Wednesday, November 25, 2009 | Last Update 9:49 EST

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Reader Comments

Jul 6, 2009

DC Mayor Fenty recently got tagged by a DC speed camera himself. A copy of the citation is on DC.CameraFRAUD.com. Lanier, that is your boss and the champion of this mass surveillance system out there "endangering lives" and "circumventing the law". HYPOCRITES!!!

 

Jul 7, 2009

TIME FOR A NEW POLICE CHIEF !

Cowardly Tactic? - What do you call a speed camera?

Designed to circumvent law enforcement? - speed cameras go even farther - they circumvent the police officer.

Speed cameras are machines. They exercise no judgement, experience, or knowledge of the law.

Speed cameras are a source of revenue, pure and simple. The police chief is content to sit back and let the machines collect the money for her.

We don't need a police chief - just put a camera in her chair staring at the chair infront of her desk. Some flunky vendor can review the tapes and send a automated response in the mail.

 

Jul 7, 2009

"Photo radar tickets generated nearly $1 billion in revenues for D.C. during fiscal years 2005 to 2008."

The real reason for police "concern" ...

 

Jul 7, 2009

You mentioned the iPhone application but forgot the name. It's Trapster, and unlike other solutions it actually streams the data in real time (other solutions require you to remove the device from the car and plug it into a computer meaning it's rarely fresh), and Trapster is totally free (instead of $10 a month).

 

Jul 7, 2009

Designed to save lives? 80% of all crashes occur BELOW the posted speed limit! And if Trapster gets people to slow down, that's what you want right? Stop complaining! PhotoRadarScam.com

 

Jul 7, 2009

"It's designed to circumvent law enforcement -- law enforcement that is designed specifically to save lives." (cough, I mean generate revenue)

 

Jul 7, 2009

In court, do I get to meet my accuser? If the software is faulty (intentional or not), how do I prove I didn't exceed limits?

 

Jul 7, 2009

These police departments are vile blood sucking filth. People will still slow down, isn't that the POINT? Or is it just REVENUE?? Yea I thought so, vampires.

 

Jul 7, 2009

well, if I had this software and used it by slowing down wherever there was a speed camera, doesn't that also prevent accidents? In that case, it serves the same purpose. The only difference is that I don't get a ticket.

 

Jul 7, 2009

Oh so many posts that are ON POINT! Everyone here is so correct in that these types of devices would be equally effective as the threat of the cameras to begin with.

If you think about it, these types of systems are safer! If your using one and the alarm goes off indicating a camera is near, you will slow down. If you are tired and in a hurry and are not using the device, you may speed and you WONT slow down if you have no idea there is a camera....

tell me what is more effective? Most folks who own radar detectors will agree, the constant beeping of false alarms really keep you on your toes and more alert as a driver.

Enough is enough officers, you need to be out in the streets looking for the agressive drivers instead of folks who go through intersections a few miles over the limit.

 

Jul 7, 2009

Driver warned about speed trap = slows down before speed trap, thereby encouraging safety.

What's cowardly is a slob cop spending 15 minuted wedging his car between two hedges so he can bust "speeders" that are going 38 in a 35.

D.C. police should "pick up their game" and try stemming the ramapant crime on their streets.

 

Jul 7, 2009

Lanier said, "with the Internet and all the new technology, it's almost impossible to stop the flow of information."

it IS impossible to stop the flow of information. just ask Iran. and for the record, Lanier, this is a GOOD thing.

 

Jul 7, 2009

Hey, come on folks! This is DC. Everyone knows that the city government is honest to a fault! And, besides, DC is home of U.S. government, shoot, we all know that those guys are here to help us. Don't we?

At what point do we get angry and take action against the totalitarian clowns?

 

Jul 7, 2009

Is the purpose to deter people - or arrest people? You'd like to think those hired to serve us (police) would want to help people stay within the confines of the law, but it looks like "no arrests, no bonuses."

 

Jul 7, 2009

Why in the world would this bother the police - IN ANY WAY??? It would seem to me that if people slowed down in areas the police regarded as dangerous, they would be acting the correct way! Seems to me the only way this could possibly bother a police officer would be if the purpose of the devices they set up was yo generate income - and they are upset that people are obeying the law and avoiding a fine! Tells you a lot about 'our finest'....

 

Jul 7, 2009

Hey Cathy, is DC still one of the most dangerous cities in the country?

Cathy, have any kids been shot dead in your streets this year?

How about dropping the BS and putting some "Giuliani Time" to work on your disgraceful street crime problem- or are you scared?

 

Jul 7, 2009

Lanier said the technology is a “cowardly tactic” and “people who overly rely on those and break the law anyway are going to get caught” in one way or another.

No, we use these tactics to avoid the police altogether. The police have proven again and again that law enforcement is selective, arbitrary, and carried out by violent thugs. I will gladly drive a mile out of my way to avoid the scrutiny of the government goon-squad.

 

Jul 7, 2009

I think the police will only be happy when everyone is in jail.

 

Jul 7, 2009

I am heartened to read not one comment in support of the parasite class. It makes me believe there is still a fighting spirit left in this country

 

Jul 7, 2009

By the chief's reasoning, it would be inappropriate to call 911 and then attempt to dissuade your attacker by informing him that the police are on the way-- better to suffer victimization on the chance the law dogs can catch him in the act!!

 

Jul 7, 2009

let's be honest. red light and speed cameras are not there to save lives. they are there to generate revenue.

 

Jul 7, 2009

You are a lying sack of crap, Lanier. You don't give a damn about "safety" - you're just afraid you won't be able to steal as much money as you were doing before.

Let's dissolve the District of Columbia and give it back to Maryland! ;-D

 

Jul 7, 2009

Cowardly revenue agent calls citizens cowards. Pot. Kettle. Black!

 

Jul 7, 2009

ah thats so funny i hope the citys use them go bankrupt!because of revenue they expect but then dont get because of people outsmarting these unconstitutional devices also these fines are outta control and guess what they only go up

 

Jul 7, 2009

Have you seen the little piggies crawling in the dirt?
Seems to me that the pigs excuse me I mean revenue officers don't like anyone getting around their revenue enhancement zones.
Power to the people!

Peace

 

Jul 7, 2009

hahaha! my, aren't they so concerned for our safety!

finally seems like people are starting to realize that these govts are nothing but big extortion rackets. i wish i could make up laws out of thin air, cloak my deeds in "compassion," and then extort people with impunity!

ahh technology and the internet...these extortion racketeers are so screwed! freedom lovers rejoice, a new dawn of liberty is at hand!

 

Jul 7, 2009

haha saying relying on technology is cowardly, funniest/most hypocritical thing I've ever heard.

 

Jul 7, 2009

Police are getting more and more controling in the US and we should be alarmed.

Police should worry about crime. Next they will be ticketing citizens for not being mannerly. We are a nation of Laws yes, but how frivilous are they becoming..?

 

Jul 7, 2009

Speed fines are nothing more than taxation without representation - another way to 'legally' steal money from the productive members of society (taxpayers) and give it to the non-productive members of society (government workers). Anything else is just propaganda designed to make wage slaves justify their enslavement to the state.

 

Jul 7, 2009

Cowardly cops ambush people just for the money!!

 

Jul 7, 2009

The police chief says, "people who overly rely on those and break the law anyway are going to get caught". Well, then why all the whining and crying? Oh, that's right, this from the same group of people that are constantly in fear for their lives from the family poodle. Yeah, now it all makes sense.

 

Jul 7, 2009

ZOMG the costume wearer in chief is angry that the costume wearers under her command can't raise as much "revenue" for the city. Doesn't DC have real crimes going on like rape and murder?

 

Jul 7, 2009

EXACTLY Tito. I agree. When the laws expand to the point that the political class is empowered to do anything with impunity, and anything the slaves do is "criminal," then there is no law, the laws are meaningless.

True law should facilitate human cooperation, not destroy it. In other, more sane societies, such as anarchic medieval Ireland, laws arose as a result of the desire to arbitrate disputes civilly rather than violently. Over time certain "appropriate" ways of handling certain classes of disputes were in widespread use, and whammo, there was a common law.

Wouldn't make sense for the actual parties in dispute to appoint arbiters, and to come to whatever compromise they find reasonable, using the law, ie, the set of past precedents, as a guide? Outright criminals can just be ostracized, or, in the most extreme of cases, dealt with more harshly.

 

Jul 7, 2009

I'd rather be called a coward than to be a thief down to the bone like government; in fact, for anyone in government to call anyone else any name whatsoever is downright laughable.

On top of the that man's laws are sh*t and I only adhere to universal and common laws.

 

Jul 7, 2009

But Jay, how do you make money off of tracking down rapists and murderers? Doesn't that actually COST money? And isn't that dangerous? We can't have the people with funny hats and costumes risking their lives for the little submitizens.

 

Jul 7, 2009

These shakedown artists are nothing more than common thugs extorting money from people who can ill afford it in this economy. And if the DC police was concerned about crime, they have the Federal Reserve right there they can start jailing for their outright theft of the people's treasure.

 

Jul 7, 2009

Trapster is no longer on the Apple App Store.

 

Jul 7, 2009

Every day people are waking up to the New World Order all around them. This is a good thing, when people start understanding that government is all about CONTROL and police are AGENTS of governments.

 

Jul 7, 2009

I thought the point of the speed traps was to diminish speeding.

This iPhone app does just that - but the cops aren't happy about it. Why? Obviously because they have a financial stake in catching rather than preventing speeders from speeding.

 

Jul 7, 2009

Speed cameras in areas where speed has to be kept down is a great idea - like near schools and other areas where people who speed should be fined and then fined again.

These programs don't disable the cameras after all, they just warn you of where they are so you have to slow down or drive around them.

End result: less traffic at schools and what does go by there keeps the pace down or gets fined a lot.

Sounds pretty ideal to me. Though admittedly it doesn't fill the coffers with money from fines.

 

Jul 7, 2009

Now, Trapster has reappeared on the Apple AppStore for download. The app should be used to help make everyone safe, but it is obvious to me the cities are stepping on the pedal to fill their coffers.

 

Jul 7, 2009

Can't stop the signal, Mal.

 

Jul 7, 2009

If everyone stops to think about this for a minute the iPhone technology actually helps to save lives as it alerts drivers to intersections that might be dangerous and notify's them to decrease their speed which is exactly what the Police are trying to do with their camera's so the police should in fact support this, unless of course they're just after revenue....

 

Jul 7, 2009

As NWA put it, "F*ck The Police!"

 

Jul 7, 2009

Bad cop. No donut.

 

Jul 7, 2009

This is so f-cking typical of the DC government. The subtext of what the chief said has absolutely nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with making as much money as possible for the totally corrupt organization by any means necessary.

So which is it -sshole? Are speed cameras there to make people slow down around them or are they there to pad your departmental budget?

 

Jul 8, 2009

"...law enforcement that is designed specifically to save lives."

Seems to me that if any lives are saved by enforcement of these laws, the powers that be should be thanking these phone/software manufacturers, because they're accomplishing exactly the same thing, by ensuring that the laws are being adhered to. Seems to me the only beef they have is because THEY don't get the ka-ching!

Read the sign on Dr. Paul's desk: "Don't steal, the government hates the competition."

 

Jul 8, 2009

The best way to counteract this is to create an iPhone app to locate donut shops and places to park the cruiser for some serious napping. Guaranteed hit with cops everywhere.

Seriously, instead of flapping her lips about this non issue, DC's top cop should concentrate on how to motivate her coplets to fight real crime.

 

Jul 8, 2009

I am defenetly get an Iphone NOW!

 

Jul 8, 2009

What a rere this chief is. They don't even realize how transparently stupid and greedy their actions are. And to claim it's for 'safety', that's a laugh.

Kiss the money goodbye, chief dipstick. If you jerky's hadn't turned 'to protect and serve' into 'to ticket and generate revenue', you might not be considered, by pretty much the entire world, as just the newest Sheriff of Nottingham.

 

Jul 8, 2009

Is there an app for Blackberries?

 

Jul 8, 2009

Your all missing the point. They must actually take your money to save lives. Otherwise, you will have money for both gas, and beer. You'll drive drunk and the next thing you know, a small child dies. Is that what you want? You should be ashamed. Every time the government takes your money (the root of all evil), a child's life is saved. Yep, every single time! So, circumventing these "life saving machines" is nothing short of murder. If you have no money, you are not a threat to the lives of the innocent. Stay home. They've given you cheap Chinese TVs. Be grateful they bear the great burden of excess wealth for you, lest you use it for evil. See how they're protecting you? You should thank them when they take your money.

 

Jul 8, 2009

"I think that's the whole point of this program," she told The Examiner. "It's designed to circumvent law enforcement -- law enforcement that is designed specifically to save lives."

uh how does it (apparently) save lives - by slowing drivers down, right? What will people do when their phone tells them they are near a camera - my guess would be slow down? So in fact by warning of the cameras they are probably MORE effective at slowing people down than a camera on its own.

 

Jul 8, 2009

As I recall, in the few court cases that have gone the right way (judges tossing traffic cams), the few studies that have been done on the subject have shown these devices actually result in increased accidents at the intersections they monitor. In some cases, so many accidents that the cities have removed them for fear of lawsuits. Why more accidents? As people become more aware of them, they will jam on their brakes at the first hint of yellow, causing many rear-enders.

At the end of the day, these devices, whether of the speed or stoplight variety, exist solely for one reason -- they act as a very expensive toll booth for cities who care more about revenue than safety.

 

Jul 8, 2009

I believe that law enforcement works several ways. When I showed this information to my Police Department they enjoyed the welcome. They are understaffed for their area. "This is just another way to get people to obey the law" - police clerk.

Now if studies show these devices are causing issues then that is cause for alarm. Until then, use it. If your focus is meeting a quota then you need to move to commissioned sales. I hear Circuit City is doing well....

 

Jul 8, 2009

Lanier said, "with the Internet and all the new technology, it's almost impossible to stop the flow of information."

Conversely, Lanier would be all for stopping the flow of all information, if it were not impossible. Classic Statist-Authoritarian.

The police state is here and we, the people, let it happen. More evil on the way because we're still asleep at the wheel. Stay tuned.

When seconds count-the police are minutes away.

"A patriot is always ready to defend his country from his government."

 

Jul 8, 2009

Local governments are broke. So they use brown shirt tactics and try to convince us it's for our own good.

anybody who wants to be a 'cop' in life - has serious serious problems... and will make a terrific nazi, and a bad cop.

screw em... hail technology.

statists are the enemy....

 

Jul 8, 2009

The Chief needs to work on the drugs and murders in the District. Apparently she has a priority problem.

 

Jul 8, 2009

Setting up traps to extort money under color of law and "safety" is the height of cowardice. Why don't they just stick a gun in citizen's faces and say "hand over the money", let's drop the pretense.

 

Jul 8, 2009

LOL, Cowardly?!?!?

Come on you speeders!, TAKE YOUR TICKET LIKE A MAN!!!

 

Jul 8, 2009

SteveC has a great point. Once people learn where the red light cameras are, they will freak out when it turns yellow and who knows how many fender benders that will cause.

Red light cameras are bad.. very bad.

I could live with speed cameras around schools and stuff though. I hate people who speed in school zones.

 

Jul 8, 2009

Glad to see crime is so under control in DC that the police chief has time to devote to worrying about speeders. Guess it's time to pull some of those federal dollars flowing into the DC government.

 

Jul 8, 2009

Extortion is profitable especially for municipalities since they control law enforcement.

 

Jul 8, 2009

Well, if the purpose is to save lives that could be documented. Show me the name of ONE person "saved." (cricket) (cricket)

If the purpose is revenue show me the list of people who have paid fines. This list is a matter of public record but, far too long to replicate here.

 

Jul 8, 2009

This is a load of crap. Speed traps and cameras are there to raise money, period, and this idiot chief's outrageous statements PROVE it - people knowing where traps are MAKES THEM SLOW DOWN. That is supposedly their purpose, but no, they're crying over lost revenue.

 

Jul 8, 2009

Speed traps & cameras are not about safety, they are about revenue generation.

 

Jul 8, 2009

Guess where this technology comes from???

That is who is promoting the spy technology. Our local criminals, I mean government, goes along with it for the $$$$$ and the international warmeisters promote them for the "all seeing eye aspects".

 

Jul 8, 2009

I agree that these traps are about money. But I also see the cops as victims in this. Think about it: they take the time and effort to go to the academy for a career in law enforcement, and when they get out, they're assigned to be glorified meter maids.

I'm sure most of them would much rather be fighting crime and making us safer. Instead, they're harassing their protectees and, in turn, we despise them for it.

I would encourage our police officers to refuse to continue to be abused in this way. Protest! You're cops for a reason - to get the bad guys, not to collect taxes.

 

Jul 8, 2009

Memo to the Chiefette: Wait till your paychecks don't clear because there are no more worker bees to suck money from. You'll be just as pissed as the rest of us.

 

Jul 8, 2009

It is amazing but no one has discussed the deterrence factor. If you know where speed traps are you will slow down where there is a trap - but if you do not know where a trap is then you will need to slow down everywhere to avoid a ticket. I am not a fan of photo / red light cameras – I agree that it is primarily about revenue generation. But maybe the chief should look at how to improve the situation and use the technology. Get someone to report lots and lots of camera locations to the application. Users of the service would have to slow down everywhere. And who could complain since the goal is slowing fast drivers down – not revenue generation or ticket avoidance for that matter.

 

Jul 8, 2009

Chief Lanier demonstrates the idiocy we've come to expect from those living on the taxpayer's teat, especially in the District of Columbia.

