Big Brother Is Watching

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Big Brother is watching.  Surely you have heard of this before.  Pretty much everywhere we go these days we are being “watched.”  In other words, there are security cameras all around.  I walk into my local grocery store and the first thing I see is: myself on a monitor.  It tells me, that someone is watching.  (I think.)  I am fine with this.  It means my best interest is being protected.  When I walk along the isles of Wal-Mart or Target, I can see the security system at work in the ceiling.  Again this is for my benefit. It is also for the benefit of the store.  They make sure the customers are safe while likewise keeping their merchandise in the store.


In my town, there are four photo enforced intersections at three locations.  One of which has proved to be very effective.  The number of traffic violations per day has gone down from 25 to 40 per day to less than one per day.  When my mother went on a senior trip to The Getty, the Mayor spoke about these cameras and how they have saved lives.  So why is it then; that people are petitioning for a ban against these lights? Some will say it is a money issue.  Others argue that it infringes on their civil liberties.  I make no apologies for my position.  I think they need to be there.  I don’t think it violates my civil liberties at all.  Is it somehow different than being on camera at a department store?   
  
Yes, the city pays for the cameras; so yes indeed it comes out of my pocket.  And I am certainly okay with that.  I am okay with that because it saves lives.  It keeps the roads safer.  So when people ask me to sign that petition, I tell them straight up.  I like them there.  And I want to keep them there.

What do you think?  Are photo enforced traffic lights an infringement on our liberties?  Or is it literally a life saver?

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Comments

Emmy said…
I don't really mind them. I read an article in Car and Driver-yes I read Car and Driver- that had some good arguments against them- I think especially in some major cities while less people ran red lights more people got in accidents at those intersections slamming on their brakes last minute.
The ones that bug me are some highway ones that they have in Arizona that take pictures if your a speeding and you get a ticket, but I think I don't like then since I like to ahem drive a little faster on the highway- so I may have just argued for their effectiveness :)
While I'm not a fan of getting a ticket based on a picture, I definitely see it as an overall good thing.

Anything that encourages people to drive safer, and possibly save lives is worth it.
Nicole said…
I'm so glad you brought this up! Its a difficult decision for me, because I'm not supportive of the big brother idea but I am supportive of safety. There are cameras all over NYC. I agree with them in bad neighborhoods, but not so much on street lights, because I think they are just trying to catch people going through red lights, when 99% of the time those going through red lights are caught anyways by actual cops, and this only catches those who get caught going at the last minute through yellow lights and are caught in the intersection at that moment.
Unknown said…
I think they should be at every traffic light. There are too many idiots that think it's ok to run a red light.
Anonymous said…
I think they're a good idea. The people that are fussing are the ones speeding and running the red lights.
Liz Mays said…
It's a simple measure that is clearly having a positive effect on how people drive. How can there possibly be a good argument on reversing that?

I have absolutely no problem with that technology. I applaud it.
Linda Medrano said…
I think a cost analysis would show that the cameras are a lot cheaper than having personnel manning intersections looking for violations. I really don't mind being watched unless I'm doing something wrong or illegal. But that's so seldom it really isn't even worth mentioning!
Shell said…
An infringement on our liberties? No way.

Now those cameras I've heard they have in fitting rooms....
Macey said…
I'm one of those people that thinks I have nothing to hide so go ahead and infringe. I think if you're worried then you did something. LOL I think they're fine.
mormonhermitmom said…
Traffic cameras, fine. Cameras at the checkout counter, fine. Cameras in fitting rooms, no. Law enforcement putting a GPS tranceiver on your car without a warrant, no.
Nicole said…
Oh everyone needs to find a reason to protest... LOL... this must be theirs! :)
Penelope said…
I don't think about them. If they help, that's awesome. I don't see how they hurt or infringe on my liberty. I'm out in public. People can take pics of me anytime, there is nothing I can do about it. *shrug*
Christina Lee said…
I don't mind them either--more important things to worry about, me thinks (ya know?)!
Unknown said…
KEEP THEM I WANNA LIVE!!!! lol

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