This page is devoted to passing along Missouri News Alerts from the National Motorists Association (NMA). Check out the NMA's website at Motorists.org.
Stop Red-Light Cameras in Missouri!
1/12/06 | The city of Springfield is moving forward with plans to install red-light cameras. City officials claim this move is for safety, and they try to downplay the $100 the city stands to make from each ticket. If you live in or near Springfield, please contact members of the city council and urge them to reconsider their plans. You can email the entire council at CityCouncil@ci.springfield.mo.us. You can use the talking points below to help you form your arguments to council members.
Meanwhile, Senator Jason Crowell (Cape Girardeau) has introduced legislation that would prohibit the use of red-light cameras. His intent is to challenge the technology that grants private companies law enforcement authority and turns defendants' presumption of innocence on its head. Crowell has stated that he would consider amending his legislation to allow for traffic cameras, but that he would want their use restricted.
It's important that all of us contact Senator Crowell and thank him for his opposition to these cameras. He can be reached by telephone at either (573) 751-2459 or by writing to Senator Jason Crowell, State Capitol Building, Room 323, Jefferson City, Missouri 65101. We should also encourage him to continue fighting for a total and lasting prohibition of ticket cameras. Again, you can use the talking points below when contacting him.
Another thing that you can do to help is contact your legislators and urge them to support Senator Crowell's legislation. Use the talking points to let them know why ticket cameras are a bad idea for Missouri. To find out who your legislators are and how to contact them, visit http://www.moga.mo.gov/.
Ticket Camera Talking Points
a. Ticket cameras do not have a safety value. Studies by the Virginia Department of Transportation and North Carolina State A&T University show that these cameras actually increase the number of accidents. A recent investigation by the Washington Post revealed that the same can be said of D.C.'s camera program.
b. Ticket cameras do not stop dangerous drivers nor do they fix problematic intersections. Unlike a police officer, a camera is unable to stop a reckless driver, it just takes that person's photograph. These devices allow municipalities and greedy camera companies to profit from public safety hazards. Communities are actually financially rewarded for poorly engineered intersections.
c. Dangerous intersections can generally be fixed by using simple engineering solutions, such as lengthening the yellow-light time or adding metal backers to traffic signals for improved visibility. These solutions are the only way to actually make people safer. Research by the City of Detroit, AAA, the Florida Department of Transportation, and the Texas Transportation Institute all support this conclusion.
If you have any questions about these talking points, or anything else discussed in this alert, please contact me. I urge you to take action today. It's up to us to stop ticket cameras in Missouri before they get a foothold.
Regards,
John Holevoet
Director of Development
National Motorists Association
(608) 849-6000
jph@motorists.org
www.motorists.org