Automated Speed Cam System in Oak Ridge?

[Guest 85rx-7gsl-se]

I was wondering what anyone here knows about these systems and their thoughts on them? I know that the red light cameras have been pretty widely accepted as legitimate. However this was the first I had heard of this. My mother received a letter in the mail saying that their camera had detected she was speeding in Oak Ridge (while on our way to Thanksgiving) and that if she sent in a certain amount of money her insurance company would not be informed. No info on the exact location this was clocked, video link, nothing. Sounds kinda fishy to me....

[vontar]

I live in Oak Ridge. I hate them. I bet I know which camera got her.

I thought they had to give you a link with a picture/video. I have yet to directly see how the tickets are actually done but I know they take pictures. I have not see one of the tickets first hand.

Tickets I have heard about, did include locations, time of day/date, speed, posted speed and I believe pictures at least. If hers does not contain any of that I would question it.

Also camera tickets are i believe only suppose to be like a parking ticket, considered a non moving violation but don't quote me on that, I am not a lawyer. There are so many humors about what is and isn't legal about them.

I have heard of people getting tickets 1 and 2 miles an hour over the posted speed limit by some of the cameras.

Just a wild Guess I bet she was on N Illinois ave, where Robertsville rd crosses. The camera are set to get north and south traffic and guess what. Both sides is a down hill coast to the Red light and it is very easy to go over the 35 mile per hour right there. It is also a School zone part of the Day which drops to 20 or 25. This is the cameras I have heard about one person getting 2 tickets back to back days, one for 36 and one for 37.

There are a few others around as well. I believe I know were they are all located.

Edited December 12, 2010 by vontar

[Garufa]

The speed cams have been up for a coupla years now in Oak Ridge.

They'll be in Memphis soon enough and Knoxville, Nashville, etc.

Unfortunately, there's not a damn thing you can do about it except embrace the madness.

[Raoul]

If the ticket did not include a photo of her car and tag number or a video link I would definiteky question it. Why not give the OR PD a call and ask if the company that sent this to your mom is the one they have contracted with.

[Guest 85rx-7gsl-se]

Good info guys. I will definitely do some digging. It just seems odd the whole "give us money and we wont tell anyone" bit.

[vontar]

if there is any way you can scan and black out any personal information I would be interested in seeing what they actually sent. Also where they want want payment sent to.

I will try to dig up some of the info I used to have on them.

[Garufa]

Good info guys. I will definitely do some digging. It just seems odd the whole "give us money and we wont tell anyone" bit.

It's European "law enforcement" with a capitalistic flair. Coming soon to a theatre near you.

[Guest TargetShooter84]

Yup, the speed cams have been around for a quite a while.

Vontar is right, that N. Illinois is very easy target, I've almost got caught there.

I'd question the ticket if it didn't have a photo on it.

And just for the record, the tickets from the redlight/speed cams will not go to your insurance company, its like a parking ticket, you pay it and if you don't pay it in timely manner, you get charged late interest fee and if it still goes unpaid, it'll get sent to the collections agency.

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

Good info guys. I will definitely do some digging. It just seems odd the whole "give us money and we wont tell anyone" bit.

That part does indeed seem odd.

The Jackson PD has a new (6-8 months or so) van that they can park and leave and it issues speeding tickets. I have no idea what one would look like but when I got my first ticket in nearly 20 years from one of those red light cameras it did have a pic of my van and all included.

It was just too bad it wasnt a video so that they could have seen that I was nearly stopped and only prevented being hit in the rear by going through the light, my speed at the time of the pic was 11 MPH:rolleyes:

Another way to know if it is legit or not is to find out if you can pay it in person at the PD, if not I would be very suspicious, IIRC that is how I paid mine rather than just send in the money. The PD should at least be able to confirm the name and address if you do have to send it in.

[vontar]

Here is one, Nov 2009

http://www.oakridgeobserver.com/images/stories/archives/November%205%202009.pdf

It looks like back then the City of Oak Ridge had already paid RedFlex $250,000 dollars back then. There is even a break down of tickets, red light/speed, Resident and non Resident.

The Archives don't' go back far enough but the story about the person getting the 36 and 37 mile per hour tickets in a 35 zone, at the time the zone was not posted correct either. I still have that newspaper.

[Guest 85rx-7gsl-se]

I havent physically seen it yet myself. My parents live in Mid Tenn and she just called me the other day telling me about it. Once I see it I will see if I can get a pic posted of it.

[vontar]

I was looking for a different case of increasing yellow light times for safety reduced tickets but I found this one instead.

