Speed Cameras strategically posted throughout the city have authority to automatically mail registered drivers hefty fines by taking photos of their vehicle license plates. Camera enforcement is becoming a popular trend in city governments that are not equipped to enforce their own rules. 

The vast majority of fines that are gathered are for MINOR offenses such as going 10 MPH over the speed limit in an underpass and not fully stopping to 0MPH before turning right at a red light. These tickets are automatically mailed out without taking into consideration basic common sense.

What happened to WARNINGS?!

Meanwhile, District drivers must tolerate poor roads, constantly changing lane closures, confusing signage, horrible traffic and MANY, many obstacles such as debris in the road, pedestrians, bicyclists, disabled and parked vehicles in the road as well as and MOST IMPORTANTLY violently aggressive drivers and STUNT CYCLISTS.

The result of this program is hyper surveillance, over regulation, abuse of discretion and harassment from the government via fine letters doled out to responsible, defensive drivers trying to go about their lives. Also MANY of these cameras are disproportionately placed in neighborhoods of low income. We need to question the validity of this program and the placement selection of these cameras.

Does this make the streets safer? That is certainly debatable, and we would argue NO it does not. It is mostly a way for the city treasury to make millions and to fine drivers who dare to enter the city in a vehicle. And now the mayor wants to further punish drivers by adding points to their driving record, which will raise car insurance premiums.

Americans in other parts of the country would not tolerate this and nor should we!