The woman is out of her depth. Can't the DC government find someone who understands that citizens are perfectly within their rights to know when they're under surveillance, by whatever means they can find to do so?

 

Jul 8, 2009

I knew it ... I knew it ... you iPhone users are the ones behind all the recent crime in DC ... you can't hide anymore ... Lanier will hunt you down ... LOL ... give me a break get out of your police cruisers and walk the beat ... it's hard fighting crime sitting in your air conditioned cruiser or COSI all day.

 

Jul 8, 2009

A voter referendum to ban red-light cameras is advancing to the ballot in College Station, Texas. http://legal-beagle.typepad.com/wrights_legal_beagle/2009/07/surveillance-technology-changes-law-enforcement.html --Ben

 

Jul 8, 2009

Back in the day, CB radio did the same thing. "Hey you North-bounders, brush your hair and comb your teeth, you got a smoke-em-up bear, taking pictures at mile marker two-three-zero, come on."

The piggies didn't like it then either, but you know what they say about people who can't take a joke.

 

Jul 8, 2009

DON'T YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY YET, GOVERNMENT, LEAVE US ALONE.

 

Jul 8, 2009

D.C. police chief Cathy Lanier is full of beans. The cameras are to make money, they have nothing to do with keeping people safe. The last time I got a camera ticket I was in the right hand lane driving at slowest speed I could drive safely. Everyone else was zooming around me. Someone should inform Ms. Lanier that if you drive the speed limit the idiot drivers in D.C. will be inches, and I mean literally inches, off your bumper. If I drive the speed limit I'll get hit in the rear.

 

Jul 8, 2009

Let me get this straight. The DC police are saying: "don't use this app." Instead, continue to speed, just as you were doing, so we can make our quotas.

Speeders are saying: "we need to have this app so we can selectively not speed in areas where we are liable to get caught.

Some of the rest of us are saying: "we don't trust the speed traps to honestly record whether we are speeding or not, so we want to be able to go a few miles below the limit wherever the traps are set up.

I vote with the last group.

 

Jul 8, 2009

Marylanders, if you are looking to still defeat your local government from $camming you under the false guise of "safety" (interesting how these wonderfully safe and effective speed deterrent devices are projected to raise $29 mill for Mo Co this year) go to www.mdscamera.com (they also have a Facebook group) or www.stopbigbrothermd.org to find out what you can do to defeat speed cameras from being implemented at the County level. And as a lifelong Democrat I'd also like to say please vote republican for every seat in the next State election. That may be the best way to take our State back.

 

Jul 9, 2009

Total Bovine Scatology! The cameras are about revenue and nothing else. Why if they weren't so very busy with speeders, they may have to actually try to police the ghetto THEY ARE AFRAID TO GO INTO! Liars and cowards.

 

Jul 9, 2009

Ahh I see you have exactly the same problems in the US as in the UK.

Obviously this 'policemans' statements rather prove the cameras are about generating revenue, not saving lives, as if this was just about savint lives then he'd be happy about this software as users _will_ slow down...

Also the fact he doesn't realise this shows that he's a complete _idiot_.

Mind you over there can't you guys vote out police chiefs?

 

Jul 9, 2009

The bottom line is money..it is all about the money and the hell with safety...That chief does not give on hoot in hell about safety!..She is full of BS!!

 

Jul 9, 2009

I am really unsurprised by the complete lack of objectivity in almost all of the above comments.
Here are the facts: The mentality of "police culture" regardless of how it is portrayed is that that one does NOT question Law. Unfortunately this is precisely what a contributing member of society does. Instead police hold themselves up in positions of judgment without personal responsibility for the "Laws" they are told to uphold. This is irresponsible, and criminal.

Law is meaningless whenever it ceases to serve the spirit in which it was established.

Where is the law that a law must serve the spirit of of the intention?

Fines for speeding are not wrong, misappropriating those funds is. The income should go to a the construction of an autobahn, not the police.

Stop whining people, it's irritating in the extreme. Act for change or shut up and eat what your government tells you to.

 

Jul 9, 2009

Unreal. She WANTS to stop the flow of information?

This is public information. The locations of the cameras are probably on the damn MPD web site, and if they're not they should be!

Beyond that, there's usually a SIGN posted about 1/4 mile before each trap that says "warning speed tracked by radar."

Finally, as others have noted, this will only serve to make people speed LESS. But of course at the cost of revenue to the government.

Unreal. Our police chief is, in fact, a complete moron, and has in no uncertain terms admitted that the only point of these traps is to make money.

 

Jul 9, 2009

So Lanier said the cameras have decreased traffic deaths. Where is the proof? There is only one reason for these cameras, and that is revenue.

 

Jul 9, 2009

I got Trapster from iTunes Apps today. So, if it was off as reported in earlier post, it has returned.

 

Jul 9, 2009

Wait, DC has how many unsolved murders a year, and they're prioritizing officers to SPEEDTRAPS?!

 

Jul 9, 2009

WTF does it matter if people know where the speed traps are? As long as they're slowing down, isn't that the point?

 

Jul 9, 2009

hey chief..
why dont you make your officers work every day of the week ? o'h thats right they already are because crime if off the hook. and the press doesnt know half of it!

 

Jul 9, 2009

I'm very impressed by the spirit of rebellion here! It's so encouraging! Thomas Jefferson would be proud!

 

Jul 9, 2009

cops should use their Iphones to catch drug dealers - ITS ALL ABOUT REVENUE....speeders bring in revenue..busting drug dealers brings the city zero point zero

 

Jul 9, 2009

another item - cops don't get speeding tickets...on or off duty

 

Jul 10, 2009

I think the police need a new script. "bla bla bla to save lives," is a falsehood even in the strongest of government supporters.

Dishonesty is rampant in this country.

 

Jul 12, 2009

Because hiding behind billboards and bushes to give speeding tickets is...not...cowardly.

 

Jul 12, 2009

People everywhere just wanna be free...
Maybe the cops should go out and deal with real crime...you know, violence.

 

Jul 12, 2009

Like hiding in bushes and off-road with radar, intersection cameras and the like are NOT acts of cowardice? Touche` piggies - you make it a game, we are just learning to play it FAIRLY.

 

Jul 12, 2009

What I find hilarious is the fact that the New Orleans PD, the great un-corruptible machine that it is, actually supports this because it saves lives. Like someone above me said it forces drivers to slow down. He did lament the loss of revenue, but said if it helped him crack down on speeders, he was for it.

 

Jul 12, 2009

If people use this application to slow down for cameras then THEY ARE SLOWING DOWN AND DRIVING SAFER when using this app.

People SLOW DOWN when using this app.

This app is making people drive safer. No wonder the police are getting their pants in a knot - all they actually want to do is milk people out of money in fines.

-- I realize that this is just a reiteration of about 95% of comments already made, but even so, its worth saying once more --

 

Jul 12, 2009

why are so many people saying this makes them drive safer if it only makes them slow down for certain places, seems like most of you are just as bad as this chief.

 

Jul 12, 2009

I think the Red-light cameras is the beginning to "Big Brother" policing our personal lives. I can't wait until I buy a new house and see a government camera installed in it and get a ticket mailed to me because I forgot to turn a light off. What is this world comming to???? The Red-Light camera is another way to fund a lazy police force who is too busy eating doughnuts rather than doing their job. It is an attempt to rape and pillage my wallet without lifting a finger while hiding behind the absurd belief that the police are looking out for the safety of the general public by utilizing the Red-Light cameras. Come on America, its all about the MONEY!!!! and the taking of your money and putting it into their's. Wake up and take a stand!!!

 

Jul 12, 2009

Me thinks the police have lost sight of there goal.

Again.

 

Jul 12, 2009

I see a lot of comments claiming that this app is making people drive more safely by slowing down. Why do they need to slow down in the first place? Shouldn't they already be driving at the speed limit?

If the app enables them to slow down rather than be driving at the limit in the first place because they do not know where the cameras may be, then it is not enhancing safety, but increasing the danger in areas that do not have cameras and will only promote the wider installation of cameras to improve the coverage.

Those of you claiming speed cameras are another example of "big brother" watching us should take note: using this app is giving ammunition to those who want to watch.

 

Jul 12, 2009

This story needs a theme song:
Money Money Money. Money.

 

Jul 12, 2009

That is the chief angry about??!! I'm sure it is the lost money if people avoid their cameras! If it was really about lives the fine would be much smaller and they would be more concerned about making people aware of their speeding and or red light transgressions!

 

Jul 12, 2009

This is the same city that tickets cars parked in driveways if they're not completely behind the plane of the house's front door.... surprised? nope.

 

Jul 12, 2009

Hey police Cheif<
Waaaaaaaaa, waaaaaaaa.

 

Jul 12, 2009

Cathy Lanier, you and your ilk are the cowards! Afraid to do police work, you rely on cameras and electricity. Well, so do we. You carry guns and a traffic stop can kill us. We are just using the same high tech you do...to protect ourselves! You started it...and we remain free. I know Cathy Lanier, you and your kind would love to 'bar code' everyone and then have a scan satellite.
If Hitler were still around he'd feel just like you!

 

Jul 12, 2009

I think I remember hearing that the red-light cameras actually make their intersections more dangerous.

I don't remember where I heard or read this though.

 

Jul 13, 2009

fail. i wouldn't have even known about these apps had lanier kept quiet. thanks!

 

Jul 13, 2009

Lanier said the cameras have decreased traffic deaths.

Citation needed to confirm this claim.

 

Jul 13, 2009

"Cowards" ...MY A** ! They're FREEDOM FIGHTERS !

 

Jul 13, 2009

If you were walking on a trail in the woods, and you knew that there were bear traps hidden in the undergrowth, would it be "cowardly" to use a metal detector to avoid stepping in them?

 

Jul 13, 2009

They've been widely deployed in the UK for years now. This site has a lot of useful information on dealing with them. Some are not legal in the US.

http://www.speedcam.co.uk/

 

Jul 13, 2009

Is this the same D.C. that works so diligently to protect citizens from the 2nd Amendment thereby assuring criminals that they won't be endangered during a home invasion.
The OBVIOUS is that the purpose of the camera is to GENERATE REVENUE, not protect anyone.
I suspect the Iphone app might also generate revenue. Maybe D.C. should buy the rights to the app and distribute it nation wide as a service to citizens everywhere.

 

Jul 13, 2009

Speed and safety are NOT directly connected and only partially correlative. SAFE driving is about ATTENTIVE driving, not slow driving. Trapster, and radar detectors, encourage ATTENTIVE driving, and therefore INCREASE safety while decreasing government revenue. I can hardly think of a more "american" value.

 

Jul 13, 2009

Ms. Peterson, nice editorial liberty you've taken by calling cameras "speed traps." If you don't break the law, you wont be "trapped"

 

Jul 13, 2009

There is an Iphone app called Cams Ahoy!!! that is supported by the POI-Factory Red Light and speed Camera Database.

Miss POI
POI-Factory, LLC.

 

Jul 13, 2009

She said, "with the Internet and all the new technology, it's almost impossible to stop the flow of information."

I hate you so much. Knowing something isn't a crime and should NEVER be a crime. Freedom of information is what separates us from the current Iran regime. Seriously, die in a fire.

 

Jul 13, 2009

If the police are so concerned about our safety, all they need to do is post fake camera/trap locations to Trapster.

 

Jul 13, 2009

If cameras can do all this... bring in so much revenue... tell me again why so many human officers are required?

 

Jul 13, 2009

Designed specifically to raise revenue, not save lives.

 

Jul 13, 2009

I think the police are cowards for not properly robbing people. They are robbing by proxy, leaving electronic gadgetry to do all their money stealing.

 

Jul 13, 2009

Well, everyone is forgetting the base problem. Government is nothing more than a necessary evil, that's all. It was created to serve us, now (and has for the last decade) has been slipping to us serving it. And traffic-cams are only one more way for us to serve (feed) it.

 

Jul 13, 2009

To everyone complaining about speed/traffic cameras being a "source of revenue", just wait until your city, county, state has to lay off some of its officers from budget cuts.
In every area that i know of local to me that has implemented these cameras, none of them caused any officers to lose their jobs but rather allowed more of them to be out there performing their other duties serving and protecting you. What happens when they get laid off because idiots chose to ignore traffic lays, and then circumvent a means of catching those people. What happens when you are in need of police assistance and you cant get it, or they arent there soon enough to protect you, who wants to bet that you'll be complaining then to.

 

Jul 13, 2009

Its not like this "source of revenue" turns a profit for law enforcement, but rather it replaces money that otherwise would have come from your taxes, and bolsters the budget when those taxes aren't enough.

 

Jul 13, 2009

One thing to keep in mind is that someone could be speeding and driving dangerously and only slow down when this device tells them to

 

Jul 13, 2009

Larger issue: cameras to 'prevent' traffic problems now become cameras to prevent privacy later.

 

Jul 13, 2009

I live in a state where it is constitutionally mandated " ...that the accused will get to face his accuser [challenge] in a court of law" The 'robo-cop' folks have pressed our state legislature to change the laws to legislatively allow their use within the mandate; so far the legislature has refused. Tarring & feathering is still a viable therapy for some miscreants out here. Until you change your laws, you are getting what you deserve.

 

Jul 13, 2009

JoshM: scary mindset, sounds like you would have jumped on the train happily en route to the death camps. Just do what your program instructs you to do and you are headed on a dark course. wake up from the slumber sheeple.

 

Jul 13, 2009

We have cameras all over the uk and the police/local councils were forced into making them highly visible as they used to hide them in bushes (to make money), most cops here say they like the camera detection software as it does make people slow down.

Some cameras in the uk are fake or have no actual camera in them but still have the same effect as you never know which has and which hasn't.

To protect and serve is the motto of the us police isn't it? not to bill and bleed dry

 

Jul 13, 2009

Uh, I don't get it. Why don't people who live in these areas remove or incapacitate these unlawful devices? In the UK, I saw a report where frustrated motorists destroyed them. In Arizona, Santa Claus covered them with a brightly wrapped gift box.

 

Jul 13, 2009

It's really simple. Obey the speed limit and stop at red lights.

 

Jul 13, 2009

Chief: Ever hear of the 1st Amendment? Better start reading the US Constitution!

 

Jul 13, 2009

I see a lot of righteous indignation. Where was all this outrage during revisions of the Patriot Act that basically make these types of intrusive surveillance techniques profitable to cities and states? Where was the fury when Eminent Domain was rewritten that allowed homeowners to be removed from their land so a condo can be built and not appropriated for public or civic use? A lot of hen pecking. And thank God for John W. O'Brien III for resorting to personal attacks to infuse his argument with some passion!

 

Jul 13, 2009

Cops set up speed traps to enable them to reach into the pockets of working people. Your grocery money...food for your children....will be taken to pay for City Employees and the benefits they enjoy. If you can outwit them....to the point of creating frustration on the part of this "Easy Money" gang...How Sweet It Is
: )~~~~~~~~~~~~~``

 

Jul 13, 2009

Compared to the way you Democrats have allowed Obama and the fools on the hill to rape our futures and the fiscal security of our children's children....police tricks to steal your money is very small change indeed.

If the city needs money so badly, why not stop giving free medical attention to the illegals and get them out of our public schools as well. This alone would fix any state budget.

 

Jul 13, 2009

The street level cops aren't to blame for the camera's on the street. That distinction falls to the higher-ups that are more comcerned about income to feed their budgets. I think the technology is wonderful, keeps honest people honest.

 

Jul 14, 2009

@JoshM.
"it replaces money that otherwise would have come from your taxes," Sorry to pop your bubble, but this revenue is in addition to that money which is provided by your taxes. Go and check out how many Police departments have had a reduction in their budgets late.

 

Jul 14, 2009

"Cowardly tactic"? That's the dumbest most irresponsible garbage I've heard this week. Radar is a deterrent . . . whatever causes drivers to slow down is just as effective as a ticket and fine. Somebody needs to tell that inept police chief to get a life.

 

Jul 14, 2009

the primary purpose of law enforcement is to enforce the law. if people know not to break the law then how can this clown denounce it? what he's denouncing is a loss of revenue, and the contracted ability to bully people who they manage to catch. get a life loser - anything that deters crime or reduces accidents by letting people know that laws are going to be enforced can't be bad. maybe they should start putting up dummy cameras so people just wont speed anywhere? no... that would mean no abuse of the rule of law...

 

Jul 14, 2009

"Saving Lives" huh? Nice to see his only bit of supporting evidence is from totally inaccurate infpormation. In the intersections where red light cameras are known the number of accidends rises 18%. They are actually causing more harm. but as long as they get there cash they don't care. Glad to once again see the City and PD are "looking out for our best interests"

 

Jul 14, 2009

If your primary concern is to save lives by getting drivers to slow down in speed-related, accident risk areas, then consider this: by positioning speed cameras in high risk locations, and having drivers alerted to their presence by iPhones or similarly equipped devices, and monitoring accident rates over an extended period of time, then analyzing that data for any correlation of accident rates with the deployment of iPhone warning systems of high risk locations, you could then release an informed, unbiased report on the value of such software. Can we hear back from you in, say, 6 to 12 months? Thanks.

 

Jul 14, 2009

For the love of God: it's spelled iPhone.

iPhone, iPhone, iPhone. Where does your copy editor come from? The sixteen century? Do you hyphenate W-alkman? How about G-M, that motor company? If you ever wonder how to spell iPhone, how about going to Apple.com. It really, really, really isn't that hard.

 

Jul 14, 2009

How can increasing your risk of death/injury be cowardly?

 

Jul 14, 2009

So wait...

People are developing technology that informs them of speed traps, so that they can slow down, drive safer, and thus avoid getting a ticket.

