Mr. Harold L. Kitson's concerns about vehicle owner liability was fully addressed in the pending photo enforcement legislation. The owner of a vehicle photographed running a red light would be sent a citation. The owner then had several options - admit guilt and pay a fine up to $100, ask for a court date to contest the citation, or return the citation with the name and contact information of the person that had possession of the vehicle at the time of the violation.
In the last case, the citation would be resent to the individual named by the owner. If the second individual refused to admit guilt or pay the fine, the final liability would rest with the owner of the vehicle, similar to parking citations which hold the owner liable.
The pending legislation also added a protection for the guilty individual - insurance companies were not to be involved, and no points added to a driver's license.
Mr. Kitson, if you would care to read a copy of the pending legislation, along with its specified protections, please contact me. I believe you will find that the full intent of the legislation is not excessive punishment, but to assist in holding all drivers accountable for their actions, thus reducing needless tragedies on our highways.
You mention "Big Brother" in referring to photo enforcement. I, too, am offended by "Big Brother". I expect and demand privacy in my own home or on private property. However, the expectation of complete privacy in a public space (such as our highways) is not attainable. By obtaining a driver's license, drivers agree to obey traffic rules. Those who break those rules should not expect that their dangerous actions not be monitored and consequences administered in order to safeguard those innocent people who do obey the rules and must share the highways with them. (Again, photo enforcement cameras are triggered to take pictures only of vehicles in the act of running red lights - they do not run continuously, photographing all vehicles).
I have received many supportive calls, several individuals with questions.
I can be contacted at 574-269-9762.
Ann Sweet National Survivor Spokesperson
National Campaign To Stop Red Light Running !end Red Light Running Remains A Significant Problem On U.S. 30 Editor, Times-Union:
I, too, have a very strong opinion regarding the running of red lights, specifically on U.S. 30.
Two years ago I wanted to know the real numbers and not let pure emotion dictate my actions towards this issue. I, therefore, in 2003, conducted a study to document the occurrence of vehicles violating red lights on U.S. 30.
I watched on five different occasions at five different locations a total of 264 red light cycles. During these observations, I logged the number of times a car or truck ran a yellow light, a "pink" light (entered the intersection as yellow and exited on red), and a pure red light. When in doubt, I logged the event as pink, not red so as not to artificially bias this report.
Combined cars and trucks ran 248 yellow lights, 97 pink, and 59 red lights. On average, every 4.2 times a stoplight cycles red, a vehicle does not stop. That deserves repeating, every 4.2 times a stoplight turns red, a vehicle runs the light!
I, too, have encouraged our city and state officials as well as DOT offices to help and have shared this report with them. The city has done a great job at policing this corridor, however it is a daunting task. The DOT has engineered some of the lights to cycle in different turn lane patterns as a means to help. To this regard, I am conducting this same test again to compare numbers from 2003 and will determine if the signal pattern is effective.
I encourage all to contact the officials mentioned in Ann Sweet's letter to support all means possible to help, including extra signage, stepped up patrols, and use of cameras. Not to sound condescending, but please let the real numbers act as a reminder to us all as we approach these intersections. Cross with great care as the odds demonstrated by this report are truly against you.
As to the letter by Mr. Kitson, I fully expected this reaction from several people in the community as it is not uncommon. I would respectfully reply that driving is a privilege not an entitlement and comes with great responsibility. If you loan a vehicle to a person who would not employ the same responsibility as yourself while driving, than perhaps loaning the vehicle is not a wise decision.
