February 8, 2011 Greenlighting Red Light Cameras? Politicians seem to love what are called "red light cameras" -- cameras that take pictures of cars that run red lights. And then ticket the registered owners. Citizens? Not so much. I've reported how Tim Eyman -- an activist who usually sets his sights on tax increases -- orchestrated a citizen initiative petition campaign to get rid of the red light cameras in his town. There are many other such movements. But those who habitually side with government don't get it. They see the issue as the Washington Post editors see it, as "common sense. Police can't be everywhere, and officers should not be diverted from high-crime areas to police every high-risk intersection." A new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety backs up this "common sense" with, uh, science. Sort of. The study's method has been attacked pretty thoroughly. More importantly, as Radley Balko notes, there are better alternate policies -- more effective in saving lives at intersections, and far less creepy. Like what? you ask. Well, bear with me. It's hard to understand: Longer yellow lights. Yes. Longer yellow lights save lives. What a shock. And yet it turns out that when politicians have red light cameras installed, they tend to decrease the time of the yellows -- the very opposite policy. For our safety? No. For their revenue. People who "go into politics" show their true colors when they prefer to pump up surveillance state powers instead of enacting simple, decent reforms. This is Common Sense. I'm Paul Jacob. Comment on this episode | View/download the PDF Paul Jacob is President of Citizens in Charge and Citizens in Charge Foundation, which sponsors both Common Sense and Paul's weekly Townhall Column. The opinions expressed in Common Sense are Paul Jacob's and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Citizens in Charge or Citizens in Charge Foundation. -- 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.