And this state-hired thug dares to call them cowards for exercising personal responsibility?

This just proves that all they care about is the income from ticketing, not the safety of the public, and they will disseminate propaganda to protect their extortion racket.

 

Jul 14, 2009

This brings a smile to my face, I had no idea that there were this many intelligent,aware beings out there. With the exception of Josh M. and 1 or 2 others our world may still have hope, Fight On! Turn Off the TV!

 

Jul 14, 2009

Baltimore's Mayor has icluded the money from speed cameras in next year's budget. no..........o, it not about money huh

 

Jul 14, 2009

Does the good Chief want to reduce speeding (people get data about cameras and slow down) or collect fines (people don't get data about cameras and speed). Me thinks this is more about lost revenue than safety...

 

Jul 14, 2009

Eff the police.

 

Jul 15, 2009

I find it funny that everyone complains about the police department until they need them. Cameras are a cheap and easy way to monitor speeds in many geographical locations around the City without eating up man-power and allowing the officer to respond to other serious calls for service. I'm not against the software being used because I really don't think its gonna make a difference... the Cameras are constantly changing locations and it will be difficult for users to continually update the data... Good luck scoff-laws!

 

Jul 15, 2009

This sounds like a great app. Combine it with a concealed radar detector and you should be able to avoid them all. Maybe these clowns should start solving real crime.

 

Jul 15, 2009

So an app that warns someone they need to slow down is circumveting law enforcment when it is achieving the same result as the camera (expect more effectively). Seems like it is helping law-enforcment.

"Photo radar tickets generated nearly $1 billion in revenues for D.C. during fiscal years 2005 to 2008." That seems to be the real reason they are opposed to this.

Spedd cameras aren't about safety they are about making money. Period.

 

Jul 15, 2009

Where were all of you when the bill to allow traffic cameras was being voted on? I see the same type of comments posted on a multitude of issues such as this one. Everyone here needs to get involved in the legislative process -while the bills are proposed - before they become laws - to prevent the future loss of your freedom and liberties. How about sending these comments to your representatives (local, State and Federal) instead of into the black hole of cyberspace?

 

Jul 15, 2009

The police should be happy about this if their end goal is to save lives and have people slow down or not blow through red lights. This will make drivers more aware and pay closer attn to their surroundings. The only reason they could have to mad about this is the loss in revenue like stated in the article. If anything this is going to aide their fight against wreckless and irresponisble driving. But hey, the higher ups are polotitians and their REAL end goal is the biggest profit possible.

 

Jul 15, 2009

Its always gets a reaction when their "Revenue" is impacted. These devices are not to "serve and protect" They are a money making machine and an automated intrusion on the public. More power to the people!

 

Jul 16, 2009

"...law enforcement that is designed specifically to save lives." Or to collect revenue. Just sayin'...

 

Jul 16, 2009

How is using this application "cowardly?" That makes as little sense as Lanier's haircut.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Clearly the traffic cameras raise revenues where fighting crime doesn't. What's a city to do, especially one that has a chief like this one.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Sure Cathy, it's just as cowardly as your officers who won't go into the worst parts of DC because of the crime that your department can't control.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cowardly?? Wow. Ignorant. Trapster and actual speed traps accomplish the same end -- drivers slowing down. There you go, success! The problem for the gov't is that Trapster reduces revenue from tickets. It's that simple.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Unbelievable said it perfectly. Some years back someone in NJ got a ticket for flashing his high beams to warn other drivers. Judge in an apeal through it out, said the driver was accomplishing exactly what the speed trap was intended to do slow other drivers down, not increase revenue for the municipality.

 

Jul 16, 2009

That sure is one butt hurt police officer. Whatcha gonna do? Go complain to the city council to get them to make Iphones illegal? That's the police's answer to everything after all, just make it illegal, make more citizens criminals, that way your department gets more money from the state and the prison system does too.

 

Jul 16, 2009

People need to start waking up to the fact that government, and government's long arm the police are not your friends.
The government and the police are the enemy. Kudos to the folks who invented this method of circumventing the greedy, grasping reach into people's wallets.

 

Jul 16, 2009

When traffic enforcement turns the 'Protect and Serve' officers into a feared enemy ... its time to re-analize traffic enforcement.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I think this is great! Love the iPhone! Down with Nazi traffic cops!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cowardly? It looks more like people are using technology to circumvent licensed highwaymen.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Quit whinning you big lesbian. It's a free country.

 

Jul 16, 2009

as soon as the outsourced company that manages the equipment for dc shows a loss of revenue, they will abandon the devices

 

Jul 16, 2009

Lanier can go take a long walk on a short pier... Her rantings are irrelevant. No one takes her seriously, and I am beginning to wonder if Fenty even listens to her anymore.

 

Jul 16, 2009

You get the government you allow.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Yeah well that guy can lick my lovesicle, because everyone with an IQ over 13 knows that the vast majority of the speed related traps are designed simply to make a lot of money for sleezebag money-grubbing politicians who are like crackheads who can't get enough. My iPhone stays on red alert baby.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Typical. The DC Police Chief is morte interested in manufacturing criminals than public safety. Tyrant! Power to the People. Let's continue to 'flash the high-beams' at each other, using any means available.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Apparently this app is actually doing what is the 'supposed' intent of the speed camera. While the app gets you to slow down NOW, the camera has no actual deterent effect. You simply get a bill later. How is getting a bill two weeks from now going to have a deterent effect on my 'going with the flow' of traffic NOW?

The safety of 'go with the flow' is what caused the elimination of tiered speed limits in OH. (65 for cars 55 for trucks)

 

Jul 16, 2009

It's time to stop Big Brother!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Red-light cameras increase rear-end collisions by 70%. These cameras are nothing more than a money grab.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I guess officers wearing bullet proof vests are cowardly too.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Consider the source... The Chief is just another Barney Fife

 

Jul 16, 2009

Another fine example of this country's "Law Enforcement."

 

Jul 16, 2009

Getting time to trim a few jobs in government, aye? Since we have a teleprompter as president; how about if we install a teleprompter as DC Police Chief? Even better, we could use the ankle bracelets on all public officials so we know where the hell they are at all times.

 

Jul 16, 2009

D.C. police chief Cathy Lanier makes it sound like 100% of all criminal activity is eventually caught. Using her LOGIC, why not save the tax payers some money and just lock everyone up. Ditz!

 

Jul 16, 2009

tough chief........big brother, go to hell............all you cops are storm trooper nazis

 

Jul 16, 2009

Thanks, Chief, for giving us insight into how the police feel about the rest of us.

"Cowards", indeed.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Interesting soundbites from a failure of a police chief. There is plenty of evidence out there supporting the facts that red-light cameras actually cause more rear-end collisions, and if this Trapster application still reminds people to slow down as they approach a known camera location, the point is still accomplished. I guess our fine chief needs to read up on the facts, one being that most accidents in DC happen below posted speed limits. What's she's most concerned about is the $1 billion dollars in revenue. Even then use of this Trapster application will probably make a very small dent in their prized revenue generator. She's not concerned in the least about public or driver safety, just that her department doesn't get to issue a ticket and heavy fine in the process.

 

Jul 16, 2009

the true cowards are cops....who hide behind their badges to committ murder, out of "fear for their life and limb", and "the public good"....storm trooper gestapo nazis, one and all.....

 

Jul 16, 2009

I wish they would come out w/ an application for blackberry devices!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Amazing...and the timing couldn't be better. Here is interesting information relating to these cameras in the DC area.
"In recent weeks, officers have twice been photographed speeding past a camera and extending a middle finger, an act that police supervisors interpreted as a gesture of defiance. "There is no excuse for that kind of behavior," said Andrews, who was briefed on the incidents.

During the last eight months of 2007, the department's cameras recorded 224 instances in which county police vehicles were nabbed traveling more than 10 mph over the speed limit, the department disclosed this week in response to an inquiry from The Washington Post"
1 out of every 10 traffic cameras in the United States is crammed into a cash strapped, morally and finacially bankrupted city. Cameras generate $1 Billion? Montgomery County is projecting $29 Million in revenue from cameras....smells like a true concern for public safety!

 

Jul 16, 2009

She's a bureaucrat...been doing it so long all she knows and understands is the process.(moron). She asserts the cameras are helping to prevent 'crime' and improve public 'safety' because that's how they were sold to the public. Can she provide any data that supports her claim. Cameras are used by cities to provide income and they do that very well. There isn't one iota of evidence that supports the claim they actually prevent crime.

 

Jul 16, 2009

"I think that's the whole point of this program," she told The Examiner. "It's designed to circumvent law enforcement -- law enforcement that is designed specifically to RAISE TAX DOLLARS."

 

Jul 16, 2009

Seig Heil, SS Gruppenführer Lanier!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Imagine, the gun blasting, club wielding, jack-booted cops think iPhone users are cowardly. Go taser a great-grandma, coppers!

 

Jul 16, 2009

And the effect of the iPhone app is that people driver slower and more safely and the police chief thinks this is a bad thing? Don't tell me speed traps is about safety, it's not. It's all about the money. End of story.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cowardly??? The chief should worry about the revenue making machine she has created, these cameras are just that, not safety devices. Although there are plenty of studies that are sponsored by the camera makers that say they are safety devices the truth is they are just a revenue stream for the area they are used. We as the voting public should never tolereate a politician (that is taking money from a camera company) to stay in office after they allow these "noble" devices. Does it help focus cops elsewhere? In DC, has it freed up any to combat real crime!! LOL Cathy is a clown masquerading as a Chief that will be thrown out when Fenty has to be re-elected. Throw the bums out along with the cameras!!

 

Jul 16, 2009

There's never a cop around when you need one, and I've not needed one for 55 years. The cops are the biggest gangs out there.

 

Jul 16, 2009

A good analogy would be a service that notifies people in advance of a random drug test. Good thing? I doubt it. Illegal? No.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I THINK ALL YOU TRAPSTER MORONS ARE FULL OF CRAP. YOU HAVE A PRIVILEGE TO DRIVE NOT A RIGHT TO DRIVE. OBEY THE LAW AND STOP TRYING TO CIRCUMVENT IT WITH YOUR IDIOT GADGETS. STOP PLAYING WITH YOUR TOYS AND START DRIVING RESPONSIBLY YOU IDIOTS.

 

Jul 16, 2009

A smart police department would use this system to its advantage:

Go online as a "user" or "contributor" and enter hundreds or thousands of speed trap locations, red light camera locations, etc. Then, the system will constantly alerting the users that there is a trap at this corner...then one block away, another trap...then another block, another trap! That way, everyone would constantly be slowing down and would end up either driving the speed limit all the time or ignoring the device and rendering it useless!! Invest in two technicians and have them post new sites for 8 hours a day for maybe 1 week and you'd have the entire city covered!! Think, people!

 

Jul 16, 2009

grand on a dog that found 300 thousand dollars worth of drugs in 6 months in one bust. The bad side is their use of tasers on old grannies and people that don't move fast enough.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I am amazed at the number of posts here by people complaining about these so called "camera traps". If your speeding your speeding plain and simple whether a live officer catches you or a camera either way you WERE breaking the law. I get tired of people complaining about their rights to do this and do that...the big white sign with black numbers tells you what you should be doing if you ignore it pay the ticket thats your right. I am an OTR driver and have to deal with speeding idiots all over the country everday and it is epidemic. Just slow down!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Finally, a subject that people from all policical parties can agree on and in Washington DC too!!! Amazing. Can world peace be far behind?

 

Jul 16, 2009

tea in the bay!!!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Sorry SMOLE....guess you either like getting gouged for tickets that circumvent due process or you have never looked down at your speedometer and realized "I'm going 12 MPH over the limit." Either way, next time it's raining and those super quick changing lights go from yellow to red and I choose not to jam on the brakes and slide through the intersection, I'll send you the $40 penalty that I'll be mailed for using common sense.

 

Jul 16, 2009

While I support the police in my area I think their time could be better spent on cleaning out the GETTO slim that infest our city. You pull over 90% of the thug and hoods that drive their 40,000 dollar cars with 3,000 dollar wheels and live in the innercity you will find drugs, alcohol and guns.There afraid of profiling and getting shot.Anyone caught in a high speed chase should be shot on the side of the road.Or beat with in an inch of there lives.Or repeat drunk drivers,not the guy with 4 beers under his belt thats driving home for the local pub but the 6 time offenders.Slobbering drunks that are caught in wrecks and the ditchs.Enforce the laws don't send them to rehab sent them to labor camps(oh wait with Osama in charge we can't afford to let crimals take the jobs of road work and trash pick up)I am down loading trapster as soon as I complete this rant(down load complete)TRAPSTER PEOPLE

 

Jul 16, 2009

Checkpoints, speed traps, red light cameras, etc. are not about saving lives - they're about raising revenue for the State, and that's why the Police Chief is angry. I'd like to once see politicians, and make no mistake about it, a police chief is a politician, be honest about the motivation behind what they do. The Chief's whining over her intrusive technology being thwarted is breaking my heart. And the Chief's quote about "... it's almost impossible to stop the flow of information," should be chilling to anyone who still holds a speck of respect for our Constitution in their hearts. A comment like that coming from a top law enforcement officer is just another example of how America is being destroyed from within.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Trapster is about as "cowardly" as using red light / speed cameras.

I fail to see what the big deal is. It's just another evolution of the arms race between the government and its citizens.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Keep up the good work guys. Big brother is watching and wants your money. The police are simply preying on the public and looking for money. Nothing easier than writing a speeding ticket, then getting a check in the mail. Avoid these cameras if you can, then maybe these guys can go and do actual police work...not be glorified tax collectors.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Boy am I glad to know that I share the road with all of you commentors! Talk about fearing for ones kids!

 

Jul 16, 2009

The speed cameras and red light cameras have nothing to do with safety. It's all about the money going from your pocket to their pockets. Happy motoring!

 

Jul 16, 2009

The only places where traffic cameras should be used are around zebra striped areas designed to control merges. It burns my butt every time a driver speeds down the zebra stripes to bypass traffic in the legal lanes.

Any other use of cameras is nothing but a revenue raising measure promoted as a 'safety measure.'

 

Jul 16, 2009

I think it is time that all government employees are put under camera and streamed to the Internet so that we can make sure they are doing their jobs and not cheating the taxpayer.

Oh yeah and they are fired if they try and circumvent the system.

 

Jul 16, 2009

If the people slow down and obey the traffic laws because they know there are cameras/speed traps isn't that a good thing?

Oh wait..I forgot it is not about that, it is about the money.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cathy,
Thanks for bringing awareness to the fact that my iphone could do this. I was previously unaware. And nice try stating this is about safety. That is a blatant lie- it's about revenue generation. No go back to eating your donuts.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Chief Lanier,
So, this is what the police in one of the highest crime rate areas of the country are concerned about. Oh, that's right...traffic violators don't, typically carry guns. This is about revenue and only revenue, you twit.

 

Jul 16, 2009

DC is full of SOCIALIST anyways. A good AMERICAN would stop his/her car pull out there baseball bat and give the camera a good smack! brake several cameras and see if the police start guarding the cameras waist there time and money after awhile the cameras will go away! look at ARIZONA. Some SOCIALIST in DC want to turn this country into something like FRANCE??? cheese eating surrender monkeys.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Saves lives my arse, it's to tax us. Cops give tickets to raise revenue for bloated government programs. This woman is a government zombie hack.

 

Jul 16, 2009

If it's really about safety, then Police need to start doing their job the old fashioned way and when they catch these lawbreakers. No Fine...JAIL TIME! Speeding cars that run redlights kill people. Get these idiots off the road the honest way.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I guess the internet NAZI's did not like my last post. Smash the Camera's with a bat. the socialist in DC will get tired of replaceing them after awhile just like what happened in arizona...

 

Jul 16, 2009

If you love this wait til health care is "free". Where's the outcry,call your congressman and tell him the gig is up. ET

 

Jul 16, 2009

it is not about saving lives, it's about generating revenue. i'm going to take a license plate holder that flips down like what i had on my ole 70 merc cougar and affix a solinoid to the frame so i can tap a button and my tag flips down so it can't be read, and just for fun i'm going to laminate a picture of obamas face and fix it to a popcicle stick to hold up over my face for the camera. photo speed cameras are not for saving lives, they actually make traffic worse with people slamming on their brakes and checking up, photo cameras are for taking money from you. i suggest some heavy trucks affix a chain and a large hook and drive by some of these cameras and go fishing. it's called trolling.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Ok, so this warns you that a camera is up ahead, you know not to run the light. So, you don't...isn't that the point of the cameras, to make sure you are driving safe?...or is it? 1 million in revenue...ahh touched a nerve have we chief?

 

Jul 16, 2009

First the Chief is the bad person here, the police. Second, the city fathers and mothers run the police so they are the ones wanting the money. Blood suckers? Correct. Thats Gov. for you.

 

Jul 16, 2009

This woman has suckled at the federal teat her entire working life. She is a tool, a fool, and an obedient servant of her master The Government. She would not know Liberty -- or even humble citizenship -- if it came and hit her upside the head. No doubt she would arrest Liberty for that!

I do not understand why we the people of this police state have not burned down entire blocks of government "rulers" (as the Obamessiah's minions like to put it) rather than tolerate this numbing level of controlled and dictated compliance.

Start the da**ed war already. It's well past time.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Police justify cameras as a means of deterrence. The argument is that when drivers know they are there they will slow down, not run red lights, etc. How can they be a deterrence if their location is secret? The iphone app is actually helping the police fulfill the mission of the cameras. The chief needs a new job or at least an attitude adjustment. If she thinks the public is the enemy she is due for a change in career-but it probably won't happen.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Kathy Lanier- The latest in a long line of jokes to sit in the DC Police Chief'f office.

