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Caught on Camera: The Conflict and Confidence Surrounding Photo Enforcement Systems

NCJ Number
225552
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 35 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2008 Pages: 112,114,120
Author(s)
Carole Moore
Date Published
October 2008
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article presents challenges facing and surrounding the use of photo enforcement systems.
Abstract
The goal of photo traffic enforcement should be to save lives, prevent injuries and property damage, and reduce the amount of time officers spend on traffic enforcement. Photo traffic enforcement cameras come in all types, from those designed to identify speeding cars, to cameras that catch red light violators. Other cameras manufactured for this purpose are used to catch violators traveling illegally in designated lanes; or monitor tollbooths, illegal turns, and railroad crossings. Although the goal is the same, not every system operates identically. Most companies that sell photo traffic enforcement systems are United States based and work on a contingency basis. Generally, manufacturers collect their fees from fines paid for citations issued. This has been problematic from an ethical point of view in many places. In addition, in some areas if the car’s registered owner is not the one driving when the vehicle is photographed, the owner is required to reveal the driver’s identity. Improvements to the system have included the use of video, not still cameras, with the light visible throughout the violation. In defense of the system, several areas saw the number of traffic accidents start to decline immediately following the red light camera enforcement. In addition, States that do allow automated enforcement generally do not let these violations accumulate points against licenses of violators. In the long run, if a jurisdiction chooses to proceed with any photo traffic enforcement system, they should make sure the systems meet the requirements of the State’s statutes, research companies that offer these services, give drivers plenty of notice through the media, have appropriate signage and notifying communities, and thoroughly investigate any complaints regarding the system’s possible malfunction.