City Wants to Ban Red-Light Cameras for Good

The City Council wants to set a new rule: No red-light cameras in Anaheim – ever.

The council on Tuesday expressed unanimous support for an amendment to the city's Charter that would prohibit automated traffic-enforcement systems from being installed on city streets.

The prohibition would require a public vote. The council plans to adopt a formal resolution in coming weeks and put the amendment to a public vote in November.'

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Anarchy in the Streets

For a number of years now, a number of cities in Europe have been experimenting with the removal of all traffic signs – including traffic lights, stop signs, speed limit directives – and with surprising results. Various towns in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, New Zealand – even the UK! – have joined in the experiment. Contrary to the expectations of those who might expect multi-car pileups throughout the cities, traffic accidents have been dramatically reduced (in one town, dropping from about eight per year to fewer than two). Part of the reason for the increased safety relates to the fact that, without the worry of offending traffic sign mandates, or watching for police speed-traps, or checking the rear-view mirror for police motorcycles, drivers have more time to pay attention to other cars and pedestrians.

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Spycams For Traffic Wardens to Go Live

Parking wardens in Bolton are to be fitted with lightweight head cameras to collect evidence against motorists who attack them while on duty.

Bolton will become the first borough in the country to equip all wardens with the battery-sized cameras, which will also be used to help train new wardens.

Funding for the scheme, which is costing £16,000, was agreed last March, but Bolton Council and parking enforcement firm NSL, which employs the wardens, have spent 18 months developing the technology and the protocol for using the cameras.'

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Fury Over Speed Guns That Can See in the Dark

Furious campaigners hit out yesterday at plans to arm police with the radars that can pin a speeding conviction on a driver who will not have any warning.

The new super speed guns work over a distance of more than a mile and can note a car’s registration number from 100 yards away.

Critics last night branded the move as “totally inappropriate” and a backdoor tax on the country’s beleaguered car owners. Up until now handheld speed guns have only been able to work in daylight, giving motorists a clear view of the officer holding it.

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