Her only virtue- her replacement will probably be worse.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Agreed. With emphasis on en***FORCE***ment.

Mark Jul 16, 2009

Another fine example of this country's "Law Enforcement."

 

Jul 16, 2009

Yeah this is a joke; they can monitor us, but we can't monitor them? TOTAL HYPOCRISY.

Of course its all about the money

 

Jul 16, 2009

An early comment nailed this: It's a cash register, designed to earn money on scale. If you ship out 10,000 citations in the mail and only 20 percent pay, then youre ahead of the curve. Cameras cannot excersize judgement or apply the spirit of the law, which are two of the most important aspects of law enforcement.

If you get one of these little turds in the mail, don't pay or acknowledge it. A passive delivery system such as the US Mail does not constitute Personal Service as defined by law. If it did, a whole lot of Process Servers around the country would be out of work.

This police chief's political savvy is out to lunch, and her enforcement policy is lazy. Ignore these things and make them blow their postage budget as well...

 

Jul 16, 2009

As far as I'm concerned, they should not fine speed violators, they should put them in jail.
If a camera every block is necessary, so be it. I'm all for it. Speeding and drunken wackos put us all at risk.

 

Jul 16, 2009

This is Bush's fault

 

Jul 16, 2009

think about the good old days when people flashed their headlights to alert oncoming drivers to police running radar. this iPhone app seems a similar concept, only with updated technology. the effect is to make people slow down in areas that the police obviously think there is a problem with excessive speed. the police in our city regularly inform the radio station traffic report folks where radar is running in an effort to get citizens to slow down. the ultimate desire of law enforcement is (or should be) to get people to reduce their speed in critical areas. her sentiments are misplaced. her department needs to "pick up their game" by devoting manpower to solving violent crimes. that police chief is a dim wit.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Sounds like chiefy is not meeting his monthly revenue targets.

 

Jul 16, 2009

This is such a scam. Let's see, they're claiming these Orwellian devices saving lives. How many lives are we talking here? Nil compared to the killing fields inside their city, otherwise known as the politically correct "inner city." Do something about that coward!

 

Jul 16, 2009

The Chief needs to be replaced. Go raise money another way - not off the back of the public all the while claiming it is for safety.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The "Chief" is a thief, plain and simple.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Maybe if DC law enforcement had a little less dirt and scandal every year, they would get more respect. The 'thin blue line' comes off like a 'big blue fraternity' (sorry Kathy!) too much of the time.

 

Jul 16, 2009

These cameras are nothing but a revenue device--1 BILLION in 3 years?? That's insane!! I have Trapster on MY i-phone too but I much prefer my radar detector which also picks up LASER traps. I've never had a speeding ticket (or any other one) in my life and I love that radar detector--worth it's weight in gold!!

 

Jul 16, 2009

The police chief is a BALD-FACED LIAR. These "speed traps" are not set to "protect the drivers", or "improve safety". They are set to GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

Tyranny reigns. Get ready for the revolution; it is coming. And all you uneducated morons in the blue suits with the little badges? Targets.

 

Jul 16, 2009

If you've driven 395N in DC,and saw how hard people slam on their brakes before the speed camera, you'd really question the effectiveness of these devices "saving lives".

 

Jul 16, 2009

Good for all iPhone users..!!! These things (Speed Traps/Cameras) are nothing more than taxes forced on the public. It's a way for government to get their hands in your pockets. GO iPhone users..!!

 

Jul 16, 2009

"SAVE LIVES"?! Give me a break. Speed traps are merely a revenue generating device for cities and towns. No Speed trap has ever saved a life.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Sounds to me like the chiefette is more concerned about the revenue loss than the publics' safety. If people are slowing down when there's a speed trap, or they use back roads to avoid traffic signals, they, by necessity have to drive slower and more carefully.

Were it not about the money, she would be touting how her applications have made drivers safer in D.C.

With Democrats, it's always about the money. . .

 

Jul 16, 2009

I'm just as concerned about Anarchy.

 

Jul 16, 2009

i agree the policeeeeeeeeeeee r cowards 4 useing the cameras,,its just another tax,,do u youre job,take care of the crime

 

Jul 16, 2009

What is cowardly is that a armed police officer would hide in bushes from violent armed repeat offendors and go after traffic violators. Unfortunatelly the good ones usually get shot by criminal a-holes, while hiding from real violent offendors due to FEAR.

 

Jul 16, 2009

LOL ... This Chief Donut eater needs to understand that not all drivers believe in the "suggested" speed limits. Especially when they are primarily used as a revenue cow. Sounds like this "Chief" needs to be replaced.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cowardly is using law enforcement to lie in wait along the hiway to fleece otherwise lawful citizens while methlabs flourish and white collar crooks run this country into the ground.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The police chief doesn't understand that this will result in MORE drivers reducing speed EVEN IN AREAS WHERE TEMPORARY "SPEEDING" CAMERAS HAVE BEEN REMOVED. That's a good thing...right?

The updates cannot possibly be 100% real-time, so that means there is latency.

And that means when a "speeding" camera is relocated, the system will still show it as being in the "old" location for awhile...perhaps days or even a week or more, until its absence has been "confirmed" and removed from the database and updates sent and processed by the phones.

During that time drivers are still slowing down in that area because the phone tells them to do so.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I wonder how many speeding tickets Cathy Lanier has actually paid?

 

Jul 16, 2009

Speed traps are ALL about the money generated. Period. It's a revenue stream for the city since sales taxes are down.

 

Jul 16, 2009

It sounds like the cameras are still doing there job, which is to slow people down and "save lives". If the people are getting the information on the location of the cameras and speed traps via I-phone they are still having to slow down or not run the red light in order to not get caught. So if the cameras were really installed for safety not revenue the police chief should be happy.

 

Jul 16, 2009

You idiots voted for Marion (crackhead,stalker,john) Barry. TWICE. Stupid people, polices chiefs are appointed by mayors, sheriffs are elected and voters are ignorant.

 

Jul 16, 2009

In Canada, Ontario specifically, we not only have to pay a fine when we speed, we are penalized with a victim fine surcharge plus court costs added to the original amount of the fine. The government claims my money goes to help victims impacted by my crime!! Talk about double-dipping

 

Jul 16, 2009

Speed cameras, trapster, where is this all leading? Obama and his acolytes will get automatic speed control devices mandated on all new cars sold in this country. it will be GPS based, and your car will not go over the posted limit. who will pay for this? You, the consumer. Orwellian 1984 stuff is on the way all in the name of "saving lives".

 

Jul 16, 2009

Trapster is also available for Blackberry users and is also free.

 

Jul 16, 2009

How dare these Iphone users use electronic surveillance to undermine our electronic surveillance!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Look, those cameras are in those places for a reason, and it comes down to this: with the App people will SLOW DOWN, WITHOUT the App people will get tickets. Would you rather prevent speeding or give tickets?

 

Jul 16, 2009

Actually I think that all of this is great and good. Wow, what a statement, I can't believe I actually said it.

Here's why.

This technological tug of war stimulates the advancement of technology and that, hopefully, improves the lives of everyone.

The cops use technology to set up speed traps and nab the person doing 38 in a 35 and the citizens use technology to avoid these traps.

The cops then look to better technology to get past the citizens technology and the citizens then turn to a better technology to thwart the efforts of the cops.

The results are better and better technologies to produce technological spin-off benefits for us all.

Why it's almost like giving free cellular telephone services to those on welfare so they can entertain themselves in the park while waiting for their drug clients to contact them for the next fix.

We are a tad late but Orwell would have been proud.

Freeland_Dave

 

Jul 16, 2009

Man it stinks when the little guy can keep an eye on Big Brother, doesn't it?

 

Jul 16, 2009

Why doesn't the police dept. flood the Phantom Alert network with thousands of false locations for the cameras and check points. That way the Iphones will be going off every 1/4 mile. There will be so many false alarms no-one will know when to believe it..

 

Jul 16, 2009

The government has their hand in our pocket for enough things. Speed traps are not law enforcement it is revenue generation. If they wanted to save lives they would patrol the highways and nab reckless drivers, cellphoners, etc...

 

Jul 16, 2009

It's ironic that D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier doesn't want people to use the iPhone App "Trapster" to avoid receiving a speeding ticket. How many people know about it now because of this article that she so willingly contributed to?
THANK YOU CATHY LANIER! Is there anything else you want to share with us that you don't want us to know about??

 

Jul 16, 2009

You are a liar, or are short-sited.. only you know which, and either should make your employers wonder about your competency.

To see if I understand this... you are forwarding that it is better that folks are ACTUALLY speeding, so you can catch them ACTUALLY speeding, so you can save lives that are lost to ACTUAL speeders... in which case you need to re-think that line of thought as it is really bad.
OR
You and your entire city are telling bold face lies about it not being about revenues generation.

Which is it, and shouldn't either disqualify you from your position. WE could understand if you were under orders from your superiors to lie, but shouldn't that be made public as well... for justice, no?

 

Jul 16, 2009

Good. Generally it could be considered cowardly to just sit there and wait for someone to break the law than to do actual police work.

 

Jul 16, 2009

"Cowardly tactic"? So speeders who DON'T use the iPhone app are courageous in Lanier's eyes? Somehow I doubt it.

 

Jul 16, 2009

So the Chief of Police in the Capital ( Washington DC ) wants drivers to be less cowardly ???

What does that mean ???

Does he want them to wear flack vests, carry side arms and stand up to his Police officers like non-cowards ???

That was a stupid comment that makes it seem like a traffic stop is a war between the driver and the police.

This chief of Police is going to get some of his officers killed or injured if he keeps making stupid comments that create and image of a war between police officers and law abiding drivers.

 

Jul 16, 2009

What A very naive comment from a head cop. It has and always will be "us against them".
This is so obvious when drivers overcompensate by slowing down, well below the posted speed limit, when passing a stopped cop car. Out of sight they continue on their merry way at warp speed.
I recently came back from Egypt. Painted lines and posted speed limits are a suggestion if you can see them. Also I didn't see one functioning traffic light. They manage quite well by themselves.

 

Jul 16, 2009

How about cowardly police officers shaking down citizens when they could be addressing REAL crime.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Yahoo! I've just added another cool app to my iphone.

Anything that will help me avoid the highway robbers is a good thing.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Substitute "generate revenue" for "save lives" and you'll have the real reason for the police chief's ire.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Just one of the many reasons why I escaped D.C. / Montgomery County after growing up & living there almost 40 some-odd years.

Not just the speed traps, but the entitled attitude apparatchiks such as Lanier or Moose who'd rather rely on technology such as cameras while kvetching about those ho ... gee ... also use technology to avoid such bureaucratic hypocrites.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I don't like getting ticketed either. But it's obvious every poster is no acknowledging the flaw in this software. Speed traps in unknown areas are designed to keep the driver at posted speed throughout his drive and not just at known speed traps. Ergo the driver w/trapster will speed when there is no trap. If you don't acknowledge your opponents argument you get shut down. You're the kind of people who go on tv court shows with an inane argument and get hit with a dose of reality. Just sayin...

 

Jul 16, 2009

They have this technology in the UK. It's installed on all the latest gps.

 

Jul 16, 2009

So now cops with iPhones can simply upload data on "points of interest" at every corner in the city. Let the people ignoring traffic laws decide which ones are real and which are not.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cops hiding behind shrubbery, unmarked cars, speed trap cameras, and traffic light cameras. There's a stretch of I-94 near Milwaukee where they pull off like a disabled vehicle and crack the drivers door to stick out a speed gun. When did this type of traffic enforcement become a legal right of police departments? Who do they really work for, anyway?

 

Jul 16, 2009

I love the comments that bash the chief - up until the time a loved one of yours is seriously injured, or killed by a speeder, DWI, DWAI, etc. Then again, you are either too young to understand what is going on, or too self-centered and hateful of law enforcement.
I am a retired highway patrolman - and I can't tell you how many people that were involved in serious MVA's that maintain a RD or the likes.
My suggestion - anyone that is caught using such a product and is involved in such an accident - should be held open to liability to those that they injure and/or the families of such person(s).

 

Jul 16, 2009

Wow! The number of people upset because local law enforcement is using cameras to take revenue from its citizens for safety reasons is amazing. The anger, resentment, disgust is astonishing. All they want to do is help protect you.
Yet what percentage of you are okay with the government taking money from you or your employer to pay for your healthcare or to protect you from global warming, I mean climate change, since it has been proven world temperatures are not rising?
Thats the way to do it, worry about the mole hill and ignore the mountain in front of you.

 

Jul 16, 2009

One more thing – understand the difference between “Speed Traps”, and “Excessive Speed in a Posted Area” – a speed trap is when without warning the posted speed drops, let’s says from 65 to 45, and behind the sign is speed enforcement – that’s a speed trap and is illegal. This is why there are posted speed signs at EVERY entrance to a highway, and you r state laws dictate when no sign is visible, then there is a pre-structured limit – in NYS within the streets it is 25 MPH, and speed on any highway in NYC will NEVER be more than 50 MPH. So once you have the understanding of the difference you will understand there is no “Trap” within the context of this supposed argument.

 

Jul 16, 2009

One more thing – understand the difference between “Speed Traps”, and “Excessive Speed in a Posted Area” – a speed trap is when without warning the posted speed drops, let’s says from 65 to 45, and behind the sign is speed enforcement – that’s a speed trap and is illegal. This is why there are posted speed signs at EVERY entrance to a highway, and you r state laws dictate when no sign is visible, then there is a pre-structured limit – in NYS within the streets it is 25 MPH, and speed on any highway in NYC will NEVER be more than 50 MPH. So once you have the understanding of the difference you will understand there is no “Trap” within the context of this supposed argument.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cowardly Revenue Generation!
Who's the Chief trying to fool?
The lights in DC are timed to make criminals out of as many as they can.

 

Jul 16, 2009

"I think that's the whole point of this program," she told The Examiner. "It's designed to circumvent law enforcement -- law enforcement that is designed specifically to save lives."

That's a joke. It's a program designed to increase revenue in the city. That is it.

 

Jul 16, 2009

lol police!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Hey Galt - here's a virtual quarter, go buy a virtual brain - because the one you have is apparently - DEAD!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Save lives, blah blah blah.
It's all about the REVENUE. It's the SPEEDING TAX.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Aren't the officials that allow these cameras to go in elected? How about we vote them out? Actions and consequences, people. We need to apply operant conditioning to these idiots.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Lanier said the technology is a "cowardly tactic" - This is an insane statement. It's like saying the police are cowards for wearing bullet-proof vests. More often than not, there is a huge margin of error with these cameras and the fact that they produce a huge number of rear end collision from overly cuatious yellow light breakers. Clearly a national money-grab scheme.

 

Jul 16, 2009

This is ridiculous. If anything they should be lauding this program which is slowing people down even BEFORE the "traps". This simply proves the traps and cameras are nothing more than a revenue booster and in fact not to protect the public which is their primary responsibility. Just goes to show how stupid most of the government of DC really is.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The cowardly tactics that see time and time again on the road is the "law upholders" driving whatever speed they want and operating "above" the law... I have seen this too many times and now will call the appropriate office when I see an officer breaking the law and (city / state / local...)and report EXACT details. I have done this several times and NEVER gotten a person who did not appreciate what I was doing...

I also drive everywhere with a radar detector and have done so since the age of 17 (20 years). Drive safe / sober and smart and DEMAND that the law officials do the same...

 

Jul 16, 2009

You just have to wonder where they find these civil servants.

Falling prey to a SPEED TRAP shows courage? Filling the coffers of wild-eyed tax wasting bureaucrats is manly?

They outlawed radar-detectors and technology has leveled the playing field again.

The downside is that unlike most other smartphones, the IPHONE can only run one application at time. So don't check your email while speeding.

Bravo for avoiding those only for revenue SPEED TRAPS. Tell Chief Lanier to kiss your AT&T.

 

Jul 16, 2009

the Internet CAN be stopped... think about it, most of it purchase the service by a cable/internet company; when our Dear Leader determines we are know too much, he merely shuts it down, we wont connect to jack squat. But don't worry, well still get the news from NBC, owned by GE, with trillions in contracts promised from 'cap & trade'..... it wont be biased at all!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Police departments have become nothing more than another tax collector. Think about that the next time they whine about money.

 

Jul 16, 2009

If the intent of the speed traps is to get drivers to slow down, doesn't that iPhone application actually help the police? So, what's the Chief whining about ?

 

Jul 16, 2009

Lanier said the cameras have decreased traffic deaths. CITE PLEASE.

 

Jul 16, 2009

it's about ze money Lebowski

 

Jul 16, 2009

If the police and politicians who empower them really care about safety, they would applaud such devices to alert drivers to speed cameras. But of course the real purpose of these cameras is not to slow down traffic but to raise revenue for the tax feeding public sector parasites. If "speeding" is so dangerous, then why not just report it to a driver's insurance company and allow higher insurance premiums to discourage speeding?

What would happen if speed cameras actually resulted in the public consciously driving below the speed limit at all times? Would the police and politicians congratulate us for making the roads safe? No! They would bemoan the loss of revenue and either lower the speed limit as they have on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago or find something new to criminalize and fine.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Boohoo! Stupid pigs. You ask for a volunteer to jump out in front of traffic for your pedestrian stings. Almost killing the old man several times a day. Doesn't behave like a normal pedestrian. You guys make things more dangerous by implementing unrealistic hazards. Cops are nothing more then bandits jumping out to take your money to fund there police empire stations. Boohoo! Stupid pigs.