The other one I was looking for I believe was in AZ. I will probably find it later In the other one, when the tickets dropped under a quota the camera company by contract was aloud to charge the city even more.

Eric Skrum, Communications Director for the National Motorists Association said, "Records from Fairfax County show that increasing the time of yellow lights significantly decreases the number of red light violations. The Virginia Department of Transportation increased the yellow time on the traffic lights at US50 and Fair Ridge Drive by 1.50 seconds on March 26, 2001. This increase in yellow time from 4.00 seconds to 5.50 seconds resulted in a 94 percent drop in citations, less than one per day, at this red light camera enforced location."

Skrum continued, "Fairfax County records show that 'events,' red light violations, captured by the camera fell from an average daily rate of 52.1 per day before the yellow time increase to just 2 per day afterwards, a reduction of 94 percent.

"Fairfax County records also show that citations being issued dropped to just 0.82 citations a day on average during the 67 days after the yellow time was increased.

"This camera was activated February 8, 2001 by Lockheed Martin under an agreement with Fairfax County. The Virginia Department of Transportation is responsible for operating these signals. The decision to install a red light camera at this intersection confirms that this intersection was considered a location of serious violations with increased potential for accidents.

"This experience should prove to any skeptic that sound engineering practices, not only work, but are preferable to exploiting motorists through the use of ticket cameras and related automated enforcement devices," Skrum concluded.

Fairfax County red light camera enforcement records were received from Fairfax County on July 9, 2001 by the National Motorists Association. Those records reflected camera enforcement data through the end of May, 2001 and were the most current and complete records available on the day of receipt (as stated by Fairfax County officials). It should also be noted that the average daily traffic in this intersection is approximately 74,000 vehicles per day.

source PhotoBlocker : Manufactures and sells License Plate Covers and Photo Spray, to defeat Photo Radar, Speed Cameras and Red Light Cameras. Avoid traffic tickets.

[Guest CJK]

The Jackson PD has a new (6-8 months or so) van that they can park and leave and it issues speeding tickets. I have no idea what one would look like but when I got my first ticket in nearly 20 years from one of those red light cameras it did have a pic of my van and all included.

Chattanooga has 4 of those d*mn things: Smile, you're captured on speed cam | Chattanooga Times Free Press

[BrasilNuts]

The letter that you get in the mail from the City of Oak Ridge will look very legitimate. It will include a photo of your intire vehicle along with a blow up of the license plates. It's my understanding that each offense must be reviewed by an ORPD officer before a citation is written. ORPD's contact information and the name of the officer that reviewed the video (also a link where you can see the video) should be in the letter.

I've got two of those letters here somewhere and maybe two more on the way.

[Guest malbolja]

They've had these things in Europe for decades. They tend to get their lens spray painted, tires hung on them and burned, etc. I've never been caught by one but I hate the very idea of them. Not LE, just revenue generation.

[Guest bkelm18]

If Oak Ridge's are anything like Knoxville's, there will be photos, links to video, and information on the Officer who reviewed the footage and issued the citation.

[analog_kidd]

I went through one about a week ago. It was a yellow light I ran, made a split second decision to run it and not slam on the brakes. Was 3/4 of the way through the intersection when the camera flash went off. Not sure if they'll ticket me or not. I'll fight it if they do. I think as long as you're over the white line before the light is red, you're OK. We'll see.

[titan14]

There are 2 in the Big town of Mt. Carmel...just east of me...i have to pass one going to work, and one going home. I've been thinking...somone should take a picture from directly over the camera(same angle as the camera) ...go home...print it off...then take it back to the camera and tape it over the lens....

[Jon_L]

They have one placed next to the hospital. That's the brightest idea ever. My sister was having breathing problems so we went and rushed her to the hospital and the camera got us as my wife was pulling in. She went and fought it and won. She said that she overheard some people talking and apparently the tickets are something like $50 for speeding, and $36 of that goes to a company in Australia, and the rest goes to the state.

What use are they? I can see one being needed in the school zone on Turnpike, but the rest are completely ridiculous.

[vontar]

I went through one about a week ago. It was a yellow light I ran, made a split second decision to run it and not slam on the brakes. Was 3/4 of the way through the intersection when the camera flash went off. Not sure if they'll ticket me or not. I'll fight it if they do. I think as long as you're over the white line before the light is red, you're OK. We'll see.

That is suppose to be correct, as long as you cross the line while it is still yellow. however don't ask me to prove that in written law anyplace. My understanding is the violation does not occur until you cross the white line with it in RED light, hints running a red light, not running a yellow light.