligated to pay
Redflex a fixed fee of $6,350 per month for each Designated
Intersection Approach ("Fixed Fee") a full remuneration for performing
all of the services contemplated in this Agreement."
http://www.menloparkpolice.org/photoenforce/pdf/MPRedflexAgreement.pdf
(4.6MB, took me ~3 fucking minutes to download)
http://www.menloparkpolice.org/photoenforce/redlightcameras.html

Inexplicably.... an anonymous blog that is always wrong is not a
credible source of information.
-----

- gpsman

[sms]

On 5/17/2013 3:24 PM, spamtrap1888 wrote:
> http://thenewspaper.com/news/41/4103.asp
>
> $5600 a month, per intersection, so breakeven is 12 tickets a month.

A key problem with this sort of thing is that the police departments are
unwilling to learn how to install, monitor and maintain systems
themselves so these systems end up being removed after a few years when
it's realized that they aren't generating enough revenue.

[gpsman]

On May 20, 9:25 pm, sms <scharf.ste...@geemail.com> wrote:
> On 5/17/2013 3:24 PM, spamtrap1888 wrote:
>
> >http://thenewspaper.com/news/41/4103.asp
>
> > $5600 a month, per intersection, so breakeven is 12 tickets a month.
>
> A key problem with this sort of thing is that the police departments are
> unwilling to learn how to install, monitor and maintain systems
> themselves

Really? Where do you buy your off-the-shelf RLC systems, and which is
your preferred brand...?

> so these systems end up being removed after a few years when
> it's realized that they aren't generating enough revenue.

Really? It takes a few years to recognize that?

Why couldn't they recognize fines aren't high enough, or yellow
intervals are too long...?
-----

- gpsman

[sms]

On 5/21/2013 5:46 AM, gpsman wrote:
> On May 20, 9:25 pm, sms <scharf.ste...@geemail.com> wrote:
>> On 5/17/2013 3:24 PM, spamtrap1888 wrote:
>>
>>> http://thenewspaper.com/news/41/4103.asp
>>
>>> $5600 a month, per intersection, so breakeven is 12 tickets a month.
>>
>> A key problem with this sort of thing is that the police departments are
>> unwilling to learn how to install, monitor and maintain systems
>> themselves
>
> Really? Where do you buy your off-the-shelf RLC systems, and which is
> your preferred brand...?

It's not rocket science. It's a high-resolution outdoor camera that is
starts recording for a fixed number of seconds after the light turns red
if it detects motion and time stamps each photo.

Basically you take something like a wireless high resolution trail
camera and add hire a consultant to add the triggering capability to
only take photos when motion is detected for a few seconds after the
light turns red. Additional flash capability can also be added if necessary.

<http://www.buckeyecam.com/index.php/product-line/wireless/x7d>

The problem with the red light cameras as they are now is that the
business model is almost like that of used car donations. A third party
ends up making most of the money. To the cities, the attraction is that
while it's a small amount of revenue, it's revenue that they would
otherwise not have, to it's seen as pure upside. At least until they end
up terminating a contract early and paying penalties for doing so.

[gpsman]

On May 21, 10:09 am, sms <scharf.ste...@geemail.com> wrote:
> On 5/21/2013 5:46 AM, gpsman wrote:
>
> > On May 20, 9:25 pm, sms <scharf.ste...@geemail.com> wrote:
> >> On 5/17/2013 3:24 PM, spamtrap1888 wrote:
>
> >>>http://thenewspaper.com/news/41/4103.asp
>
> >>> $5600 a month, per intersection, so breakeven is 12 tickets a month.
>
> >> A key problem with this sort of thing is that the police departments are
> >> unwilling to learn how to install, monitor and maintain systems
> >> themselves
>
> > Really?  Where do you buy your off-the-shelf RLC systems, and which is
> > your preferred brand...?
>
> It's not rocket science. It's a high-resolution outdoor camera that is
> starts recording for a fixed number of seconds after the light turns red
> if it detects motion and time stamps each photo.
>
> Basically you take something like a wireless high resolution trail
> camera and add hire a consultant to add the triggering capability to
> only take photos when motion is detected for a few seconds after the
> light turns red. Additional flash capability can also be added if necessary.

So you believe a unit cobbed-together by what would essentially be cop
students of electronic device design and manufacture would be
preferable to one designed for the job, by engineers...?

> The problem with the red light cameras as they are now is that the
> business model is almost like that of used car donations.

"Another" problem...???

> A third party
> ends up making most of the money.

Looks like you don't know dick about used car donations, either.

> To the cities, the attraction is that
> while it's a small amount of revenue, it's revenue that they would
> otherwise not have, to it's seen as pure upside.

False premise. The revenue was previously generated by cops but not
considered in budgets for decades until municipalities became cash-
strapped as the cost of everything increased and revenue remained
static or dropped as taxable home values plummeted.

Electronic enforcement is preferable, for the obvious reasons.

> At least until they end
> up terminating a contract early and paying penalties for doing so.

Now you're just exhibiting your willful ignorance of your subject:

"Cost neutrality is assured to the Customer as Customer will never pay
Redflex more than actual cash received".
http://www.menloparkpolice.org/photoenforce/pdf/MPRedflexAgreement.pdf
-----

- gpsman

[jgar the jorrible]

On May 21, 7:09 am, sms <scharf.ste...@geemail.com> wrote:
> On 5/21/2013 5:46 AM, gpsman wrote:
>
> > On May 20, 9:25 pm, sms <scharf.ste...@geemail.com> wrote:
> >> On 5/17/2013 3:24 PM, spamtrap1888 wrote:
>
> >>>http://thenewspaper.com/news/41/4103.asp
>
> >>> $5600 a month, per intersection, so breakeven is 12 tickets a month.
>
> >> A key problem with this sort of thing is that the police departments are
> >> unwilling to learn how to install, monitor and maintain systems
> >> themselves
>
> > Really?  Where do you buy your off-the-shelf RLC systems, and which is
> > your preferred brand...?
>
> It's not rocket science. It's a high-resolution outdoor camera that is
> starts recording for a fixed number of seconds after the light turns red
> if it detects motion and time stamps each photo.
>
> Basically you take something like a wireless high resolution trail
> camera and add hire a consultant to add the triggering capability to
> only take photos when motion is detected for a few seconds after the
> light turns red. Additional flash capability can also be added if necessary.
>
> <http://www.buckeyecam.com/index.php/product-line/wireless/x7d>

Wow, that is one fugly site.

First of all, you don't want to hide the camera, you want the
deterrent effect.

Second, you are an order of magnitude off for the cost, at least.
Custom engineering a system for hard core outdoor use is expensive,
and you have to account for maintenance. There is a reason for $900
hammers, and it isn't wastage, and for spreading costs among many
customers.

Third, this isn't out in the boonies, every old bug with no rf
suppression on the condenser will blow out the rf signal.

Fourth, how do you validate it for legal usage?

Fifth, how do you exclude legitimate left or right turns, or people
briefly slowed by traffic?

There are more trivial arguments, but basically you aren't thinking it
through properly, just like every dumbass who thinks they can run a
business letting users do their own computer work with Excel.

jg
--
@home.com is bogus.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Staged-Car-Accident-Highlights-DUI-Dangers-207615211.html