Red Light Cameras to Pay for Police?
Tacoma isn’t the only city facing tough budget decisions. Right next door in Fife they’re looking at a tight budget across the board, including for their police.
The Fife city council has voted to allow proceeds from the city’s red light cameras to fund a traffic officer. Depending on how you look at it, this is either a change from a policy that directs all red light camera funds to “safety” measures, such as signage and pedestrian overpasses, or it’s a minor tweak that is in keeping with the intent to spend the money generated by the cameras on safety.
Either way, it’s passed, and funding for one traffic officer position will now come from Fife’s red light camera fund, rather than the general fund.
We can think of another city facing police layoffs… Would you put up with more red light cameras if it meant another police officer on the streets?
Read more from The News Tribune.
Filed under: Public Safety
3 comments
J JJ November 6, 2012
Sure I completely agree with this.More Red Light cameras in Tacoma lots more.Too many dangerous motorists on the road and their aggression and attitude of no one gets in my way should be quelled by infractions. I would however split it with having many more pedestrian overpasses as there are too few especially over I-5 and Highway 16.Tacoma is just too car dependent and that’s not good for either the environment,pedestrians or cyclists.To pay for extra patrolmen is O.K,. but again it should be split into safety improvements for others whom need to get around town in other ways.
J John November 10, 2012
I agree completely with JJ. And I’ve never understood the mindset of those opposed to the cameras. Here’s a kooky thought: don’t speed, and don’t drive like a jackass!
J Jesse November 11, 2012
I doubt red light cameras increase safety. Have you ever been approaching a red light camera intersection when the light turned yellow? People CRAM on their brakes as to not risk a ticket. I wonder what he incidence of rear-ender accidents is in those intersections versus non red light camera intersections…
So, I seriously doubt when you see a red light camera it’s about safety. It’s about revenue and I personally think they should cut-to-the-chase and charge tolls on those roads. At least they’re not eff-ing up someones car insurance rates that way.