 

Jul 16, 2009

What about the people that can't afford Iphone's / gps type devices? So, really they are targeting a certain group / classification of people now. I wouldn't think that would be lawful. Either give out detection equipment to the ones that can't afford them or shut down the speed traps / cams.

 

Jul 16, 2009

LOL. Not ONE single comment in favor opposing the Trapster app. No surprise! The police are totally out of touch on this issue and contradictory in their statements about wanting to keep the public safe.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The only thing cowardly in this article is the police chief. How about addressing the hundreds of murders in your city each year, chief? Too cowardly to do that?

 

Jul 16, 2009

Speed traps are not about saving lives. They are about generating money and that's all they arte about.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The chief is right to complain. I'm all for bringing in revenue from law breakers.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Isn't the general idea of red light cameras to be a deterrent for us to slow down? Isn't the general idea of radar warning signs a deterrent for us to slow down? If we know about speed traps, won't that be a deterrent for us to slow down? Safety my pasty pale buttocks, she's only complaining about the loss of revenue!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Monkey see Monkey do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Ohhhh poor wittle motorists, not being able to speed, and blow thru traffic lights with impunity.

Somebody should get them a warm bottle.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Speed traps or cameras only affect safety after the fact. The iPhone/Blackberry app's prevents unsafe driving. Hey Mr Croft (nice try Chief :)

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cathy Lanier's reasoning is defective and renders her unfit to serve as police chief. Her assertion seems to be that when a red light camera or speed trap is not detected, the citizen will drive at excessive speeds and run red lights. Where is the evidence to back up this claim? Unless Cathy Lanier produces this evidence, her comments are a threat to public safety, because they discourage citizens from using this software to avoid speeding or running red lights.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Maybe if the chief got his "donut-junkies and caffeine-cowboys" off their dead asses they wouldn't need cameras.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I heard Joe Scott talking about redlight cameras not too long ago, he said that the City of Raliegh NC did a study on them and determined that accidents at redlight camera intersections went up rather than down. and the company which runs the redlight cameras require a shorter yellow light period than normal in thier contracts

 

Jul 16, 2009

The Police State is crying because of ONE little check and balance on their massive, oppressive, Orwellian revenue generating surveillance empire??

Boo-hoo

 

Jul 16, 2009

Every major city has real crime. LOTS of it. Aggravated rape, aggravated battery, armed robbery, homicides and possession with intent to distrubute (narcotics).

Desk bound law apparatchiki like this Lanier the Donut Slayer make me ill, focusing on trash like this instead of victim crimes.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cowardly is the Police nowdays.
"Serve and Protect" has been replaced by "Benefits and Retirement".

 

Jul 16, 2009

No sympathy at all for the $1 billion in revenue that the District stands to lose. You go out of your way to give them a reasonable explanation, complete with photograph, for why the parking ticket you got is unfair--like the sign is unreadable--and you might as well be talking to a wall. There's no intelligence in those lightless caverns that pass for skulls. Let 'em collect unemployment. I'd rather pay tax dollars for them to do nothing than for what they're doing now. It'd serve 'em right!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Hey There Chief,

Less time, expense and mis-allocation of valuable manpower spent on you speed traps, and more time expense and manpower sexpended on eradicating gangs from our neighborhoods and schools, along with drugas and the scum who perpetrate this scourge upon us. But, that's real work. Your traps are nothing less than taxation without representation. Do some real police work or resign from the force and save us some tax dollars. And that goes for your entire constabulary brotherhood around the country, local, county and state!!

G2Bruce

 

Jul 16, 2009

How is giving someone notice of the location of safety/sobriety checkpoints promoting safety? The application enables or even encourages its users to break the law in areas other than those specifically identified as being under police supervision. i hope the police set up camera boxes at every intersection and tickets all of you losers wanting to circumvent law enforcement. If you remove the revenue from law breakers, the law abiders will just pay the difference in tax hikes.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The only cowards are the police who are out taxing people in the name of law enforcement. They need to be solving real crimes. The mayor is a complete moron.

 

Jul 16, 2009

save lives? In Chicago? The one and only thing Chicago law enforcement does is find new and inventive ways to fine inoffensive citizens going about their days. Perhaps if they ever got around to lowering the murder rate in their oh so tightly gun-controlled city, they'd have a shred of credibility about their desire to save lives.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I for one am glad that this data is available. I can avoid the guys trying to stick their hand in my wallet. All they want is MONEY.

You can call me anything you want, as I speed by.

lol

 

Jul 16, 2009

I don't see what the big deal is. Police always use the excuse "saving lives" to account for most traffic laws. If that is the case this software is just another link in the chain. They should place camera's at intersections with high volumes of accidents, so either way people are more catious at the dangerous intersection. Outlawing the software or not outlawing the software would make no difference, and the intersection may even be avoided and become less trafficed as a result of the software.... Only negative is the police will loose their extra revenue.

 

Jul 16, 2009

"Cowardly"? Is that all she could come up with?

And just how is it "cowardly" to find ways to avoid your opponents when they outmatch you overwhelmingly? If U.S. troops, outmatched 1:10, sought to avoid contact with the enemy until they could get reinforcements or find a better position to attack or defend from, would they be "cowardly"? If you outmatch an enemy, or have him even at equal footing, and you seek to avoid conflict due to a fear you refuse to overcome, that is cowardly.

"Cowardly" indeed.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The cowardice is on the part of law enforcement and the policy makers, not the drivers. They're just trying to protect themselves from abuse.

 

Jul 16, 2009

You guys are getting the gist of it all but are missing the most ironic point...Cops caught speeding when not responding to an emergency ARE NOT PAYING THE FINES!!!! They are arguing that the owner of the vehicle i.e. the District and Montgomery County are responsible for the fines and not the driver....So since the County or District own the vehicles, we are paying their fines too via our tax dollars. That Sucks!

 

Jul 16, 2009

If speed traps and cameras are meant to save lives, they should apply to EVERYBODY. I invite you to drive on Routes 95, 195 and 295 in New Jersey during state police shift changes and witness the excessive speeds of the unmarked cars returning to the barracks. I've tried to keep up with them but I consistantly back off at 95 mph.

 

Jul 16, 2009

As someone who drives on public roads, and frequently with family/passengers, I believe I'm entitled to vent a little:
- The point of speed cameras is not to get drivers to slow down while in the camera zone. The aim of the cameras is to get people to drive no faster than the posted limit. (And yes, to generate revenue. But that doesn't make it "okay" to speed. Plan your day a little better and drive at safe, reasonable speeds, please.)
- Slowing down suddenly - whether you see a police car running radar, or you know the location of speed cameras, or you have the Trapster iPhone app - is more dangerous than maintaining a constant speed - even one that's above the posted limit.
- In my view, if you break traffic laws and get caught, you fully deserve a fine. Hopefully you'll learn a lesson. And if you generate revenue for the municipality in the meantime, that's a bonus for taxpayers.
- Put down the cell phone and pay attention.
- Don't pass on the right.
That is all.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Here in Houston the intersections where red light cameras were installed had the number of accidents go up. Seems people were slamming on their brakes to stop and getting rear-ended. Real safe.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Hey - how about a system that displays crash statistics for each intersection/road. Isn't that the real point of the cameras (wink) anyway?

 

Jul 16, 2009

As an ex-policeofficer I know the speed traps are money makers only an dhave nothing to do with life saving. If the police wanted to save lives they would be writing tickets at intersections and not speed traps. Accidents happen at intersections and not on straight streets where the most tickets are written.
To save lives; stop cell phone use in cars.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Gee, I'm sorry we are ruining "his" government..

DC Libiots, you voted the guy in!

 

Jul 16, 2009

It is a safety issue, that is it's possible that highway safety is negatively impacted by traffic cameras, etc. BUT - it's also a constitutional issue - using police and courts and revenue generators for the government. They DO NOT have taxing authority, yet that's obviously what's happening.

 

Jul 16, 2009

What's cowardly are all of the lazy cops (with their daily ticket quotas) who are too busy running speed traps instead of investigating crimes that have been committed. If you get your house broken into, the odds of recovering anything are nil because, as the cops will tell you, "we don't have enough manpower to investigate crimes against property." The have MORE than enough - they just have them deployed as modern day "revenuers".

 

Jul 16, 2009

These smart phone aps are great. The only reason the police chief is pissed is because it keeps responsible drivers who can drive a little faster safely from having to contribute revenue to the department through traffic fines. Speed traps do little to improve road safety and are little more than money makers for cities and their police departments.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Yea Thanks drudge for pointing this useful app out. I just downloaded it. I'm betting it will be the #1 free app quick.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Also How will they prove 1 is using said app? Once I press the home button it's gone and all the cops know is you have an iphone in your hand. I don't see how they could stop you.

 

Jul 16, 2009

If the alert provides the opportunity for the driver to slow down then isn't the police objective met?

As for sobriety check points, I believe sobriety tests ae illegal in that they are self-incriminating.

No justice anymore ...

 

Jul 16, 2009

I want to thank the D.C. police chief for bitching about this app. I had no idea it even existed before i read this article. I just downloaded if off the app store and i can't wait to give it a whirl on my drive home today.

 

Jul 16, 2009

What a bunch of rubbish!!! I'm all for police efforts to save lives. Thank you. But if you don't catch me on your camera trap, then I'm obeying the laws at that time. Who cares how I do it as long as I'm not breaking the law!

 

Jul 16, 2009

It's not designed to save lives, it's designed to raise money. What they are really upset about is not having the revenue they used to.

 

Jul 16, 2009

If it makes people slow down at specific areas, then doesn't the iPhone app save more lives than the speed trap that catches people after the fact?

 

Jul 16, 2009

At what point do the government and "authorities" become terrorists ?

 

Jul 16, 2009

Now, who's the real "coward," a citizen warning his fellow citizens about a speed trap or some fat cop hiding behind a bush with his trusty speed gun?

 

Jul 16, 2009

all this app does is level the playing field giving us an "eye in the sky" just like they have. Besides they hide around walls so you can't see them trying to catch you speeding.

And I like how the police chief says "saving lives" but I don't think 1-5 over is going to do much more damage besides the $190 hit to my wallet....

 

Jul 16, 2009

If you haven't figured out that speed cameras are all about revenue and have noting to do with safety then you are an idiot. Please kill yourself.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Simple solution. Just have the police submit a bunch of false camera sites and sobriety points every night on thier own I-Phones. Pretty soon the public will ahve their phone beeping an emergency every single traffic light. Maybe they'll actuall drive slower in the long run and save some lives.

 

Jul 16, 2009

"Lanier said the [iPod] technology is a 'cowardly tactic'" -- Yeah, cowardly like planting cameras or hiding behind hills and bushes to set up RADAR or LIDAR speed traps.

Lanier and her ilk salute the "public safety" banner while helping local politicians fill the public coffers -- the true purpose of the "big brother cop camera" approach.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Scoresman, got a tattoo.

 

Jul 16, 2009

"Cowardly"?!? I call it smart.

Think of it in the terms of "battlefield" and "ambush". The corrupt money grubbing cops don't give a dam about your rights and will trample them any time they can get away with it.

Speed traps and camera's are a form of ambush. Therefore, the smart soldiers among us will not deliberately subject themselves to an ambush. Why should they?

The thing I hate about cops is they break so many laws themselves but hypocritically demand everyone else follow them.

On the other hand, I also hate Liberal 'Tards who make the cops jobs so much more difficult.

Oh, and since this dipwad Chief thinks that not deliberately walking into an ambush is "cowardly" then by all means, I encourage this chief to do so, or forever be labeled a "coward"

LMAO.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I emailed Maryland's Montgomery County and Gaithersburg Police asking them for the GPS coordinates / POI database of speedcams so I'd be sure to very strictly obey the law near the cameras. Of course they said "no" but they seemed appalled that I'd ask. They seemed to think they totally did their public service by putting a JPG map that showed rough locations on their website. And they seemed to think I was asking for something unreasonable. Ha.

Since our political leaders seem to ignore the 4th amendment and seem to like using police power to collect $ via webcams rather than bothering with the expense of actually having to hire a police officer to write tickets and exercise judgement, I think we'll have to keep using whatever technological and community powers we can muster to counter such surveillance nonsense.

I think also someone needs to investigate what happens to government officials and off-duty police officers when they get snapped by those cams.

 

Jul 16, 2009

To the man who says it'd be a pain to ban this app in the article, it would take all of one phone call to Apple. Apple would flag it and remove it from their App Store, and it would remove the App from any iPhone connected to the internet instantly. So much for it being 'too costly' or whatever. The developer, Phantom couldn't even do anything about it, since it's in the Apple Developer Terms of Service that they can remove any app they want to, whenever and without warning.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Gee Cathy when Jack-Booted_Nazis's like you get shot by the real criminals I don't loose any sleep. DC is a cesspool in more ways than one. Between the low life violent trash and the thieving politicians who whole purpose is to steal from the lawful citizens, and then criminals like you use technology to become agents for these criminals you are no better, an deserve to be treated the same.

 

Jul 16, 2009

"...designed specifically to save lives"

No, it's true! I drove through DC once and didn't die. Cathy be praised!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Funny, they deleted my comment when this first posted, but they left Doug's, which is quite similar. So, I'll try this one more time . . .

cops!

 

Jul 16, 2009

if saving lives is D.C. law enforcement's true objective, then they should be excited for this app. It will cause even more people to slow down, and drive cautiously.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I have an idea...how about you lard butt cops put down the donuts and go arrest a real criminal instead of lining your pockets at the expense of the hard working tax paying citizens for a change...

 

Jul 16, 2009

Hahaha! Not much love for the government here. Someone "up there" should take notice. Of course they have stopped paying attention a long time ago. Revolutions always catch the ruling classes by surprise.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I got a DC speeding ticket.
The court required parking at their garages timed meters.
They stalled my case until my meter ran out, then charged me for TWO tickets.
These guys are crooks without a doubt.
This scam happens EVERYDAY.
This app protects our freedom.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cameras and radars are all about revenue and absolutely nothing about safety and that is how the manufacturers sell them to police departments. Someone show me where that revenue is then reinvested in road safety, apart from buying more cameras and radar guns. Go catch real criminals you cowards. DC is full of them in uniforms and suits.

 

Jul 16, 2009

FME you are only half right Apple can only remove the App from their site, They cannot remove it from your and I repeat Your phone. If the did they are in for major law suits. You own the phone and you can do with it what you want.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I use Trapster on my iPhone along with my Valentine 1 radar detector. I don't think you could get much more protection than that.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Listen to these stupid cops whining about speeders...meanwhile people are getting raped, murdered, robbed...gangs are running rampant all over DC's streets. Get your priorities in place and do your job you worthless Pigs.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Come on, cops - play along. Place cameras and "points of interest" in strategic places so that the software essentially tells everyone that they need to watch out everywhere. Learns how the software works and exploit it - or stop complaining.

 

Jul 16, 2009

See this is great. I had no idea there were apps like this for my phone! Thanks for the tip Cathy Lanier! (Now why don't you go do your f'ing job and bust some murderers or something... plenty of those in DC too.)

 

Jul 16, 2009

I'm sure safety is your concern! What you, my chiefy friend, is concerned with is a loss of easy revenue! The iphone program will also help save lives, and it's easy to see how. Once the alarm goes off the driver slows down and becomes aware. Find other ways to collect revenue. Bust the drug dealers and keep their money!

 

Jul 16, 2009

I live in Idaho and am a prudent, skilled driver. I've driven 350,000 miles in the last 20 years - including many large cities - LA, San Francisco, Seattle, Honolulu, Atlanta, Baltimore, New York, Boston - with no incidents and no tickets. I was in Washington for three days in May - mostly used the Metro, but I drove about 40 miles in the city. Now - two months after the incident - I get a ticket in the mail for $100. I'm 2,200. miles away. The ticket picture shows I was merging onto a three lane freeway with no other cars in sight - says I was going 58 in a 40. Was it posted? Is merging at 58 unreasonable? How much am I really going to spend to prove my driving was reasonable? This is flat out extortion. Clean up your act, Capt. Lanier.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I know in my area since this recession hit police have gone into overdrive enforcing "safety" haha - How stupid to expect anything but contempt from people who know this is about raising money - period, its a stealth tax and they BS us with the safety excuse as if they are doing us a favor. no one wants to be screwed out of money and lied to at the same time!

if its about safety then the penalty for all should be driving school!

 

Jul 16, 2009

People remember this complaint is from the same jack-booted Nazis that UnConstitutionally kept guns out of honest law abiding citizens in the Name of Saving Lives, It's is just live when the Federal Nazis say they can't divulge illegally gathered information for National Security reasons.

 

Jul 16, 2009

This doesn't bother the police, it bothers the Police CHIEFS because it affects their budget.

 

Jul 16, 2009

How ridiculous.

A police chief calling cowardly someone using technology to parry other technology? THAT technology that is put into place solely to capture revenue, harrass motorists and allow police to be even (if it is possible) MORE complacent than they are?

REALLY?

Perhaps Apple could design an app which would locate Dunkin' Donuts shops in a specified geo, and allow the cops - especially the ones with no time to enforce speed limits - quicker access to even more useless time off.

Where is Marshall Dillon? Heck, where is Barney Fife?

 

Jul 16, 2009

Is anyone here naive enough to believe that peace officers and their families don't have iPhones and Blackberrys and that they wouldn't use them to avoid getting tickets. When peace officers are pulled over for speeding, they are rarely ticketed. In my area thay call it "professional courtesy". If they're caught by a camera they're SOL. For those concerned about revenue shortfalls, may DC should start ticketing peace officers and public officials when they break the law.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The police are such hypocritical two-faced limp wristed **** gobblers. If more people know where the speed traps and cameras are and knowingly drive slower through those areas...the police in turn should be happy because more of the public is obeying the law. But no...when local townships intentionally mark select roads 10mph or 15mph less than the actual safe speed rating warranted, radically shift the speed limit downwards at the bottom of hills and pressure cops to reach ticket quotas - cops proceed to rake drivers over the coals. The police do not give a rats-rear about public safety or traffic laws - especially when I have observed cops on more than one occasion excessively speed for nothing, turning on their lights to blow red lights during non-emergencies and babbling on personal cellphones during heavy traffic.

