Last month the City of Puyallup announced that it had issued 2,165 tickets for the month of May from red light traffic cameras.
The fines totaled $268,460 in revenue for the city.
Is this just another example of George Orwell’s “1984” coming to fruition? Or is it just another means for raising some cash for the city coffers? Or could it be the best reason for the traffic cameras is that they save lives?
And when is the City of Kent getting some?
Some people will argue that red-light traffic cameras are unfair, and are another way for “Big Brother” to keep tabs on us.
Others will argue that the cameras are inaccurate and a waste of taxpayers money. Have you ever seen one of these photos?
That is your car, your license plate and your idiocy screaming through a light that is clearly red. Even Johnnie Cochran would have you plead guilty as charged.
A total of 2,165 tickets issued at $124 each comes out to … well, a whole lot of money. These funds can be used for hiring more officers, better training, and well-deserved pay raises.
We always say that our heroes are police, firefighters and teachers. Yet we pay them like chumps.
This could be a way to properly thank the people who put their life on the line to save yours.
The best reason is that the red-light cameras save lives. Racing through yellow lights pushes your luck.
I have been a Washington resident for 25 years. In that time I have received two tickets. Both times I was guilty as sin.
Since then whenever I am going through an intersection I clearly make sure I don’t barrel through it and ignore the lights, whatever color they might be.
So, slow down folks. The camera will catch you sooner or later.
The signs they put up warning that the intersection has cameras set up is not much of a deterrent.
But I would wager the writing of a $124 check payable to the city is a better one.
Todd Nuttman is a resident of Kent and a columnist for the Kent Reporter. Send your responses for Nuttman to: laura.pierce@reporternewspapers.com.
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