Chicago's drivers torpedo the budget by obeying the law.

[Byteme]

The video is truly worth watching as it contains more information than is found in the text. 

Google for the video:  https://screen.yahoo.com/videos-for-you/obey-law-bankrupt-city-041400714.html


Text below:


City's Speed Traps Backfire
by CBS-Chicago  3:13 mins





Drivers in Chicago have gotten wise to speed cameras, budget figures show, and now the city needs to come up with $50 million in revenue. Chicagoans are costing the city tens of millions of dollars -– through good behavior. Mayor Rahm Emanuel underestimated the intelligence of Chicago drivers, and the city paid for it big time. On a smooth, wide, well-travelled stretch of Irving Park Road, running between two cemeteries — no homes, no stores, no parking — the city of Chicago is trying to balance its budget. Each flash means a photo; each photo, a violation. Each violation: a hundred bucks, from red-light and speed cameras. CBS 2 has learned the speed cameras caught far fewer speeders than expected. According to the Mayor's 2015 Budget Overview, there have been "lower than expected violation rates." How much lower? Fifty million dollars lower. Emanuel's administration had figured on $90 million in fines to help balance this year's budget, but they can only count on $40 million. That's a $50 million shortfall, putting pressure on the next spending plan. "It was a combination of the camera company's salesmanship and the city's greed," says camera critic Barnet Fagel. The city was expecting a nearly $100 million windfall by flooding the city with the speed cameras, using proximity to schools and parks as justification. The speed camera on Irving Park is listed as close to Challenger Park, which actually looks more like a parking lot — and is, during Cubs games. Critics have said red-light cameras don't enhance safety and are more of a cash grab for the city government. A report by Inspector General Joe Ferguson maintained "the City cannot prove red-light camera locations are based on safety considerations." And a University of Illinois at Chicago study concluded "red light cameras are not effective in improving safety." It may be too soon to tell if speed cameras have made us safer. But drivers have certainly gotten wise to them, leaving a $50 million dollar hole in this year's budget

[Pancor]

Looks good on 'em!

[ifcar]

D.C. also has a budget shortfall due to lower-than-expected traffic camera revenue. Here, they're generally popular with residents and unpopular with out-of-state commuters, so the city has little political pressure not to keep it up, even aside from the finances.

[MX793]

So the question I have is:  How did they come up with their initial expectations of traffic camera fine income?  Was this generated by an independent study or was it a bunch of BS fed to government officials by the folks selling them the traffic cameras?

The next thing I take issue with is that they bank on traffic fines in their budget.  That's like budgeting your personal expenses around a variable, and not guaranteed, bonus.

[hotrodalex]

So how long before the speed limit on that road drops?

[Byteme]

So the question I have is:  How did they come up with their initial expectations of traffic camera fine income?  Was this generated by an independent study or was it a bunch of BS fed to government officials by the folks selling them the traffic cameras?

The next thing I take issue with is that they bank on traffic fines in their budget.  That's like budgeting your personal expenses around a variable, and not guaranteed, bonus.

Probably promises by those selling speed and red light cameras of roads paved with gold and sugar plums falling from the sky to fill the local treasuries all without the political suicide of raising taxes.

[Morris Minor]

So how long before the speed limit on that road drops?

That happened near me. A 55 limit on a wide open road was dropped to 45.  The cops, unseen when the limit was 55, immediately showed up with their radar guns, and duly elicited disdain.

It's all about money. If anyone pats you on the back and tells you it's about safety, their other hand is picking your pocket for your wallet.

It's always about money.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

So the camera company scammed the city, who was going to scam/rob it's citizens.