 

Jul 16, 2009

There's a Popular Science article where it is explained that the traffic cameras actually cause accidents. This is all about money and nothing else. What about the cowardly cops with their speed guns, hiding in ambush, then using their authority to slap me with a pointless fine?

 

Jul 16, 2009

It's amazing that so many freakin' idiots think it's their God-Given-Right to exceed speed limits and put others' lives at risk.

Selfish pr1cks.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The Founding Fathers would vomit when confronted with present-day America.

D.C. police chief Cathy Lanier and her ilk have no understanding what it is to be an American. She and her leftist armed revenue agents have no business working in this country.
She and all her public-union thugs in the bureaucracy should be sent to western China, where they would fit in quite well both politically and mentally.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Those cameras accomplish something. They keep me from ever returning to DC on vacation. I've been there before and have thought about returning but the day I heard about the cameras I said I wouldn't be back until the cameras are gone.

Here's an example. In Great Britain the cameras were only supposed to be used at dangerous sections of roads. But they installed them on brand new highways. Funny how they could predict what areas would be dangerous without evidence. They knew people would drive faster on new pavement. They didn't know if it would cause more accidents. Aggressive drivers cause far more accidents but there aren't enough of them to pay the bills for DC. And where does the money go from all those tickets? Some places the camera company gets a big cut. I wonder who owns those companies?

 

Jul 16, 2009

I hate cops. They have all done the same exact things that we get busted for, but if they get caught doing it nothing happens to them. Cops are above the law & basically will be above everyone in a few yeras with their high pay & glorious retiremnet packages that us working stiffs have to pay for.

 

Jul 16, 2009

This women has her head so far up her back side she is clueless to what time it is. What a hypocrite, they are only whining becasue there revenue generator is loosing funds. They don't give to rips about protecting the public, they are using the term "protection" as ploy for extortion. Who owns the cameras? It's a private company who makes money off so called "safety cameras". WTF ever........... Replace this looser with a camera, that will save money!

 

Jul 16, 2009

The MN Supreme Court ruled these camera cops as unconstitutional. They were all shutdown and all fines returned. Why don't you DC people fight this flagrant abuse of power??????

 

Jul 16, 2009

Radar guns are supplied by insurance companies.
The only thing speed traps do are increase insurance premiums and bring in revenue to the government.
Judges wouldn't REDUCE fines & charges if it was life threatening. How many lawyers are given tickets and get out of paying them? All of them. The only ones who pay and accept the violations are those who don't know the system.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Kudos to the techies! The cops want a police state, so why not dupe them at their own game.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The police chief stated that the main purpose of radar and speed traps is to save lives. He says that he is upset that i phone users are contacting each other about these radars and speed traps, thus, they are slowing down when coming upon them. Sounds like the i phone IS saving lives then. If the chief is upset that his men are not able to write tickets, then he is not concerned about saving lives but is more concerned about making money. Just say what you mean chief, it's not about saving lives, it's about making money.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The Montana legislature just outlawed the use of speed and red light cameras,
6 months after the City of Bozeman installed such "cowardly" devices. Yahoo! Politicians who listen to the people.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Paul C. You are either a cop or you just like blowing cops. First it's not the government business or right to have cameras on every corner to monitor my every move, just so they can steal from me if I should trip. Second it has been shown time and again that the amount of abuse by the police departments rises with this equipment. How you say? It is amazing how the amount of time between the yellow caution light and the red stop light decrease when these systems are in place so the amount of so called running red light tickets increases and so do the towns revenues. Get the hell off you knees and wise up moron.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Law enforcement has morphed into revenue enhancement. Conservative activist judges, have made even searching without warrants possible, in a massive growth of government power best seen in the Bush Administration. Because of conservative judges, the state can steal your property without having to convict you in court. Police can search using any lame excuse to search you. You can be cited using cameras because you lost your right to confront your accuser. DUI check points are used not just for their intended purpose but for law enforcement fishing expeditions. Why do conservative hate our constitution and the nation it protects?

 

Jul 16, 2009

The speed traps are nothing less than one big fund raiser to propagate an area of the public funding which already receives far too much money. Why can't these " law enforcement " necessaries use this time on the many " unsolved " murders and rampant drug infestations which are seated in so many American communities ? I guess that would entail actually getting off the posterior though .

 

Jul 16, 2009

You people make very good points and should be concerned about such flagrant corruption. It's entrapment and thievery! Flood your local newspapers and the email boxes of officials with complaints. Picket City Hall. Organize. Maybe you can help to squash this before the whole country starts doing it. May the force be with you!

 

Jul 16, 2009

What a stupid idiot of a ''chief'' of police - figures she's in DC.
She thinks Speed Traps are there to save lives?? LIAR.
Speed Traps are there to raise money for the judges, the courts, and the city and the pd. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The MN court ended this program because of a technicality. The consitutionality was never decided (2006) and some of the camaras are still up, but not being used to write tickets. In theory they can still start the program again. Note: a camera is still up near 9th and Hennipen Ave.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Don't forget that in Virigina it has been ruled in court that you don't have to pay the ticket unless it is handed to you in PERSON. You can chuck it out the window.

http://mobile.washingtontimes.com/quickPage.html?page=14144&content=13821528&pageNum=1

 

Jul 16, 2009

This daft twit thinks surveillance cameras aren't cowardly?

Any idiot can make a law, and any idiot can obey one.

 

Jul 16, 2009

O.K so if I have this app on my iphone.It warns me and PREVENTS me from running a red light (which endangers other people) The alarm sounds and I stop. D.C doesnt get ticket revenue BUT I DONT RUN THE LIGHT POTENTIALLY KILLING SOMEONE. You say its about saving lives!! Whats more important?

 

Jul 16, 2009

thses cops are on a power trip nothing more.WE the people own them,i hate it whenever i see a police officer think he is above us,he is supposed to be serving us.good,bring this technology on,we have to humble these idiots(cops)

 

Jul 16, 2009

It's all about the Benjamins.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Hey Chief Cathy, I think the verdict is in. You're not a cop you're a politician. There's real crime out there, why don't you hit the street and put real criminals in jail instead of sitting in your office trying to think of new ways to generate revenue from law abiding people. Cowards? Check out the mirror slick.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The iphone alerts will cause motorists to slow down right? Isn't that the point? Slow down? Save lives? So it's all good. No. It's the ticket revenue they're really concerned about, of course.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The use of this app constitutes obstruction of justice. Grounds: Anyone who uses it to only slow down for the purpose of avoiding detection is guilty of speeding and also obstructing justice.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The point of the cameras is puplic safety. People using iphones slow down in those locations. Slowing down is driving safer, isn't that the goal?

 

Jul 16, 2009

It warms my heart to know that people are finding ways around the ridiculous controls the government touts to keep us safe. The only thing we need to be saved from is the money-thieving, power-hungry, corrupt government.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Once upon a time, about thirty years ago, I played cop in a small Eastern Washington town. My boss had what I believe was the right idea: Our purpose was, first and foremost, to deter "crimes" (this includes what has been converted to a "civil infraction" for the sole purpose of allowing "representative government" to avoid contending with the obligation of proving a matter beyond a reasonable doubt). In other words, it was a matter of "being seen." Now, here we have a "public servant" saying it is wrong to stop the incident before it happens [and before a fine is collected]. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the facts. In the end, they are much like those in the situation in which Chelan County (Eastern Washington) District Court judge Thomas Warren bragged to a law class that his court was the primary revenue making source for the county.

 

Jul 16, 2009

If speeding tickets are all about saving lives, then this police chief shouldn't care WHAT makes people slow down.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Mrs.Cathy Police Lady,

Tell you what, I won't pretend to bake cookies, you don't pretend to be a cop.

 

Jul 16, 2009

"Cowardly?" As I recall, it's the police who have the guns, not the public.

 

Jul 16, 2009

stupid people keep voting in the worst of the worst.. people get the government they deserve

 

Jul 16, 2009

The DC police chief has the IQ of a cabbage. Then again, a cabbage exudes more logic based on its existence than that of the DC police chief.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I can see that Lanier's top agenda is to take care of traffic enforcement, cause catching murders, rapist and robbers does not create any revenue.

 

Jul 16, 2009

She's a girl, who cares what she "thinks".

 

Jul 16, 2009

Many many years ago NYC was a pretty safe city, believe it or not. That was before the advent of the Automobile. The cops actually walked a beat and was an actual presence around the neighborhood. He even got to know the actual residence that lived there and know who were the law abiding persons and the law breakers. Then came the Automobile and the relationship went away and crimes rose exponentially, because the cop was removed from that relationship with the citizens he once knew. These cameras further remove the police from any relationship they may of once had and now anyone that is not wearing a uniform is nothing but a skell and a revenue producing item.

 

Jul 16, 2009

42,000 people die on our highways each year and hundreds of thousands injured, and these jokers are concerned with a puny little old traffic ticket? No wonder the carnage continues. Too many high performance vehicles out there driven by low performance drivers.

 

Jul 16, 2009

You think this is bad, drive through deeply red Utah, the land of state run stores.

You vote in lawmakers who believe in increasing the police powers of the state and who appoint activist conservative judges who don't believe you have a right of privacy, your right to confront your accusers, your right against unreasonable searches, who rule against the necessity of search warrants, who are against the Fifth Amendment and ruled for defacto government ids.

Conservatives have shown they are very willing to give up their liberties for shallow promises of security.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Some y'all crack me up with "it's obstruction of justice" and/or "you're killing police officers & citzens" and/or "such apps are distracting" and/or "use such apps so they can speed."

Nonesense. I could fertilize my lawn for years with such undocumented, unsubstantiated hubris.

In fact, I'd argue that hearing a buzz from an iPhone doesn't cause anyone to lose focus on the road. Rather it simply gets drivers to double check to make sure they're driving within the posted limits of the law - something I personally have been doing for many, many years.

Since the intent of such "traffic calming" devices is to assure the speed limit, then I'd say the employment of hand-free iPhone apps such as Trapster not only meets the letter of the law, but fulfills the heart of it as well.

 

Jul 16, 2009

No cop in America should be calling anyone a coward. We have all seen the videos of little old ladies being tasered and cops "bravely" fighting guys in handcuffs. Too many runts become cops to persuade themselves they are not cowards....

 

Jul 16, 2009

Ha Ha police! Too bad for you! People are getting too smart for you!

 

Jul 16, 2009

I thought speed limits were put in place to conserve energy during the oil crisis in the 70's, the saving lives thing is b.s..

 

Jul 16, 2009

There's nothing like the sight of a cop crouching in the bushes with his radar gone, to instill confidence in the "boys in blue" and the bureaucracy which utilizes them to pick the pockets of commuters.

When there's some maniac weaving in and out of traffic going 110 mph, though, you can safely bet he will be unhindered. But you can always count on Smokey Bear or some suburb Fife latching onto some schmoe for doing twelve-over on his way home from a hard day's work.

 

Jul 16, 2009

There's nothing like the sight of a cop crouching in the bushes with his radar gun, to instill confidence in the "boys in blue" and the bureaucracy which utilizes them to pick the pockets of commuters.

When there's some maniac weaving in and out of traffic going 110 mph, though, you can safely bet he will be unhindered. But you can always count on Smokey Bear or some suburb Fife latching onto some schmoe for doing twelve-over on his way home from a hard day's work.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Who's Lanier think she's kidding... this has nothing to do with saving lives. She's just looking to secure her $1B/yr in revenue. Putting up speed cameras to spy on the average citizen and then pretending it's to "protect us" is the the real cowardly act here.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I would say, in aggregate, drivers using these types of applications are far better and safer than those who don't simply because they're very inclined to take a more active interest in driving. It would make sense they're just more likely to be much better at paying attention to what's going on around them by nature, and technology like this will make them even better drivers.

 

Jul 16, 2009

This in no more cowardly than the photo enforcement program used.

 

Jul 16, 2009

While I'm in favor of speed cameras, I'm also in favor of this iPhone app, because it will slow down those folks who otherwise would be going way too fast for conditions. The downside, of course, is that they'll speed when they think nobody is looking. Tough call.

 

Jul 16, 2009

It's all about revenue for the District. The officials use "saving lives" as an excuse for lining their greedy pockets. How else are they going to pay to have their girl friend on staff?

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cowardly... like a fox!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Yes, we cowardly speeders must be stopped! Let's not concern ourselves with rapists, murderers, and child molesters. Cops should be spending their time figuring out how to catch more speeders. Those are the true criminals.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Isn't the end of the day idea to reduce the amount of people speeding? They should welcome this technology!

 

Jul 16, 2009

the only REAL cowards are the police. cowardly little dip$hits who grow up into insecure bullies who need to hide behind a badge and a gun in order to convince themselves that they're respectable human beings.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I think it is cowardly to be out collecting taxes and revenue from (citizens) instead of fighting crime and (criminals) like they are supposed to.

Who are the cowards?

Now the citizens have to fight crime because the cops won't.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Here's a something to try. If the police are so worried about crime that they need to set up camera's for the "publics safety", then it should be perfectly fine for concerned citizens to set up cameras to monitor police activity and catch them in the act of beating and murdering citizens which they do on a more than occasional basis, right? Just try it and see how well that one goes over, "Public safety" my a**.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Hey, Chief, how about THIS for a radical thought: Your SPEED TRAPS are cowardly! Get out and WORK for a living, you worthless prick.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Perhaps the coward police chief can tell us where the money goes from these tickets? Yes indeed we are all slaves to what ever some pinhead power hungry idiot in Governments says. Time to fire the cowardly Police Chief and get a new one that actual can read the Bill of rights and understand what they mean. Maybe we could get a 1st Grade teacher to edcuated the Police Chief.

 

Jul 16, 2009

About 3 years ago I was in DC driving a rental car and a few weeks after I got home, I got a ticket in the mail from the DC police from one of their speed cameras for going 44 in a 35. The ticket was only $50 but the crime rate in the area is so high that I'd gladly spend the extra $50 to be able to drive out of there as fast as possible.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Well in Albuquerque, NM the registered owner gets the ticket and it is up to them to either pay the fine or identify the driver.Makes you prove your innocence while they don't have to prove your guilt, what a system.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The police chief here from DC has a lot of nerve! Isn't it the cops who hide behind trees or bridges or in the median the real cowards.

Yes, there are people who speed and they deserve a ticket. BUT...a good deal of the time the cops lie over and over again... yes, cops do lie and lie and lie...supported up from the squad car through the courts. The REAL reason tickets are given out is simply because it produces revenue for the local municipality. Stop insulting my intelligence! If you can't see this you've been in a coma. This is what is so dishonest and disingenuous.

If the county needs more money...let them say so upfront...be honest. Then again, that would be against human nature of many...to lie, obfuscate and deceive, just as Sotomayor is doing this exact day...this is the normal occurrence and what we have come to expect.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Ask Brian Cardall if cops are out for the public safety. Oh, you can't! They killed him with a taser.

Hummm, so much for that theory.

 

Jul 16, 2009

So here is what you do. Report to the service non existing camera's and speed traps. That way it will cause people to slow down and drive more carefully even when there is no camera. Just think of it as increasing the safety net with no additional cost to the police.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Well, if cameras are placed at dangerous intersections for "safety reasons", and these devices cause people to slow down before arriving at those intersections, then the devices actually IMPROVE public safety.

Considering this logic, she's practically admitting that the cameras are really for REVENUE.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Coward? You're the coward Lanier. If you had any balls you'd be in a real uniform in Iraq or Afghanistan instead of hiding behind a desk letting cameras do your job. Americans have the right to know when they are being monitored by any means electronic, radar, laser, even your fat donut munching ass if you can manage to wedge it into a patrol car still.

 

Jul 16, 2009

When iPhones are outlawed only outlaws will have iPhones.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I have lived many years and I have seen law enforcement go from protection the public to the current money making approach. The DC Police Chief is a joke like many others who are only interested in money.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Maybe if the fat slobs called DC Cops got out of Dunk'in Donuts they could sit on their butts at the intersetsions and write tickets..
But I forgot they would have to get out the car to hand the ticket out...

 

Jul 16, 2009

Dallas police chief admitted last year they had to shut down some of the cameras because they weren't making enough money...people weren't running the light any more. More confirmation it's all about the money.

 

Jul 16, 2009

isn't a hiding cop called entrapment? so if people cannot tell where the cameras are, wouldn't that be the same thing? sure, people shouldn't break the law but if the cops can't hide to get speeders then why can they hide the cameras? why don't you spend your time busting all the crooked politicians, gang members, and crackheads out there in DC instead of worrying about cameras and iphones.

 

Jul 16, 2009

This is why all police forces should be privatized and each person should subscribe to his/her own police force, just like a security company. That way, the customer (citizens) would be served appropriately instead of gouged at every opportunity.

Oh wait, that would require privatization of property.... we can't have that.

 

Jul 16, 2009

It clearly is about the pesos they can squeeze out of the public. I am basically immune since where I live they have to physically serve me within 120 days. Kind of hard to do when my registration and driver license shows a post office box in another county. In my book, any way to thwart them starves that beast called government.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Law enforcement that is designed specifically to generate more revenue for a cash strapped government.

