“Festive” Protest Takes On Traffic Cameras In Jonesborough
Alternative content
Festive Protest Takes On Traffic Cameras In Jonesborough...
Jonesborough's cameras along the 11-E bypass inspired a protest Saturday, led by a senior at East Tennessee State University with a passion for the U.S. Constitution.
George Jackson/11 Connects
One protester uses a baseball bat to knock an effigy of a Redflex camera from its base
Jonesborough, Tenn.—Love ‘em or hate ‘em, traffic cameras are popping up all over our region.
Kingsport, Mount Carmel and Johnson City all have red-light or speed cameras in place, or have plans to install them.
Jonesborough’s cameras along the 11-E bypass inspired a protest Saturday, led by a senior at East Tennessee State University with a passion for the U.S. Constitution.
The cameras were erected this January, spent one month in “warning phase,“ and Jonesborough mailed the first citations this February.
“The town has been paid right at $10,000,“ said Craig Ford, director of public safety.
It’s not about the money, Ford said. Jonesborough started this program to keep its residents safe—period.
“You take that resident population of 4,500 people and we’re running about 30,000 cars a day on 11-E. We’re running about 12,000 cars a day on Main Street.“
Matthew Jeffers, a student activist and constitutional enthusiast, viewed that kind of traffic in a positive light.
“My Aunt works up here. She owns Bloomers Florals. About a dozen customers told her {sic} they’re taking the old highway to avoid having to go through these revenue traps.“
Jeffers also thinks Redflex Traffic Systems, a company based in Australia that maintains Jonesborough’s traffic cameras, has access to too much information.
“I hope it concerns people that Redflex has access to their license plate, their driver’s license number, their social security number, their address, their telephone number. All that private information rests in the hands of a private foreign corporation. That’s very disturbing.“
But Ford said the town couldn’t afford the lights without them. “Each on of these cameras, at least we have been told, costs approximately $100,000,“ he said.
The goals of Jeffers’ protest: to raise awareness, generate a petition, and put pressure on the board of mayor and alderman.
“In this town we’ve got three, four, five, six-hundred people—residents, registered voters—that will vote you out of office unless you listen to them.“
Jeffers said Jonesborough’s cameras also violate the fourth, fifth, and eighth amendments (in order: the right to unreasonable search and seizure, due process, and protection from excessive bail).
Tennessee Attorney General Robert E. Cooper disagreed. In fact, he addressed the question in an opinion drafted on November 26th, 2008 (to read it, click the link at left).
Click the play icon above for a video version of this report.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
To Photoradarscam….I reviewed the website. I wasn’t that impressed. Who runs this thing? Are they a reputable company?
To answer your question about the driver who ran the red light. He may have possibly thought about stopping if he knew their would be a ticket. Most people will only respond when it comes to money coming out of their pocket.
Does anyone on this blog drive thru these intersections on a daily basis? I couldn’t tell you the last time I saw a wreck at a red light in JBO.
Some of the research on red light cameras and wrecks….their is a DECREASE in fatal accidents. But the number of rear end collisions is usually consistent. Typically rear end collisions are non-fatal.
BSNurse, my question to you is - do you think a camera would have stopped that driver? I don’t. If the driver thinks that it is yellow, then a camera isn’t going to change that. Will it make you feel better to know that they might get a ticket in a few weeks? I think the driver is probably experiencing enough “punishment” knowing he put someone in the hospital - a $100 ticket isn’t going to change things.
And just because you think that “none of us have privacy anymore” doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t fight to keep the privacy we still have or make effort to regain privacy. It’s sad that you feel that fighting is futile and not worthwhile.
Oh, and just wait until one of those cameras malfunction and they send you a ticket and you more than likely will choose to pay it than to take time off of work and drive to court to fight a ticket you didn’t deserve. You don’t think they malfunction? Then you need to do some research. Start at PhotoRadarScam.com
I work for the Veterans Hospital….so my question to MTNGIRL27. What does being a veteran and protesting red light cameras have in common? Serving our country? I’m not bad mouthing the greatest military in the world but I’m confused?
I took care of a 5 year old little girl about a month ago who was on her way to T-ball with her family and was T-boned by an idiot who ran a light. The other drivers defense was “it was still yellow”. Other drivers at the intersection said he ran the light. Do you think that little girl cared? Incidently she will never walk,talk, or feed herself again.
My understanding about the protest/petition is they have to have several hundred signatures from Jonesborough residents. I can guarantee the protesters didn’t get them. So if the residents of Jonesborough as a whole don’t have a problem…why does everyone else?
As far as an invasion of privacy…none of us have any privacy anymore. If you know the right websites you can find out anything you want to know.
I travel through these intersections 3-5 times per day. The cameras went live in January…..and I ain’t got a ticket yet.
It is all about the money, especially when they cannot show with independent studies that these cameras reduce accidents. That’s because independent studies show that accidents INCREASE where cameras are installed. They have claimed 28 lives in Arizona so far according to the National Motorists Association. They have yet to prove how mailing a ticket to someone a few weeks after the incident is effective at changing behavior.
More into at http://PhotoRadarScam.com.
Anyone that says and/or believes it’s not about the money, obviously trusts their elected & appointed officials way to much or doesn’t understand the first thing about politics. It’s always about the money, I worked in local government for 11 years and 95% of the time it’s about money and only 5% is about safety, so don’t let them snowball you with there words, that is their way to try to sell it to the public.
Ok lets say for sake of arguement that this Ford person is right. That its not about the money. Ok then instead of fining the people how about giving them a full week of community service upon a violation, or suspending their license for a week. This will get people thinking more than fining them a measly 100 dollars. Time is of the esence isnt it? Their are other options of punishment for traffic violations than just money. SO Mr big shot Ford now what do you have to say? If its not about the money then come up with other forms of punishment. Lets see you put some action behind that mouth. Im not saying im for or against the red light cameras but i know its all about the money. Im not nieave like alot of others. Whether the cameras help or not, is not the argument. The argument to me is, its all about the money. Always has been always will be. Lets get a response on this.
To bsnurse… I don’t want to start an argument, but Mr. Jeffers is not only a student, but also a veteran who has served our nation overseas. I believe that makes him more than “a professional student, who doesn’t want to grow up and get a job.“ He’s already done more of a job for our country than many of the rest of us have, myself included.
Red light cameras are another one of big Government/Big Brothers invasion of our privacy and should be removed. If Government continues to get into our purses and wallets all over “Safety and Security” we will become neither safe or secure but more like communist Russia and China. I say remove the cameras or the next step is remove them by citizen force.
I wonder of a 30-30 would work OK?
At last someone has stepped forward to protest these money traps. The yellow light cycle is too short- you either have to lay down on the brakes or speed up before the light turns red.
I went through main street Jonesborough several times today running errands. I never saw more than 6 or 8 people at their tents. It actually was a pathetic protest. I do however wonder if Mr. Jeffers were involved in a head on collision because some idiot ran a red light. Would he be complaining about his constitutional rights while lying in a hospital bed with a spinal fracture? Or standing over the grave of a child? The terms student activist and constitutional enthusiast…. translate into professional student, who doesn’t want to grow up and get a job.
Advertisement