Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Maine Bans Photo Enforcement
Maine last week became the fourteenth state to ban the use of red light cameras
and speed cameras. Governor John Baldacci (D) signed into law a bill introduced
by Representative Richard Cebra (R-Naples) that prohibits the use of a "traffic
surveillance camera to prove or enforce a violation" of traffic laws. Cebra's
measure sailed through the legislative process with almost no opposition at any
stage of the process.
"While on the surface these cameras may appear to increase public safety,
recent studies have shown that they actually increase the occurrences of
accidents at intersections where the public is aware that there is a camera,"
Cebra said in a statement. "The placement of these cameras is also a civil
rights issue, creating the issuing of a summons and possible fines and jail
time to the owner of a vehicle and not necessarily the actual driver of the
vehicle. In many places around the country, these cameras have become nothing
more than a money-maker for municipalities."
The issue of automated enforcement was first raised in March by state
Representative Donald Pilon (D-Saco) who wanted to give municipalities the
right to install red light cameras throughout Maine. His idea backfired. When
Pilon's bill came before the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation, not
one member voted in favor of the proposal. Cebra followed up with his
prohibition measure which was greeted with unanimous committee approval in
April. It cleared the full state Senate under a suspended rules procedure used
for non-controversial measures, but an amendment was added in the House to
allow the use of toll road cameras. Thus modified, the legislation cleared both
chambers on May 21 with overwhelming support.
The law formally takes effect ninety days after the legislature adjourns,
which would be September 15 according to the latest schedule. Earlier this
year, Mississippi and Montana enacted photo enforcement bans.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to
take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic
purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and
sacrifice for that freedom." - John F. Kennedy
"Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the
arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage
of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world
do not have." - Ronald Reagan
"Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of
justice is no virtue." - Barry Goldwater
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE - This communication may contain confidential and privileged information
that is for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any viewing, copying or
distribution of, or reliance on this message by unintended recipients is
strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify
us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
This is a Free Speech forum. The owner of this list assumes no responsibility
for the intellectual or emotional maturity of its members. If you do not like
what is being said here, filter it to trash, ignore it or leave. If you leave,
learn how to do this for yourself. If you do not, you will be here forever.
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