 

Jul 16, 2009

You want to kill the profit motive? Fit these things in court! They may get your $100 bucks, but it'll cost them $2 grand to do it.

I smell class action lawsuit potential here.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Police, like many government employees, make good wages and benefits - in retirement and while working - compared to the average worker in the marketplace.

They have to pay for all their benefits and wages.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cowardly?
The government consistently passes legislation that intrudes upon our right to move freely and use the fruit of our labor (income) to rise above our station in life. Law Enforcement Officers are the tools with which these legislators extract your income and prohibit your freedom of movement. Both seek to squelch your freedom and rob you of your God given liberty. One wants to rule you, the other wants to control your earnings. Circumvent the laws, deprive them of the tax dollars they intend to steal from you, make their jobs harder and as expensive as possible. And do all of us a favor, vote the pig legislators out of office when you recognize them.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cathy, your a liar. It has nothing to do with saving lives. It IS about CONTROL and MONEY!! You really think we are that dumb?

 

Jul 16, 2009

Trapster the name of the app is a great app and i can only hope drudge reports link to this story will help promote this app to a top downloader. Down with the police state !!!!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Law enforcement personnel do not prevent crimes, they mostly show up after the crime to fill out a report.

Cops started mailing tickets to drivers because the number one cause of death for a police officer was getting hit in traffic while issuing a ticket.

Ring. Ring. Ring. It's for you. Dunkin' Donuts has new batch of Munchkins for you.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Isn't freedom to innovate great? Do it while you can.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Wanna have fun? Use your computer to print up some fake license plates (cardboard will do) and attach them over your regular plates when you're near one of these cameras. Then drive thru that camera's area a few times getting it to go off repeatedly. Drive around the block and take the fake plates off. Who are they going to send a ticket to now???

Just throwing that out there...Oh yeah, and let me tell you about what you can do with Silly String...

 

Jul 16, 2009

In addition to revenue, speeding gives the cops just cause to stop people, which in turn opens up an opportunity for probable cause to search. So, this app is essentially reducing the cops ability to catch other potential crimes by breaking the chain of cause. Let's say I'm out drunk driving. Having the checkpoints up on this app would be a great help in avoiding them.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I find it reprehensible and the height of arrogance that a public servant would dare call members of the public cowards. She seems to have forgotten that she works for the public, and not the other way round.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Speeding and running red lights is dangerous, so if the application prevents people from doing those things, then what's the problem? Maybe the DC police should start mixing in some fake red light cameras and speed detectors to make the traffic slow down in even more places.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Chief Cathy, your daughter's getting an abortion and your son is smoking a joint. Get back home to watch the kids.

 

Jul 16, 2009

speed trap are not designed to protect people, they are designed to generate revenue. if safety were the goal then they should embrace this technology. if someone uses the app and slows down then the safety factor has been achieved without a messy fine involved.

 

Jul 16, 2009

the cops are the ones who are sneaking around. they pick and choose whom they want to ticket. hundreds of potential tickets go by. i cannot help but note young women are mostly ticketed. hmm!

 

Jul 16, 2009

If the alleged purpose of the cameras is to make the subject intersections and stretches of highway safer and not to sneak "unearned" penalties into the pockets of undeserving municipalities, then the municipal and police authorities should be thrilled at the marriage of technologies that is keeping people from speeding through the various intersections and aforementioned highway sections! God Bless America and it's technological wizardy as well!

 

Jul 16, 2009

I love when law enforcement says that speed traps, cameras, etc are 'for our safety'. Who are they kidding!

I love to ask cops when I see them if they know when and why speed limits were instituted. They always look dumbfounded and I mentioned it was during the first World War to conserve on rubber and fuel.

When you get a speeding ticket next time, ask the court to allow you to pay your fine to your favorite charity and see what they say. I think you know the answer and why....REVENUE GENERATION not safety!

 

Jul 16, 2009

If placing the cameras in places that are likely to get speeders etc (read revenue) then why don't the police set up cameras in known crime areas and watch the real bad guys. When seconds count the cops are minutes away and they really don't protect & serve they investigate because they are never there when a crime is happening....it is always to get the report of a past event

 

Jul 16, 2009

stimates of the current size of the body of federal criminal law vary. It has been reported that the Congressional Research Service cannot even count the current number of federal crimes.3 The American Bar Association reported in 1998 that there were in excess of 3,300 separate criminal offenses.4 More than 40 percent of these laws have been enacted in just the past 30 years, as part of the growth of the regulatory state.

The US is incarceration nation. Though it has about 5% of the world's population, she holds about 25% of the world's inmate population - 95% are men.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I don'e see anyone else pointing out out the seperation of the police and the public in these stances that the police take. I myself is greatly alarmed that most cops have their hair cut in military fashion. It is a stance once again.

 

Jul 16, 2009

http://www.trapster.com/

 

Jul 16, 2009

Funny - this whiner refers to this technology as cowardly while this coward hides beind camera's to do the job of the Police AND to furter fleece the citizens and travelers to this city.

Seems like everyone in DC is an idiot and a coward - at least those with some degree of 'authority'.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Aren't people slowing down and saving lives anyway by getting the alert? This guy is a idiot

 

Jul 16, 2009

What a miserable way to "earn" a living. 150K a year with overtime and retire at 40 with full pension. What a racket.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The idiot cops lie in wait to bust people with things to do - they are the cowards. What a bunch of whimps. "Oh it's national police week" look at us we're so brave. Whah. Do your job and let the rest of us do ours. Way to go, fuzz fighters.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Maybe she should be more worried about stopping the trash from the inner city from killing innocent people in their drive-bys instead of making money for the government.

She can go cry to someone who cares.

I guess speeders are the only thing that a cowardly person like Lanier can handle.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Here is another thing to wrap your mind around. Although I agree it is stupid to not wear your seat belt why does Texas give out a $200.00 ticket for not wearing one by police officers on motorcycles with no seat belt to citizens who own their vehicle pay taxes to upkeep the roads pay their own insurance and have their own health care insurance? Why do they get to take away our freedom of choice and fine us $200.00? It is another revenue scam just like the others. We in America are taxed to death one penny at a time and were dying like lobsters in a pot of water slowly heating up.

 

Jul 16, 2009

People who complain about these cameras are the first to complain about how the courts are letting criminals go free. Well, someone who zooms through red lights because he thinks he's better than the law is a operating a deadly weapon. It's too bad that the really bad offenders will probably be using the new technology so they can continue to endanger pedestrians and other drivers without penalty.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Regan,

You're full of $hi

 

Jul 16, 2009

Yeah, these cameras are about "saving lives." And the War OF Terror is actually about finding "terrorists."

Trust us. We're the government.

Now bend over and spread 'em.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Wow. Chief Lanier sounds like she missed her calling; the East German Scret Police could have used a martinet like her...

 

Jul 16, 2009

It's all about revenue. In New Mexico, the cameras are being introduced to "help cash-strapped cities make ends meet." The effect of such cameras is negligible on traffic violators. But it is big bucks for the cities.

 

Jul 16, 2009

You can always tell when the paid opinions are being brought in. The pro-camera posts start in earnest around the 72 hrs mark.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Oh cry me a river!!! How about focusing on catching real criminals?! You know like murderers, rapists, thieves, illegal aliens, etc.
Wow, what a concept?! Morons!!!

 

Jul 16, 2009

This iphone appliacation causes the people who use it to STOP SPEEDING or STOP FOR RED LIGHTS. This makes things SAFER. How come this is so hard for people to understand? If the police were in it for more than the money they would use the application themselves to post speed traps where they wanted people to slow down - even if there weren't any speed traps there. Then, instead of wasting an officer on traffic duty, you could use that officer to work on stopping more violent crimes like murder and robbery and rape. Sorry - that presumes the police department wants to stop those things instead of taking more money out of working people's pockets.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The problems with Americans by large is their ignorance of their rights. I haven't paid a traffic fine for over 15 years. You should read the Constitution some time. Let me include what you should know. Amendment 7 - Trial by Jury in Civil Cases. Ratified 12/15/1791.

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. The next time you are hauled into traffic court, ask the judge and prosecutor when they intends to select a jury. The cost and time that it would cost the court system is staggering. I've done it 4 times and each time the case was dismissed.

 

Jul 16, 2009

How about the cowardly Big Brother who won't leave us alone. These radars are free cash flow and they just want their coin. All companies in this world have to fight competition and innovation. Why not the PD

 

Jul 16, 2009

wah wah wah all you criers. these iPhone applications and radar detector devices help you "speed" or "break the law" -- remember, driving is a privalege, not a right. are you happy about the drunk driver trying to avoid a DUI check point so he may drive drunk at his leisure? get real people. you people are so venomous towards police but what about when you need them?

 

Jul 16, 2009

How dare we drive at the posted speed limit!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Police are scum. Here's more evidence. Disrespect and antagonize, disrupt and destroy.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Law enforcement? More like law entrapment.

 

Jul 16, 2009

BRAD, you might be a helpless child or an invalid, I don't know but one or the other is obvious. I do not need there help in any situation. Learn to take care of yourself you infant, Jesus Christ when exactly are you going to grow up and take responsibility for your own life and not rely on some "adult" to hold your hand and tell you life is full of fairness and justice. Grow some sir, grow some.

 

Jul 16, 2009

"law enforcement that is designed specifically to save lives." More like law enforcement to raise revenues....

 

Jul 16, 2009

Spped and Red Light Cameras died a quick death in North Carolina, when the state constitution was applied to them. The NC Constitution directs 90% of all judicial fines and fees to the county's school system. The camera programs, just a revenue source, gave 75% to the company running them, with the rest going to the police depts. When the schools sued, they had to come up with millions to pay them off. The next day the cameras were removed. Probably sent to the next unsuspecting state to gouge the taxpayers. Good ridance!

 

Jul 16, 2009

"with the Internet and all the new technology, it's almost impossible to stop the flow of information."

That's really what she doesn't like.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I had a perfectly clean driving record for 7 years until I started getting pulled over. 7 times in 9 months, twice I was pulled over 2 times in one nite!, ticketed 3 times and had my car towed once (a rainy nite on my birthday wearing a $1000 suit and with a date). Now I suppose all of the sudden at 42 after 7 years with a perfect driving record I became a careless driver, altho I doubt it, SO, when I did a little checking, I found the my state was running a record budget deficit. Hmmm, then I noticed the number of traffic citations around the state was going up right along side the increase in the state deficit. I fight everything now, even parking tickets, which have become a problem too.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I find it cowardly to hide behind something waiting for somebody to mess up so they can give them a ticket. How about focusing on preventing other crime and give tickets when time permits?

 

Jul 16, 2009

I wonder how many tickets she has "badged" her way out of. I'm a cop and I have only received on ticket since I've been on the job. Generally, when I get pulled over, I let the police officer know that I'm "on the job" and usually have gotten away with it. One time I was ticket, so I went to www.copswritingcops.com and wrote him up on the website as the "as**ole" of the week.

I'm all about getting out of tickets when I can, but I'm not so low as to then look down on others that have their methods. In any event, it's doing it's job by making people slow down when alerted ... it's just putting a crimp in DC revenue collection, and that's why they are pissed ... the police get a cut of that ticket revenue off the cameras.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I generally support the police but when I see cops sitting at speed traps, busting hookers and Johns and other worthless activities, it can only mean one thing. They must have run out of murderers, robbers, burglars, dope dealers, child molesters, wife beaters and other real criminals. That in turn means it is time to reduce manpower or put them to work doing something productive like sweeping the streets.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I would like denounce cowardly pigs everywhere for being tax collectors and not serving and protecting. Pretty please, with sugar on top, kill yourselves.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Isn't D.C. the city that tickets homeowners who park in their own driveways?

 

Jul 16, 2009

So Big Brother is finally getting a taste of what it's like to be on the other end of the surveillance lens? I can't believe this chief would even say this kind of thing. Cops routinely violate speed limits when they have no need to, as do their relatives. I'm sorry you won't be getting your money, chief, but maybe if you tried preventing real crimes, like gang violence, people would sympathize with your "plight."

 

Jul 16, 2009

I am an LEO. At one point in my career I was very active in traffic enforcement. Not every one I stopped was ticketed. A lot came down to the "attitude test."

But the purpose of traffic enforcement was not just issuing tickets. Got to see who was in the car. Many, many time I came up with people wanted on warrants, driving on revoked licenses, had guns in the car, etc. One time a car I stopped had a woman that had been kidnapped at gunpoint by a convicted rapist 10 minutes earlier.

Yes, I wrote him some tickets, along with arrest report, felony complaints. He went back to prison for another 8 years.

The woman went home safe to her family.

Can a traffic camera do that?????

 

Jul 16, 2009

I beg the citizens of DC to find a way to get this utterly incompetent, uneducated, affirmative action, half-wit thrown from office. We cannot thrive as a free state with "people" such as this chiefette, who do not understand the basic tenets of the constitution in office. We have a RIGHT to find out when we are being surveilled. Is it against the law to look for a camera at an intersection? It must be, because then you would know where it is - and we can't have that!

 

Jul 16, 2009

"cowardly" to me means that the Police Chief AND the Mayor AND the City Council refuse to let citizens defend themselves against criminals!

 

Jul 16, 2009

what is wrong with the police?
bunch of kgb wannabe's if you ask me.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I just downloaded the app. Thanks for the tip!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Maybe these Cameras will tell us where the heck all the Homeless people in DC are disappearing too. No bus records, no train records just thousands of DC's homeless 'disappearing'. Their spokespeople are disappearing too.

Think about it.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I am forever amazed at the arrogance of public officials. Cowardice? What doe you call red light cameras and speed cameras. They do something iPhone users don't do. They circumvent due process. They don't allow the accused to face their accuser. They are more profitable than police officers and that is why they are used. They are not about safety, they are about funding government and the buying of votes through pork. So stick it Cathy. We'll keep beating YOUR cowardly tactics.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Thanks for the info,

I am now a "cowardly" I-Phone user.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Hey, Chief: Americans don't like ambushes.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Traffic engineers will tell you how to set a speed limit based on measurements of actual speeds traveled. Proper speed limit setting LOWERS accident rates. The Germans do it that way. Here speed limits are set by the whim of some political windbag who promises Aunt Tilly to "slow down" all those wippersnappers. It produces speed limit changes which are JUST RIGHT for "catching" drivers. If the cops spent MORE time ticketing left lane bandits with turn signal blinking, tailgaters, left lane to exit morons,
weavers and dodger NASCAR wannabees and
unsafe vehicles (but, but we have inspections--yea right) they might make the roads safer. As it is, you can go by the "speed camera" SIDEWAYS and it won't trip unless you are "speeding".
And the sheeple want to give these government morons MORE power over their lives.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The single biggest class of regular speeders in the country is COPS on their way to lunch, or the donut store.

 

Jul 16, 2009

If all the Federal, State, and local politicians were in the Twin Towers when the jets hit them and the doors were welded shut, I would have sent Bin Ladin a box of Cuban Cigars

 

Jul 16, 2009

I could never and will never live in DC. Our own capitol is becoming more communist by the day. But IF I were to drive in DC I would make sure to bring my photoshield tag cover and phantom spray with me. Good luck getting a picture of my tag. The day the US moves to RFID tags I'm moving to Canada.

 

Jul 16, 2009

In Savannah, GA our local police provide the places they will be speed-checking. They actually work with the citizens that pay their salaries.

I'm sorry DC isn't the same. Shame on DC. You are part of the people, not against them. Work with your neighbors.

 

Jul 16, 2009

"people who overly rely on those and break the law anyway are going to get caught" in one way or another......

Then why is he so concerned?

 

Jul 16, 2009

Teeshot - You are right about the trial by jury. But I'll bet most of their revenue comes from people like me - out of towners (see my earlier post). I would be happy to face Capt. Lanier in court - except it would cost me at least $1,000. and two days on a plane to do it. That's why it's an extortion to wait two months - until I'm 2,200 miles away - to allege an infraction.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Hahaha, Big Brutha. You've got the technology? Well so do we! Don't like it that we're spying on you? Awwww.

Who is this Lanier to call people "cowards". Big brave cop? I don't think so! Some arrogant political appointee who doesn't know which end of the gun is the dangerous one. Doesn't speak for her department, doesn't speak for the people.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Its not that I drive like an idiot unless I know there is a camera in the area. The problem is that when I get pulled over by a live person, there was a real person observing what happened. If two cars are passing and only one is speeding, the camera will not be able to make that call. There will be a picture sent to the owner of the car, and the owner will have to pay the "safety fine". What if the owner is not driving the car? What if the owner of the car has a sibling that looks similar? A cop that pulls the car over will be able to see the drivers license and issue a citation to the person who violated the law. A camera will not. Until a person can face their accuser in court, there is no constitutional basis for allowing the cameras to exist.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Come the revolution these spy cameras are going to be smashed, or better yet, shoved up the arse of a shrieking politician.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Oh yeah, and no KY Jelly for you politicians either. Enemies.

 

Jul 16, 2009

why is it all police chiefs are moron,were is the reporter for this article i would love to see a follow up, what the chief got to say now."no comment"

 

Jul 16, 2009

"Lee from Indianapolis

Jul 16, 2009

I got a DC speeding ticket.
The court required parking at their garages timed meters.
They stalled my case until my meter ran out, then charged me for TWO tickets.
These guys are crooks without a doubt.
This scam happens EVERYDAY.
This app protects our freedom."

Smash their cameras.
Smash their meters.
Smash their faces.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I am not from this area. However, I have a single comment to make about this police chief.
The citizens need to get rid of this officer as soon as possible. This is not someone dedicated to fighting crime. This is a blood sucking government official worried about her revenue streams.
Sorry,.........maybe that's two comments.

