Arizona rakes in the dough with speed cameras on clarkhoward.com

Clark gets worried whenever state or local officials say they want to protect us by putting in cameras to monitor our speed while driving. The real purpose of such cameras is to make money.

The Detroit News reports that Arizona will make $175 million this year from speed cameras. They have an Australian contractor who handles everything: installation, ticketing and collections. The contractor gets $30 from every ticket with the remainder going to the state.

In fact, Arizona decided it wasn't making enough revenue from the cameras, so they lowered the speed limit in the state to get more money! These tickets don't come with any points on your license; they're strictly against the car itself and just a form of tax.

Illinois and other states now want to install similar speed cameras. But don't believe the political hype about these cameras being used to reduce the rate of highway fatalities. They're simply designed to stock the coffers so politicians can get re-elected.

And get this -- The Detroit News reports Arizona only puts the cameras on roads that are heavily driven by out-of-state motorists. So the revenue comes from non-voters because the politicians don't want to alienate their constituents!

Clark doesn't deny that speeding is dangerous and also necessitates longer stopping distances in the event of a panic stop. But these cameras are only about the dough. If they were really intended to make you a safer driver, the tickets would be against the driver, not against the car. So get ready to smile -- you may be on candid camera!

What others are saying

Texas Driver Gets Two Photo Tickets Within 24 Hours
On May 30 & May 31, I, a resident of Houston, received two photo speeding tickets, for $181.50 EACH, supposedly on different parts of I10 in Phoenix--that's $363.00. No officer ever stopped me of course. I don't know how to handle this. Any suggestions? anony8@msn.com
By Oscar @ 06/15/09 08:16:14 PMreport abuse
Sorry MARY CARSON, your dog breeder is WRONG! England has not gotten rid of their speed cameras. They probabily have more than any other country. In fact you can buy a GPS based detector called Road Angel that tells you if you are going too fast when approaching one.
By Mark Jones @ 12/23/08 09:32:38 AMreport abuse
speeding tickets from cameras
Revenue streams from traffic violations have the potential to reduce property taxes. Every municipality needs income to (re)build its infrastructure. Traffic law offenders can be a major $$ contributor. Now, hang up and drive.
By myassesdragon @ 12/22/08 08:29:12 PMreport abuse
Don't speed and you want get a ticket!!!
I am all for the cameras. I wish they would in NC. People drive way to fast and if you are speeding I hope you get a ticket. I would the price for speeding tickets go up maybe it would slow some of you idiots down. If you don't speed there is no fear of cameras.
By Eddie Norris @ 12/17/08 08:15:16 AMreport abuse
Camera in AZ Roads
Just another way for the government to squeeze out more of our money. Sounds like Photo Radar has a few run ins with the law. Watch your mail for a speeding ticket. How nice.
By Sockla @ 12/17/08 02:37:10 AMreport abuse
CAMERA IN AZ ROADS
ENGLAND HAS GOTTEN RID OF THE CAMERAS, THE MONEY DISAPPEARED INTO THE GOVT, NOBODY COULD FIND IT. MY DOG BREEDER LIVES IN ENGLAND, WHEN I TOLD HER ABOUT THE CAMERAS, SHE LAUGHED AND LAUGHED.
CHECK IT OUT.
By MARY CARSON @ 12/17/08 12:40:16 AMreport abuse
Photo Radar
I love the way people whine about “I have a right to confront my accuser. Just who is my accuser in this case -- A robotic camera?” I suppose that with that logic, if I rob a 7-11 and kill the clerk, the surveillance tape should not be used against me? After all it is a robotic camera. I don’t mind the cameras, if you do the crime (speed) pay the fine.

