NY Man Arrested for Cutting Wires to Red Light Cameras After Exposing Gov't Revenue Making Scheme

[KamaAina]

https://photographyisnotacrime.com/2016/04/new-york-man-arrested-for-cutting-wires-to-red-light-cameras-after-exposing-government-revenue-generating-scheme/

A New York man known as the Red Light Robin Hood was arrested again this month after cutting wires to red light cameras where yellow light duration times were shortened by the city in order to generate more citations and revenue.

The shortened durations at the traffic lights generate $32 million for Suffolk County, which is why the county allows the practice to continue despite their own study showing they lead to an increase in accidents with injuries....

“I cut the cable wires, making it useless. I’ve made it dysfunctional, just like the whole red-light camera program,” said Ruth during a local interview....

And after he cut the wires, he called the news to cover his act of civil disobedience, which resulted in his arrest after police received pressure from politicians. Ruth said police and sheriff deputies support him, because they’re aware of the shortened yellow lights.

[villager]

1. Wouldn't paintball guns be more efficient?

In any case, traffic ticketing is, in its entirety, a scam. Nothing to do with "safety." Asymmetrical taxes, usually imposed on those who can least afford it.

A "make work" program for cops and courts, etc.

[KamaAina]

3. I like the paintball guns idea.

Surveillance cameras, too.

[Skink]

2. I thought they might of had his picture

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. the camera lights are weird. on queens blvd where they have these cameras

the yellow light lasts one second. it's dangerous to stop sometimes and people get tickets for no reason.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

9. it is significantly shorter than other lights.

i don't have a cite but it's crazy weird.

i'm not saying this guy is mlk but cities should fund through progressive taxes, not through BS tickets, because those are highly regressive.

[villager]

7. I once got a ticket for having to stop because the guy ahead of me stopped in the intersection.

This was with a traffic light camera.

The Judge looked at the photos and agreed with what was going on, but claimed the city's contract actually prohibited him from dismissing the ticket...

[villager]

12. ...the point being, I would have made it through the intersection if the guy ahead hadn't stopped.

And conversely, wouldn't have been ticketed for any of it, had the camera not been there.

But revenue needed to be made...

[Coventina]

8. Shortening the yellow light causes MORE accidents.

Red light cameras are a scam, nothing more.

They are not installed for the sake of safety.

[PSPS]

14. Not a crank but a valued whistleblower

Maybe you don't know this, but the red light camera outfit that installs these (located in Arizona) gets $50 vigorish for every ticket.

[awoke_in_2003]

15. The lights that have the cameras are rigged.

I got nailed by one during while it was sleeting. I proved that the yellow light time at that light (45 MPH zone) was 3.2 seconds. The light previous and after that one, neither of which had a camera, were 3.9 seconds. If you don't think that is a big deal, 45 MPH equals 66 feet a second. At either of the other lights I would have cleared the intersection. I don't know about what they do where you are, but it is common knowledge that down here, the yellow light times are shorter. Most people stand on their brakes (risking getting rear ended) than to run them.

On Sept 2014, I was sitting behind someone at a red light at a few minutes to midnight. The light turned green, the guy didn't move(ended up he was passed out drunk) I honked, and got slammed in the ass hard enough to crack the steel bumper mounts on my F150. The guy took off. I chased him, but I saw he tripped a red light camera, so I went back to wait for the cops. I naively thought they could get the footage. Nope- without a subpeona, they can't because they are private property. So, I was involved in a hit and run by someone who was probably drunk and driving without insurance, and the cops can't do anything about it. Public safety, my ass. They are for generating revenue, nothing actually agreed with a Texas legislator who tried to bring this scam to lighted to outlaw them.

[snot]

11. Privatization:

more corruption, less accountability.

[Travis_0004]

13. My recommendation to him: Request a jury trial.

I would find him not guilty.