(no subject)

[coldblossom.livejournal.com]

This is really ridiculous.

If you live in Arizona, you know that photo-radar for speed enforcement is part of daily life. You also know that those "tickets" you get in the mail with your mug and your license plate demanding that you fork over $200 or more aren't "real" tickets because they haven't been served to you. So, most of us ignore them until a proxy catches us.

Americans have the right to contest any charges made against them in a court of law, and this includes photo radar tickets. Arizonans don't waive that right and now they are fined for exercising it. The courts are now charging people who wish to contest their photo-radar ticket before a judge $20 additional dollars on top of the original ticket. The justification? 50% of the court's cases are now photo-radar related and they simply cannot afford the cost of seeing everyone. They say the number of photo-radar cases continues to increase and the fee is to pay for the current load as well as the projected increases.

Ironically, the photo-radar systems when installed were touted by the state (then under Janet Napolitano) as being a big revenue-generator. Now we see that they're actually costing the state money and, naturally, the burden falls on the people to foot the bill. You'd think if they can't afford it they'd take the system down (one sheriff did abolish them in his county, and no, it wasn't Sheriff Joe), but nope. They'd rather break our backs over it instead.

How messed up is that?

Comments

[regalpewter.livejournal.com]

Actually, there is one way to protest the damn things, and it is legal. It is legal to travel a highway at up to 15 mph SLOWER than the posted speed limit. Imagine about 5 to 10 cars travelling across all lanes with a sign stating that they are travelling Legally slower than the speed limit to avoid fines, along with a legislator's phone number. They would only have to travel 5 to 10 miles slower than the speed limit, to egender a response.

YIS,
WRI

[izuko.livejournal.com]

Might not be the response you want, though. I know I wouldn't take too kindly to it, if I were behind that procession.