Among the bills signed into law by Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour on Friday is House Bill 1568, which bans the use of cameras to catch motorists running red lights.
Jackson is among several cities in Mississippi that uses or was considering using cameras as ways to reduce accidents and raise revenues through automated ticketing. Columbus has already resolved to remove its cameras in anticipation of Barbour’s signing the bill. Other cities that were reportedly considering installation of the cameras include McComb, Natchez, Southaven and Tupelo.
(italics, ours)
Ah, yes – public safety. Now we certainly do not wish to impugn the integrity of our government officials but we become suspect of this claim when in the case of San Diego’s red light scam a few years ago, it was found that not only was the contractor getting a cut of the action for each red light runner, the yellow light time span was being reduced in order to drive up violations. As a result, the program was temporarily discontinued by the courts.
Think about that… in what parallel universe does concern for public safety coexist with shortening the yellow light interval?
Unfortunately, the red light cameras have been re-instated just as long as everybody remains on their best behavior.
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