Editor, Times-Union: Something is wrong with this picture. The state of Indiana has gambling. We have Hoosier lottery, riverboats, lottery tickets, Powerball, etc. We have gambling in Indiana. Some bars and clubs in the area have gambling machines. You have seen them every place. The prosecutor has wisely chosen to ignore this form of gambling. After all, we have gambling in the state. Let's not kid each other.
One of the finest not-for-profit charitable organizations in the county, the North Webster American Legion, recently was asked to remove their machines. Here will be the result of this wise state decision. Thousands upon thousands of dollars that these machines generated is gone. Remember not for profit. This money, and lots of it, went to the North Webster Little league, the North Webster Community Center, the Food Pantry, Boy Scouts, and many more organizations. The Legion gives away more money in our area than any other organization. This opportunity to donate is now gone.
The State is losing literally millions of dollars a year by not legalizing and taxing this form of gambling. Remember, we are already a gambling state. Makes you wonder who's palm is getting greased as to keep this from becoming legal. Could be the big business of riverboat gambling or the Hoosier lottery commission.
My man Mitch, you're missing a huge cash cow by not taxing the machines and legalizing them. Please look into it.
Greg White North Webster, via e-mail
Red Lights
Editor, Times-Union: To answer Mr. Jim Martin's response to my Sept. 27 letter regarding red light cameras:
The FHWA-funded study Mr. Martin cited was only one of two related studies released on the same day. The first analyzed right-angle and rear-end crash data at red light camera intersections in seven U.S. cities; the second determined an economic-societal cost for both types of crashes (the price-per-crash figures Mr. Martin was looking for).
The FHWA finding was that potentially millions of dollars in injury and societal costs can be saved by using camera technology because cameras reduce the most deadly crashes, right-angle crashes. Societal cost reductions in the seven cities exceeded $14 million per year, roughly $38,000 per camera intersection. When property-damage-only crashes were excluded, the benefit was higher, due to much greater costs from right-angle injury and fatal crashes.
The problem is, as Mr. Martin stated, a matter of stricter enforcement.
However, the Warsaw Police Department is at its limit in regards to traffic enforcement. You can't have added patrols without more police officers. Cameras simply serve as police officers' eyes--an efficient and cost-effective tool to aid in their enforcement efforts, to increase policing, and to develop the strict enforcement reputation for Warsaw we both call for. Thank you, Mr. Martin, for your observations.
Note: In most states red light camera violations do only result in fines since they are civil violations. In California, however, red light camera violations are criminal offenses and carry a $350 fine and two points on a driver's license.
Ann Sweet Survivor Spokesperson National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running
