Arizona Activists Zoom in On Speed Camera Van

by The Newspaper

Published: October 12th, 2008

arizona activists zoom in on speed camera van

Activists in Scottsdale, Arizona trained their own telephoto lenses on a speed camera operator at around 5pm in the afternoon on Thursday. Members of the group Camerafraud.com wanted to give the public a rare glimpse inside an active speed trap– the same view that the photo radar van’s own photographic equipment has while peering through the windows of passing vehicles. “If only there were some sort of law preventing high-powered cameras from taking photographs of unsuspecting people inside their vehicles,” the group wrote on its website. Although Scottsdale’s speed camera vans bear the markings of police vehicles, they are owned and operated by American Traffic Solutions (ATS). A paid ATS employee, Daniel P. Coon in this case, is responsible for driving the vehicle to ticketing locations and ensuring the vehicle is not vandalized. The group’s photographs showed Coon at a laptop adjusting the Axsis software that powers the lucrative enforcement program. The screen also showed that drivers at the East Chaparral Boulevard location had slammed on their brakes while passing the van, slowing to an average of just 18 MPH to avoid receiving a citation. After noticing the photographer, Coon quickly blocked the van’s windows to protect his privacy.

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4 of 11 comments

Arapaima on Oct 13, 2008

RichardD: I have read those, but I know the town I'm from has the worst driving statistics in the state. I also know that light cameras and speed traps has significantly reduced the number of accidents in the area. Now personally I do support red light cameras and police activity on roads where speeding is rampant, for the reason of safety. If a program is transparent and audited regularly then issues concerning corruption and improper ticketing are reduced. You can claim a slippery slope to a situation like the UK, but you'll have an awfully hard time proving to anyone that small things like the light cameras will lead to it.

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RichardD on Oct 13, 2008
arapaima : I also know that light cameras and speed traps has significantly reduced the number of accidents in the area. Ok, and you know this, how? Because you put your full faith and trust in the people who simultaneously evaluate the programs and collect the profit from them? They would never lie about statistics, I'm sure. These are all wrong, too. You can claim a slippery slope to a situation like the UK, but you’ll have an awfully hard time proving to anyone that small things like the light cameras will lead to it. Absolutely right. Small things like red light cameras could never become part of a surveillance state. There are no such plans. Move along, citizen. The state knows what's best for you.

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AJ on Oct 13, 2008
The screen also showed that drivers at the East Chaparral Boulevard location had slammed on their brakes while passing the van, slowing to an average of just 18 MPH to avoid receiving a citation. This happens on my way to work when they set up speed traps. It's not down to 18 mph as it's on the interstate, but it does back up commuting hour traffic and has the potential to cause accidents when speeds fall by 15 mph around the traps and especially when they have someone pulled over. But as far as the city cares, their collecting additional revenue.

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Arapaima on Oct 13, 2008

Well RichardD, I get my statistics from the state DOT, which doesn't get a thing from the cameras, they just track things like accident rates, injury rates, etc. I have no issues with red light cameras, but I think speed cameras are a problem. At the same time there are studies from the iihs showing the reduction of front/side crashes with the use of cameras coupled with an increase in rear endings. Given a choice between the two I'll take the latter.

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