Use of Camera's to Enforce Red Light rules

[Steve Miller]

I'm sure that the governor's suggestions to increase the use of
camera's to catch red light violators and automatically send a ticket,
as is already done in NYC and lots of other cities, will be met with
howls of protest -- despite the proven fact that traffic-light
violation cameras significantly reduce intersection violations and
pedestrian injuries.

Critics cite possible privacy violations and the possibility that the
vehicle owner may not be the driver breaking the law. But neither
argument has merit. Just as a landlord can be held responsible for
the public nuisance created by his tenants, a car owner is responsible
for the behavior of anyone to whom she willingly lends her vehicle.
And breaking the law automatically cancels a person’s privacy rights.

I take privacy very seriously, During the early 1990s I spent five
years on the national board of Computer Professionals For Social
Responsibility. This was when the Information Superhighway became the
Internet and then the Web, and one of our core issues was technology-
related privacy. But one of the things I learned is that in most
public policy debates the issues get bizarrely reversed -- we denounce
things that provide real benefits while allowing things that can cause
real harm.

I've actually posted a long message about this titled "Privacy on the
Street: Fighting the Wrong Enemy" on my blog "Transportation, Health,
and Livable Communities" hosted on the LivableStreets Alliance
site...<http://blog.livablestreets.info/?p=141>

[Will Brownsberger]

Thanks, Steve!

Helpful for you to send this.

I've got a thread of constituent input on this going on my blog too.

May I post this text or would you prefer I just post your link.

/.w

--


Will Brownsberger
State Representative, (617) 771-8274 (cell)
Visit www.willbrownsberger.com for news.

Also follow Will Brownsberger for updates on:
Twitter: @WBrownsberger
Facebook: Will Brownsberger

[Steven Miller]

Feel free to post, its important that your blog have rich content....(and as you noticed, I included a link to the full piece on my blog -- self-promotion!)

Steve

Steven E. Miller
Executive Director, Healthy Weight Initiative, HSPH, Dept. of Nutrition
Board of Directors, LivableStreets Alliance
cell:  617-686-1050

[Wendy Landman]

WalkBoston has supported legislation to allow the use of the cameras for many sessions. They have GREATLY reduced red light violations where they are in use (more than 22 states as of 2007). Please let me know if this issue is coming up again and needs our support.
Wendy

(I got a request to re-send, so sorry for the repetition)

--
Wendy Landman | WalkBoston
T: 617.367.9255 | F: 617.367.9285 | wlan...@walkboston.org
Old City Hall | 45 School Street | Boston MA 02108
www.walkboston.org

Click here to join or renew your membership:  http://www.walkboston.org/support/membership.htm