By the way I’d rather get a ticket in the mail with no points against my license than get pullover by Sheriff Buford T. Justice and have to listen to his self righteous rant about how he ought to throw me in jail, while brushing doughnut crumbs off his beer belly.
By MikeJ @ 12/16/08 03:13:26 PMreport abuse
PHOTO RADAR SPEED TRAPS!!!
Doesn't matter where they plug the camera in....it's a speed trap!!!
By Chriss Hayes @ 12/16/08 01:40:05 PMreport abuse
Speed Cameras
In my opinion all fines collected by the government should be refunded back to the general population, or diverted away from the issuing institution. Any fine that can be used by the government agency issuing the fine creates a potentially corrupt motivation for enforcing the law. Public safety should be the only motivation for enforcing speeding laws.
By ChrisB @ 12/16/08 01:33:37 PMreport abuse
AZ speed cameras
When I heard you talk about this on the radio, Clark, I had to write and say you have some mis-information. The cameras were initially set up on interstate 101 which sees more local residents of the Phoenix area than out of state travelers. When that interstate loop was completed it was large and smooth going and many people decided to practically fly on it. In one way, it's hard to blame people in Phoenix as that city is stretched out so far and commutes can be terribly long. But I feared for my life when someone flew by me seeming to be going 100 mph! There were many fatal accidents after that interstate opened and officials knew something had to be done. The cameras proved effective and so began the use of them on other interstates around the Phoenix area and beyond. I personally don't care for 2 reasons. I am not a speeder and don't like people who compromise my safety with excessive speed. I also want more money in my state for services, roads, etc., without raising my taxes, so it's fine with me to have the speeders pay. OK, I'm being flippant, but the bottom line is that there is really a problem with speeders in the Phoenix area. If you have never driven in that city, you should try it sometime. Speed limits are generally set higher on regular streets than you would typically see in other large cities because Phoenix streets are wide and straight and there is never a problem with snow. It has one of the highest rates of red light runners and that is made more dangerous due to the excessive speeds. Many streets have 45 mph speed limits through business/commerce areas and so people drive at least 50. You can imagine having someone run a red light going 50 and plow into the side of a car going through the green light. I realized years ago there are not enough police to catch all the dangerous speeders so if the cameras help, I'm all for it!
By Sue @ 12/16/08 01:18:37 PMreport abuse
more junk fees
Just another way to try to empty out your wallet. They make this a legal way to loan shark there own citizens. The government sitting there with there tin cup sticking out and sucking it out of there own citizens who have one of the hardest hit economies out there.

And you have no recourse? How can that be?, Your are guilty without being proven guilty. How does this stop people from speeding especially if the car is not in there name?
By rdzins @ 12/16/08 11:52:08 AMreport abuse
I have a right to confront my accuser!
The idea of mindless cameras snapping away, trying to enforce rules of the road is disturbing. As with just about ANY ticket, common sense, and sometimes law, dictates that the ticketing officer use HIS judgement and experience to determine whether a ticket is justified. Blind adherence to the law is downright idiotic.

Also, for almost all crimes, I have a right to confront my accuser. Just who is my accuser in this case -- A robotic camera? Some clerk in Australia? AND, technology is not infallible. The systems/techniques used in red-light and speed cameras can be flawed, resulting in hundreds or thousands of undeserved tickets! A few examples:

http://speedtrapahead.org/wordpress/2008/10/25/pennsylvania-4390-red-light-camera-tickets-refunded/

http://speedtrapahead.org/wordpress/2008/06/18/texas-red-light-camera-offenses-require-imagination-or-a-little-cheating/

http://speedtrapahead.org/wordpress/2008/05/15/uk-top-speed-camera-trap-caught-tricking-motorists-at-night/

http://speedtrapahead.org/wordpress/2008/03/06/300-drivers-get-refunds-bad-speed-cameras/

Next you know, we'll be getting tickets in the mail for jaywalking, or stepping on a sidewalk crack!

Pretty soon, due process will go right out the window!
By Lance @ 12/16/08 10:44:06 AMreport abuse
Cameras
Clark, the reason it's aginst the car instead of the drive, is becoz anyone can be driving someones car, it might not be the registered owner of the car, Maybe your daughter, do you want the points for something someone else does with your car to go to you.
By Guy @ 12/15/08 09:00:02 PMreport abuse
arizona speed cameras
the cameras are not just on hiways used by out of staters. they are on freeways all over greater phoenix as well as out of town. they only will activate if you speed 10 miles or more over the limit. the state has not lowered its speed limit of 75 on rural interstates. bottom line, dont go above 9 miles over the speed limit & you're safe. although i am not a fan of excessive camera use, they have cut back speeding & accidents. on the 101 in scottsdale, a death trap, they worked so affectively when they were used as an experiment that this became the start of the state wide program. unless the law has changed re the camera's use, the state must verify the driver of the car & not just the owner. if you are the owner & it is not your photo behind the wheel you are not required to identify the driver & no ticket can be served. hope this clearifies your article.

cordially,
steve k/scottsdale, az
By steve k @ 12/15/08 05:02:31 PMreport abuse
So
I knew it. John SYDNEY McCain has been selling the people of Arizona out to the Australians all along. :)
By CA @ 12/15/08 04:48:43 PMreport abuse
So what
Let's assume Clark is correct and that the only reason government officials install cameras is to bring in money. I'm not sure that is true, but even if it is, so what? If you are breaking the law, you should be prepared to pay a penalty. If governments are able to get lots of money from it, I say let them.

