Months ago, a judge ruled on the red light cameras and speed cameras that various areas of the state of North Carolina had put into place to generate extra revenue. Sure, they claimed that they were to save lives, but that was a total lie, as illustrated by the facts.

The red light cameras decreased one type of accident, but increased another. And the speed cameras were actually unsafe because they never actually caused anyone who was speeding to slow down one bit. If someone was driving unsafely, they were observed by the police, but not stopped.

The judge didn't rule on the constitutionality of the cameras. Instead, he dodged that one with a ruling the followed other North Carolina laws (yes, some people do follow the law in North Carolina, despite the actions of the members of the General Assembly). That law stated that 90% of the "proceeds" from the cameras was absolutely required to go to the school system.

Of course, in order for the cameras to be profitable to the city, they had to retain a large percent of the cash from the citations. And 10% just simply wasn't enough. So despite all their claims about how many lives these were saving, the city has decided to shut the system down. Using the city's logic, I wonder how many people will die now because they stopped the cameras.

Even funnier (mainly because I don't live in Charlotte) is that the city now has to pay the company that was also earning money from the cameras close to half a million dollars for ending their contract early. Oh, and they have to cough up $4.6 million for the schools.

So where will they get the $4.6 million? Hold on to your wallet, Charlotte, taxes WILL go up again. Maybe not this year, because it's an election year, but certainly for next year. Where did that $4.6 million go? Some was given to the company who ran the cameras, some went to the city, which they immediately spent on things like uptown arenas and theaters.

Then again, knowing how devious the city council can be, maybe this was their plan for extra cash for wasting all along. After all, as Democrats in Charlotte like to say, "That's what we do, tax and spend. What else should we do?"

Posted by: Ogre at 12:09 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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