On Wed, 7 Jan 2009 02:07:38 +0000 (UTC), Steve Pope wrote:

> Sky > wrote:
>
>> Who pays for those photo radar cameras?
>
> It's fairly seedy. The manufacturer's rep comes in and
> offers to pay for the equipment, the installation, and
> the operation of the cameras, and then split the take with
> the city or county or whomever. So there's no up-front cost,


Not just equipment. Where I used to live, Livermore CA, there were several
notoriously bad intersections that needed traffic lights. They languished,
unnoticed, for years. Suddenly, almost overnight, all were miraculously
transformed. Repaved, islands, landscaping, traffic signals, etc. But
wait! What's this? Every new intersection suddenly has half a dozen
cameras. Not the older snap-shot cameras with the huge strobe flash box,
but state-of-the-art live video cameras.

In CA, red-light runners are typically fined $250-400. The companies get
about 50% of revenues. Any wonder they'll finance complete intersection
make-overs. And yes, the yellow light times are fudged. Some states
and/or municipalities are rightfully outraged and ban the whole idea.
Others greedily embrace it.

The town closest to me is a one-light town. No cameras. I love it.


nb