Also, penalizing people with a fine rather than points makes sense because we can't be sure who is driving the car at the time of the violation.
By GB @ 12/15/08 03:22:59 PMreport abuse

Texas Driver Gets Two Photo Tickets Within 24 Hours

On May 30 & May 31, I, a resident of Houston, received two photo speeding tickets, for $181.50 EACH, supposedly on different parts of I10 in Phoenix--that's $363.00. No officer ever stopped me of course. I don't know how to handle this. Any suggestions? anony8@msn.com

By Oscar @ 06/15/09 08:16:14 PMreport abuse

Sorry MARY CARSON, your dog breeder is WRONG! England has not gotten rid of their speed cameras. They probabily have more than any other country. In fact you can buy a GPS based detector called Road Angel that tells you if you are going too fast when approaching one.

By Mark Jones @ 12/23/08 09:32:38 AMreport abuse

speeding tickets from cameras

Revenue streams from traffic violations have the potential to reduce property taxes. Every municipality needs income to (re)build its infrastructure. Traffic law offenders can be a major $$ contributor. Now, hang up and drive.

By myassesdragon @ 12/22/08 08:29:12 PMreport abuse

Don't speed and you want get a ticket!!!

I am all for the cameras. I wish they would in NC. People drive way to fast and if you are speeding I hope you get a ticket. I would the price for speeding tickets go up maybe it would slow some of you idiots down. If you don't speed there is no fear of cameras.

By Eddie Norris @ 12/17/08 08:15:16 AMreport abuse

Camera in AZ Roads

Just another way for the government to squeeze out more of our money. Sounds like Photo Radar has a few run ins with the law. Watch your mail for a speeding ticket. How nice.

By Sockla @ 12/17/08 02:37:10 AMreport abuse

CAMERA IN AZ ROADS

ENGLAND HAS GOTTEN RID OF THE CAMERAS, THE MONEY DISAPPEARED INTO THE GOVT, NOBODY COULD FIND IT. MY DOG BREEDER LIVES IN ENGLAND, WHEN I TOLD HER ABOUT THE CAMERAS, SHE LAUGHED AND LAUGHED.
CHECK IT OUT.

By MARY CARSON @ 12/17/08 12:40:16 AMreport abuse

Photo Radar

I love the way people whine about “I have a right to confront my accuser. Just who is my accuser in this case -- A robotic camera?” I suppose that with that logic, if I rob a 7-11 and kill the clerk, the surveillance tape should not be used against me? After all it is a robotic camera. I don’t mind the cameras, if you do the crime (speed) pay the fine.

By the way I’d rather get a ticket in the mail with no points against my license than get pullover by Sheriff Buford T. Justice and have to listen to his self righteous rant about how he ought to throw me in jail, while brushing doughnut crumbs off his beer belly.

By MikeJ @ 12/16/08 03:13:26 PMreport abuse

PHOTO RADAR SPEED TRAPS!!!

Doesn't matter where they plug the camera in....it's a speed trap!!!

By Chriss Hayes @ 12/16/08 01:40:05 PMreport abuse

Speed Cameras

In my opinion all fines collected by the government should be refunded back to the general population, or diverted away from the issuing institution. Any fine that can be used by the government agency issuing the fine creates a potentially corrupt motivation for enforcing the law. Public safety should be the only motivation for enforcing speeding laws.

