Big Brother using High Tech in rural Tn

[Johnny Rotten]

In my AO a small town installed a speed camera in a school zone late last yr, I've driven this route to work for the past 28yrs usually drive through it between 4-5am and use a different route home because I don't want to deal with parents picking up their kids and buses, I received a ticket late January for speeding in this school zone, the road up to the school is 45, drops to 35 then back to 45, I got ticketed on Sunday at 11am doing 46 , its on 24/7. Fine you got me, I paid and now use my afternoon route both ways to work.

Yesterday I notice this on my way to town, I'm assuming these are owned by the county.    

@Handsome Rob you know where these are at?

 

[ArmyBrat61]

Weren't speed cameras ruled as revenue generators and thus illegal a few years ago? The ones around here are disconnected.

[10-Ring]

I got a ticket from a camera in Oak Ridge 15+ years ago. I was on my way from the electric company to the gas company paying utility bills. I don't guess they thought they weren't getting enough of my money that day already.  I do believe that most places that have tried them have gotten away from using them. They just don't seem to be popular with the people. 

Side note. The one that I got years ago in Oak Ridge, I paid and went along my way, I was indeed speeding. However, the way they had it set up the fine was $50 and if you were assessed with a fine $50 or under the city would not let you appeal the fine. I heard rumors that the city was being sued to change the policy, not sure whatever actually happened. 

Edited 4 hours ago by 10-Ring

[peejman]

19 minutes ago, 10-Ring said:

I got a ticket from a camera in Oak Ridge 15+ years ago. I was on my way from the electric company to the gas company paying utility bills. I don't guess they thought they weren't getting enough of my money that day already.  I do believe that most places that have tried them have gotten away from using them. They just don't seem to be popular with the people. 

Side note. The one that I got years ago in Oak Ridge, I paid and went along my way, I was indeed speeding. However, the way they had it set up the fine was $50 and if you were assessed with a fine $50 or under the city would not let you appeal the fine. I heard rumors that the city was being sued to change the policy, not sure whatever actually happened. 

I'm pretty sure Oak Ridge and Knoxville did away with speed cameras several years ago. They had little to do with public safety and a lot to do with revenue, except the camera contractor was the one making all the money. I don't recall if there was legislation but they were very unpopular, even more so when the details came out.  Something about them being run by a contractor and the municipalities not having staff of actual cops to review every case. 

There are some red light cameras still around, but I don't know if they're operational. 

[RED333]

The camera's in the picture are license plate reader cameras.

 

[pop pop]

They took all the cameras, at stop signs, a few years back in Murfreesboro. Was glad to see them go. Very much money makers for the County or City. 

Edited to add; The company that owned the cameras got some of the proceeds also. Was accused of shortening the time between orange to red so they could make more. Don't know if that was ever proven but enrage city dwellers. 

Edited 3 hours ago by pop pop

[Johnny Rotten]

22 minutes ago, RED333 said:

The camera's in the picture are license plate reader cameras.

 

Yes.....just seen those yesterday

[Johnny Rotten]

19 minutes ago, pop pop said:

They took all the cameras, at stop signs, a few years back in Murfreesboro. Was glad to see them go. Very much money makers for the County or City. 

Edited to add; The company that owned the cameras got some of the proceeds also. Was accused of shortening the time between orange to red so they could make more. Don't know if that was ever proven but enrage city dwellers. 

On the ticket, it was processed by a company in Chattanooga by a deputy, they get a % of the ticket and I get a CC processing fee, if I'm dumb enough to get caught again I'm saving the processing fee and paying postage

 

[DraxTheDad]

I feel that these speed cameras are illegal, you have the right to face your accuser.   Fight it in court and you have no one to talk to unless they specifically have someone go over the video for each and every ticket they mail out.   Personally I think that it is the duty of the citizens to not put up with this crap; and remove them where possible.

As for the OP who got a speeding ticket in a school zone on a Saturday, I would fight that in court.   Time does matter, the reason for the school zones (and they are often posted as such) is to protect kids, if the kids aren't there, they shouldn't be reduced speeds.   

[45guy]

I says on the back of the notice you do not have to pay it and there are no penalties if you do not. I have gotten 3 and never paid any of them. You get some notices and threats but thats it. 

 

[jpx2rk]

IIRC, a few years ago the traffic court judge for Knox Co stated he would not enforce the photo citations, but don't know if this still holds true.  

A quick google search led to this:

https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-55/chapter-8/part-1/section-55-8-198/

I read a little bit of it, but TLDR.