9 Comments

Adding speed and red light camera enforcement will result in a positive culture change witch will result in saved lives. Red light running is so prevalent in Southpark that we have educated our beginning drivers to hesitate 2-3 seconds when a light turns green to be sure a red light runner is not coming through the intersection. Also why should the fine proceeds go to the school system? The lottery already funds the school system. Finally, put this subject up for vote next November and let the community decide and not the politicians who have self interests.

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This issue is very important for the City off Charlotte and particularly in South Charlotte where I live. There have been many comments both in favor of and against these cameras on Nextdoor which is an online community oriented chat group. I am strongly in favor of red light cameras which generate a fine for the owner of a vehicle, but there may be legal problems with speed cameras which 15 years ago involved CMPD vans parked next to speed cameras issuing tickets to speeders. This was my response on Nextdoor to a meeting I attended today where Captain Chickoree, the assistant to Police Chief Johnny Jennings, spoke: I just attended a Rotary meeting in South Charlotte where Captain Chickoree, Assistant to Police Chief Johnny Jennings, spoke about various issues confronting CMPD. Several of the group asked about enforcement of red light and speeding violations in South Charlotte, and I mentioned the discussion in our community on Nextdoor about the advisability of red light and speeding cameras. First, he said that enforcement of traffic violations by the South Charlotte Division was the highest in Charlotte. Second, he suggested that these cameras would have a deterrent effect but took no position whether cameras were a good idea. He indicated that this was not a CMPD issue to be resolved. Presumably, City Council is the appropriate governmental entity to consider this issue. I was struck by his lack of interest in UNC Charlotte's article in Transit by Ely Portillo about this issue, or the comments of neighbors here. From the standpoint of CMPD, we are all on our own. CMPD thinks it is doing an adequate job on enforcing red light and speeding laws.

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Just not enough information in the article. How many fatalities are caused by drivers without a valid license? How many were due to DUI? How many fatalities were due to poor maintenance? (Especially, worn tires or brakes). And no mention of the increase in rear end collisions and the associated cost.

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Not sure what you’re getting at. The things you mention may be a problem but a distraction from the issue. If an automated solution can pay for itself and has been shown to make the streets safer, then how is that a problem? Unless you’re a profligate speeder. Say….. you’re not Braxton under a pseudonym are you?

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The goal of the cameras is to reduce fatalities, not bring in income. The root cause of the accidents that caused fatalities should be defined. For example, running a red light purposefully versus running the light because the driver is texting. The camera will affect one driver but not the other.

Too many drivers operate a vehicle without a license or insurance. The cameras have little effect on fatalities if other laws are not enforced.

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Umm. The article says accidents reduced 20pct. Without any root cause analysis. Though one could reasonably assume less speeding was the cause - but who cares? It still reduced 20 pct.

Use the money to pay for the program and give the rest to Mothers against texting and driving. Seems fiscally responsible.

Are you denying that speeding is a major cause of fatalities? Because that’s how it comes across.

Your logic appears to say- people text and drive, so we shouldn’t have speed limits enforced.

I’m beginning to think you ARE Braxton. He blamed the road for his speeding rather than taking responsibility himself.

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I find traffic cameras a mixed bag. I would much rather see increased local law enforcement of traffic laws on our interstates, specifically targeting drivers who drive like they are in a real life version of "Grand Theft Auto" with excessive speed and unsafe lane changes. I occasionally see State, Matthews, and Pineville officers on 485, but never CMPD. Coming from a similar sized city, my former hometown had local and state police on traffic duty on the interstates in the metro area and there are more miles of interstate in this metro area.

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Sadly, law enforcement agencies admit that "no aspect of their work has more potential for disaster than car chases" -Office of the Sheriff, Durham County(NC). “Police chases are one of the most dangerous situations a law enforcement officer will find themselves in on a daily basis,” said Dean Crisp, a retired police chief and police policy expert.

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Well done Ely! To city and county leaders, for the growing group of families whom have lost a loved one or been maimed by vehicle injury, its time to re-consider how this technology can lower the community impact and allow the police to continue to improve community policing. No one likes big brother cameras, yet just like internet policing, we all recognize thee value in encouraging safe behavior.

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