By ChrisB @ 12/16/08 01:33:37 PMreport abuse

AZ speed cameras

When I heard you talk about this on the radio, Clark, I had to write and say you have some mis-information. The cameras were initially set up on interstate 101 which sees more local residents of the Phoenix area than out of state travelers. When that interstate loop was completed it was large and smooth going and many people decided to practically fly on it. In one way, it's hard to blame people in Phoenix as that city is stretched out so far and commutes can be terribly long. But I feared for my life when someone flew by me seeming to be going 100 mph! There were many fatal accidents after that interstate opened and officials knew something had to be done. The cameras proved effective and so began the use of them on other interstates around the Phoenix area and beyond. I personally don't care for 2 reasons. I am not a speeder and don't like people who compromise my safety with excessive speed. I also want more money in my state for services, roads, etc., without raising my taxes, so it's fine with me to have the speeders pay. OK, I'm being flippant, but the bottom line is that there is really a problem with speeders in the Phoenix area. If you have never driven in that city, you should try it sometime. Speed limits are generally set higher on regular streets than you would typically see in other large cities because Phoenix streets are wide and straight and there is never a problem with snow. It has one of the highest rates of red light runners and that is made more dangerous due to the excessive speeds. Many streets have 45 mph speed limits through business/commerce areas and so people drive at least 50. You can imagine having someone run a red light going 50 and plow into the side of a car going through the green light. I realized years ago there are not enough police to catch all the dangerous speeders so if the cameras help, I'm all for it!

By Sue @ 12/16/08 01:18:37 PMreport abuse

more junk fees

Just another way to try to empty out your wallet. They make this a legal way to loan shark there own citizens. The government sitting there with there tin cup sticking out and sucking it out of there own citizens who have one of the hardest hit economies out there.

And you have no recourse? How can that be?, Your are guilty without being proven guilty. How does this stop people from speeding especially if the car is not in there name?

By rdzins @ 12/16/08 11:52:08 AMreport abuse

I have a right to confront my accuser!

The idea of mindless cameras snapping away, trying to enforce rules of the road is disturbing. As with just about ANY ticket, common sense, and sometimes law, dictates that the ticketing officer use HIS judgement and experience to determine whether a ticket is justified. Blind adherence to the law is downright idiotic.

Also, for almost all crimes, I have a right to confront my accuser. Just who is my accuser in this case -- A robotic camera? Some clerk in Australia? AND, technology is not infallible. The systems/techniques used in red-light and speed cameras can be flawed, resulting in hundreds or thousands of undeserved tickets! A few examples:

http://speedtrapahead.org/wordpress/2008/10/25/pennsylvania-4390-red-light-camera-tickets-refunded/

http://speedtrapahead.org/wordpress/2008/06/18/texas-red-light-camera-offenses-require-imagination-or-a-little-cheating/

http://speedtrapahead.org/wordpress/2008/05/15/uk-top-speed-camera-trap-caught-tricking-motorists-at-night/

http://speedtrapahead.org/wordpress/2008/03/06/300-drivers-get-refunds-bad-speed-cameras/

Next you know, we'll be getting tickets in the mail for jaywalking, or stepping on a sidewalk crack!

Pretty soon, due process will go right out the window!

By Lance @ 12/16/08 10:44:06 AMreport abuse

Cameras

Clark, the reason it's aginst the car instead of the drive, is becoz anyone can be driving someones car, it might not be the registered owner of the car, Maybe your daughter, do you want the points for something someone else does with your car to go to you.

By Guy @ 12/15/08 09:00:02 PMreport abuse

arizona speed cameras

the cameras are not just on hiways used by out of staters. they are on freeways all over greater phoenix as well as out of town. they only will activate if you speed 10 miles or more over the limit. the state has not lowered its speed limit of 75 on rural interstates. bottom line, dont go above 9 miles over the speed limit & you're safe. although i am not a fan of excessive camera use, they have cut back speeding & accidents. on the 101 in scottsdale, a death trap, they worked so affectively when they were used as an experiment that this became the start of the state wide program. unless the law has changed re the camera's use, the state must verify the driver of the car & not just the owner. if you are the owner & it is not your photo behind the wheel you are not required to identify the driver & no ticket can be served. hope this clearifies your article.

cordially,
steve k/scottsdale, az

By steve k @ 12/15/08 05:02:31 PMreport abuse

I knew it. John SYDNEY McCain has been selling the people of Arizona out to the Australians all along. :)

By CA @ 12/15/08 04:48:43 PMreport abuse

So what

Let's assume Clark is correct and that the only reason government officials install cameras is to bring in money. I'm not sure that is true, but even if it is, so what? If you are breaking the law, you should be prepared to pay a penalty. If governments are able to get lots of money from it, I say let them.

Also, penalizing people with a fine rather than points makes sense because we can't be sure who is driving the car at the time of the violation.

By GB @ 12/15/08 03:22:59 PMreport abuse

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Dec 15, 2008 -- Arizona rakes in the dough with speed cameras

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