In local news from Phoenix, Arizona some rather ingenious rebels have taken to fighting traffic cameras.
Well, no one’s cutting the heads off the stationary cameras DPS (Department of Public Safety) has rigged around the state to catch you going 10mph over the speed limit or more, but someone is sabotaging these sinister speed traps in a most ingenious way — by blocking the window in front of the camera with yellow Post-it notes.
I am rather amused by this protest in some ways. As a guy who drives the speed limit because he believes in following the law and someone who lost way to many friends to traffic accidents, the notion of speeding pisses me off. Stupid law or not the speed limit isn’t a mere suggestion for drivers it is the law. When we as citizens won’t follow the law, we have very little right to get pissed off at politicians who don’t either. Frankly I would much rather going the speed limit than give up my righteous anger at W for ass fucking America the last eight years.
DPS flack Lt. James Warriner, and he confirmed that Post-it note ninjas are at work in the Valley, with at least five incidents having occurred over the last few days on SR 51, I-10, and the Loop 101. Warriner says DPS has an investigator assigned to catch the plucky roadside rebels, though DPS isn’t exactly sure what the Post-it note perps would be prosecuted for, if and when they’re nabbed.
There are probably plenty of charges that could be leveled, but finding the right one is always a good idea before going forward with these sorts of things. While I don’t like Big Brother anymore than any other Liberal the feds no doubt have an interest in keeping an eye on, I actually like traffic cameras. That could be because I don’t speed and have good driving habits.
Warriner related that DPS may have to stake out the cameras’ locations, which are listed on DPS’ Web site, here. Perhaps even install hidden cameras to watch the devices. That’s right, cameras to watch the cameras.
This notion however, I don’t like. It is a little too Big Brother for me. Who is watching the watchmen? A camera that catches someone for speeding is one thing. Those cameras provide scientifically measured data and a photo of a scene where sticking a human being in a cruiser would be dangerous and disruptive. Placing a camera to watch what can likely be watched by a human seems to devalue the notion we need police officers in the field.
Update:
I saw a really cool idea that might actually make people like traffic cameras a bit more. What if good drivers were paid an incentive, out of the fines bad drivers pay. It couldn’t be the entire fine, but what if you received a discount on your car registration or drivers license fee, or if the DMV sent a voucher that could be redeemed by your insurance carrier, for say $25.00 to $50.00 towards your payment. Better yet what if good drivers were randomly sent $20.00 checks paid for by 60% of the fines.