 

Jul 16, 2009

George Orwell was soooo right on the money.

 

Jul 16, 2009

You, Ms. Lanier are an IDIOT!

 

Jul 16, 2009

I have no issue with speed traps, try the speed limit but cameras are nothing but automated revenue generators and I despise them with a passion.

As to a iPhone app, they gunna ban iPhones like Radar Detectors? I think it is pretty funny. Maybe if they gave tickets based upon safety criteria instead of using it as a source of income I might have a remote shred of respect.

 

Jul 16, 2009

It's not even debatable anymore, these red light and speed cameras are all about revenue generation. Any supposed safety factor is only window dressing. If reducing speed was the measure of success then how does the Iphone program hurt things ? It certainly makes users slow down in that area....so the cops are getting what they want right ? Well not actually since they actually want money....your money in the form of a ticket.

It's laughable to even hear them talk about public safety with regards to red light/speed cameras.

 

Jul 16, 2009

sounds like y'all have a cowardly police chief. is she hiding under her desk all day?

 

Jul 16, 2009

This NWO shill doesn't like high-tech used for anything but bolstering the police state!

http://www.anu.org

 

Jul 16, 2009

This is no different than taxing smokers.

If some idjits want to "ZOOM ZOOM" around city streets with no regard for pedestrians, cyclists, or fellow motorists, I say fleece the SOB's.

 

Jul 16, 2009

D.C. police chief Cathy Lanier DID YOU GO TO THE SAME SCHOOLS AS THE JERK IN THE WHITE HOUSE?

 

Jul 16, 2009

D.C. police chief Cathy Lanier TELL ME YOU OUTCOME OF AFERMATIVE ACTION !!!!!!!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cathy Lanier proves the old saying that keeping your mouth shut and let people think you are an idiot is better than opening your mouth and proving it. She actually needs to spend time solving real crimes, which is what we pay her for, than looking for reasons to take out rights away from us. If she is so worried that people know where speedtraps are, which they have been doing for decades it would explain the crime rates in the D.C. Area.

 

Jul 16, 2009

LOL... good for technology. Further... i dont know how or why they can outlaw radar detectors. It is tyranny... just like photo radar.

 

Jul 16, 2009

"Every time the government takes your money (the root of all evil), a child's life is saved. Yep, every single time!"

What a complete and total liar! Tell that to the tens of thousands of dead Vietnamese, Afghani and Iraqi children you sick, murderous freak!

 

Jul 16, 2009

You people posting comments here are cowards. Everyone's a coward nowadays. It's the latest fad word. Cowards unite!!!

 

Jul 16, 2009

-- law enforcement that is designed specifically to save lives."

Refit the cameras to be changed to signal police when yet another murder is committed in DC if you're so concerned with saving lives.

Visit the Audubon in Germany. No speed limits for most of the time and far fewer accidents because the Germans are well trained in how to drive and how to yield. Also, slowing down is a major contributor to inattention which is the cause of most accidents.

This is just another milestone in the war between the state and the people.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Why is this cowardly? Won't it cause drivers to slow down?

 

Jul 16, 2009

Good grief....you really want to hang on to your money and not spend it on speeding tickets, don't speed! What a concept!!!

 

Jul 16, 2009

I use to repect for cops until my wife's divorce. I was arrested for domestic violence, yet their was not violence. Fun. I missed or $2k, because a woman "felt" afraid. It was on my public record for 3 years so I could not get a good job. Cops just arrested me. WTF.

When I read the Police report, the cop wrote whatever they wanted. The report did not even come close to reflect what happened.

Go get real jobs or better yet. All cops be replaced by cameras - at least camera's do not lie.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Well golly isn't this insurmountable!

Here's the solution: the cops buy the software; then they designate every 1/8th mile as being a speed trap. Talk about sustained paranoia! Yee Haaaa!!!

Duh.

 

Jul 16, 2009

I live in a country where the cops do not get involved to much. The crime rate is about the same as US.

On the rare occasion I get pulled over, they ask for a few bucks - it's less expense that the government's fine, the money goes to a government worker, and the cop makes a little extra (but not as much as rich American cops).

 

Jul 16, 2009

Perhaps one day in the future, the police will once again view themselves as fellow citizens who happen to beemployed as law officers and not see us as the "general population" or a revenue source....

 

Jul 16, 2009

Affirmative Action Leadership. How's that working out for you DC?

 

Jul 16, 2009

They could give to bleeps about how many red light deaths they saved, its all about making money for their own job security. Sign me up! I want the iPhone now!! Steve Jobs!1Way to go!!

 

Jul 16, 2009

This is hilarious. Trapster downloads will now go through the roof. Thanks for complaining Chief. Now everyone knows about it. :-)

 

Jul 16, 2009

Citizens must destroy all cameras wherever they stand. They are only a means of raising revenue, restricting freedom of movement and controlling you and your family. DESTROY ALL CAMERAS ON SIGHT, BY ANY MEANS NECESSARRY. Fight back you SHEEP! Don't roll over for these NAZIS

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cowardly is stealing from people while hiding behind a badge.

Guess what, Chief? Citizens are not ATM machines for your boys to hit up when the city needs a revenue fix.

 

Jul 16, 2009

You have the EZ pass for toll booths, the Ez pass for life (the good looking babe), and now, the EZ pass for speed traps; One person really can have it all!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Isn't the point of speed laws to save lives and not to make a profit? Do they have this app for the Palm Pre yet??

 

Jul 16, 2009

Chief, This is a free society, with law enforcement intentionally restrained so that liberty is not unduly infringed. You put up cameras, The People utilize i-Phones. Stop whining about The People getting around your silly measures with their counter-measures. DC has bigger crime issues to deal with.

Sgt. Long, Georgia Peace Officer, 21 yrs.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Another example of another member of the good king's court that are out of control. Did you see the statistic about how many of the nation's cameras are located in D.C.? And the fact that most of the police departments across the country are actually for programs like Trapster and PhantomAlert, but in D.C., guess what, they call citizens "cowards" for using it. Change we can all believe in.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cowardly = this chief of police
Think there are a few other important crimes to solve and prevent - would be best if every cam had "accident" / hurt their budget? boo.. hoo....

 

Jul 16, 2009

OK, here's a novel idea. Just follow the frigging speed limit and obey the stop lights! If you're so important that you need to run red lights and speed through pedestrian areas, then you should also possess the means to hire a chopper to drop you where you need to go. Otherwise, realize that you're just the same as the clod in the vehicle next to you....follow the laws, and plan ahead for bad traffic....which you know will happen in DC. Jeez!!!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cops have stopped serving and protecting a long time ago.
They can pull you over for NO reason whatsoever and "loose" the video if it fits their needs. They may not nail you 100%, but you will still spend hundreds of dollars at that point trying to defend yourself. People are getting hussled everyday.

The bigger question is, what the hell are we going to do about it?

 

Jul 16, 2009

Cowardly? I'll tell you what COWARDLY: a city metropolis that bans hand guns while ignoring it hasn't reduced murder rates, and a city metropolis that has to depend on cheap ways to increase revenue: like speed traps and red light cameras. All this instead of actually addressing crime and addressing being fiscally irresponsible - just like the Democrats running the show on Capitol Hill.

 

Jul 16, 2009

It seems like this application would have the same effect as the cameras, which is making people slow down.
What this should read is "They are hurting our budget and cutting into our 'cool toys' fund."

 

Jul 16, 2009

Here! Catch this [@&*$#!] you whiny sack of **** Billy!.

 

Jul 16, 2009

FACT: Speed Limits are in place for revenue, not to save lives.
Example: In North Augusta, S.C. on the Akin Augusta Hwy the speed limit goes from 45mph to 55mph then suddenly drops to 35mph in a matter of approximately in less than a seven mile range then kicks back to 45mph. And I'm sure it is just a coincidence that the PIGS have a hidden pocket on the side of the road right at the 35mph sign. You cops should be forced under your own form of the UCMJ. The only difference between you and the real criminals is the badge.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Give me a break, we all know we should not need a camera to slow us down. We all know we need drivers who obey traffic laws. However, traffic laws that are primarily created as a money grab that makes officers into highway robbers needs to be removed. Running a stop light is life threatening so to argue that its not helping a major problem is incorrect also.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Again we have someone who is elected or appointed to a position (in this case Chief of Police) who must depend upon gestapo like tactics to generate money because the Chief doesn't have the ability to operate the police department with alloted funds. This old cry of "saving lives" is BS and the Chief cannot now or ever prove that writing tickets save lives. When the speed limits were reduced to 55 mph there was little or no noticable drops in highway deaths. The Chief is just another petty politician who cries for "mama" when there is a problem. Jeez.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The chief says this circumvents their ability to "save lives". Does she have any proof that the use of the iPhone app decreases the lives "saved"?

 

Jul 16, 2009

Betty Mack, actually when the speed limit for reduced to 55 mph it was to save fuel not lives. In fact just the opposite took place, traffic accidents and fatalities increased due to more congestion on the highways.It has and never will be about saving lives.

 

Jul 16, 2009

You might as well give up, po-LICE. You don't have the brains to stop us.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Hey Big Brother (or Big Sister) Lanier! Let's put a camera on YOU 24/7 and see how many infractions of laws you generate per 24 hour period. We'll be there watching you, every time you don't make a turn signal and exceed the speed limit by one mile per hour. Can you STAND the scrutiny? Huh, you authoritarian hypocrite!? Let's see if you make a turn signal leaving your driveway in the morning, come to a complete stop at every stop sign, signal entering the parking lot at work. We'll be watching!!

 

Jul 16, 2009

Hey "Chief", go probe yourself!

 

Jul 16, 2009

So I'm a law abiding citizen who doesn't want to be inconvenienced by a road side sobriety test. Why should I have to prove myself to some punk kid meanwhile in the time it takes to test me I don't even want to know how many people are getting murdered, raped, stolen from(not the Democrats) and drugs being sold to kids. Way to go "The System"...Way to go. You suck

 

Jul 16, 2009

Mike Johnson, you're a real twit. Cops are part and parcel of the Democrat party - union thugs, leftists, Obamunists, traitors. No conservative judge has taken away your precious "rights", only leftists like Sodapop, Ruth Gator Ginsburg, et al.

Grow up commie.

 

Jul 16, 2009

This really irks me. Cowardly tactics? What about intrusive cameras and road blocks? How about doing some real police work, and pulling people over the old fashioned way. Thank God for apps...the only weapon we have against this kind of police state mentality of Chief Lanier.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Further, this has nothing to do about saving lives. It has everything to do about more government revenue.

 

Jul 16, 2009

If cops wanted to save lives, they'd invest in the creation of the computerized, automated system that drives the car by itself. Just like in the "I Robot" film...:-)

All jokes aside, I had heard somewhere that the prototype already exists. It just needs funding.

 

Jul 16, 2009

How about we just cut the police from out society. PERIOD!

http://www.yelp.com/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DHWxAnjNVBt8

 

Jul 16, 2009

avoiding an encounter with a meathead isn't cowardly, it's intelligent. BTW, intelligence is something i hear keeps one off a police force.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Back when I was running as a decoy to get Coors across state lines,I used my C.B. to warn all the rigs about the smokeys.I wish I had an iPhone back then.It would have made my job easier.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Snivel, snivel... lost revenue... snivel
snivel...

 

Jul 16, 2009

Ultimately and ideally we would have cars that can only go the speed limit by one of two ways
1) the engine can not go faster than the fastest speed limt
2) like the technology that will monitor how many miles we drive - GPS - so the government can tax us per mile. The same technology can be used to communicate the to car's engine controller to NOT drive faster than the wireless sensors along the highway - or through the MAPS that are built into a computer system that can relay that back to the car via GPS!

THEN after that problem, we can LAY OFF 90% of the policemen in the USA, because that's what most policeman seem to be doing instead of catching murderers, rapers, criminal bullies, and thieves (including those on wall street and mortgage lenders).

 

Jul 16, 2009

SAVE LIVES? Drivers should be allowed to speed and IF they cause a problem THEN deal with it. How about save freedoms? It's not wrong to go fast because it's already an unsafe thing to do. If you want to "SAVE LIVES" outlaw driving!!

 

Jul 16, 2009

If the government wanted to save lives, auto manufactures would have been ordered to limit miles per hours and acceleration rates on each car build.

"We want to save lives while preserving your freedoms."

 

Jul 16, 2009

I lost respect for the Police. Last summer, I parked my card in the parking lot to run in for a case of water. I was not in there for five minutes, when I came out my car was being towed by a two truck.

The driver calls the police. The police arrest me and throw me in jail over night.

The truck had a camera attached but the cop and the truck driver refused to play the tape.

They never showed up for court, but I spent time in jail and I have a charge on my public record which does not look to good for future employers.

Cops suck.

 

Jul 16, 2009

This is just pathetic-- DC, Montgomery County, Columbia, MD, Anne Arundel, Arlington PD -- everyone is trying to make $$$ - my advice - contact your councilman and rally against traffic cameras!

WE THE PEOPLE NEED EVERY DOLLAR WE CAN IN THIS FRAGILE ECONOMY!!
Sad to see government that is supposed to protect and SERVE is scamming its citizens!

That is all!

Sam Adams

PS: Beware of US Park Police-- they pulled me over for looking/handling at my phone in my car. I got a ticket for "Distracted Driving" -- $100 --

 

Jul 16, 2009

It isn't about public safety otherwise they would be issuing warnings, its about revenue! $$$$$$$ No different than a mafia shakedown, hell its legal in Texas!

Face it folks, its becoming a police state, you against the state. Question is, who pays for their checks? Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

 

Jul 16, 2009

Lanier can go to hell, she is a pathetic excuse for a rent-a-cop, DC has become a big brother city that depends on meter maids and red light cameras as a cash cow...I applaude this new technology and hope somebody invents technology to allow someone to slap one of those meter maids that wait for meters to run out to get their commission for the day...this is exactly the reason I live in Virginia and why DC doesn't deserve to have the rights of a state or have real representation in Congress!!!

 

Jul 16, 2009

It's easy, folks. Follow the speed limit and keep an eye out for the BIG BRIGHT RED stop signs and BIG BRIGHT RED stop lights. Too easy. You're creating your own stress (not following the law or trying to "push the envelope" as far to the edge of the table as possible...then whining because it fell off and wyou got wyourself a widdle ticket...). Just grow up, already. Let them post cameras every 5 inches if they like. If you're following the posted restrictions (like speed limits and stop signs), what do you have to worry about???

 

Jul 16, 2009

what a laugh when they say that speed traps are to save lives, it's all about revenue

 

Jul 16, 2009

It is time to start destroying those cameras. Burn down the houses of those that approve their use as well. They are nothing but traitors and tyrants.

 

Jul 16, 2009

The true goal of the speed traps are to prevent a dangerous situation. The dangerous situation in this case is speeding in these areas. The iPhone app does so successfully without hurting peoples pockets and allows for police to do real police work instead of being a clerk for their city. That the chief is upset that it circumvents police enforcement only shows what HIS true goal is: producing revenue for the city.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Now this might just be the thing to convince me to get an iphone. Very persuasive...

 

Jul 17, 2009

Why are you so concerned? Why do you not hire another police officer for safty in more ways than one instead of getting a raise?

 

Jul 17, 2009

whatta a whiny witch! We need more tech gadgets that circumvent this countries unfair and borderline illegal big brother methods of making money and giving undeserved tickets.

 

Jul 17, 2009

I was not familiar with Ms. Lanier, so looked her up on Google. Good God - who put this creature in charge? She reminds one of a lesbian bodybuilder.

Her whining is absolutely hilarious! Hats off to the people that created and continue to update this application.

The hogs are just going to try to steal more and more of our money to pay for Tyrone, Lakita, and Julio's health care.

They rip us off every single chance that they can, it is only fair for us to do the same.

 

Jul 17, 2009

No radar detectors allowed. We will find a way to outlaw this app. Stop at the checkpoint. Show your papers. Blow into this tube. Give us a blood sample. Pay your yearly tag tax and get a sticker. Pay your gas tax. You were pulled over B/C the light over your plate was dim. Papers please. Where are you coming from? Where are you going? Why? Blow into this tube....

 

Jul 17, 2009

"Those who sacrifice freedom for safety deserve neither.". Thomas Jefferson

 

Jul 17, 2009

For cops to worry about Iphones and such just means the cops have miss placed priorities. Put them on real cases like murder, drugs etc. What a wast of time to sit in the median with a radar gun....make them earn their pay!

 

Jul 17, 2009

"Cowardly Tactics"? "For Our Safety"? Are you joking? It's revenue and surveillance baby, and you better no believe it is anything other than that.
Remember: The police are only minutes away when seconds count.

So, if cameras are writing the tickets now, what is law enforcement doing exactly?

 

Jul 17, 2009

So they are upset that people are being more careful when driving?

 

Jul 17, 2009

let me get this straight...speed traps are put into motion to SLOW people down in an area where the speed of traffic is too fast for the safe travel of all motorist not (theoretically) for revenue creation...but two things strike me as odd. 1. The sharing of the information actually SLOWS down drivers because otherwise the officers would catch the speeder...hence the goal has been achieved. 2. if the speed ticket were not for revenue creation why then have an officer that is taking 50 bucks an hour out of a municipalities budget to just sit there and smile?
I think the reaction of this "chief" merely explains what we all know already but never voiced and why the author is taking lots of money to the bank! just wished i would had come up with it first! (:

 

Jul 17, 2009

Giant Water squirt gun and your used motor oil would go a long way with these cameras. So would a book of matches.

 

Jul 17, 2009

These cameras are illegal. People are winning court cases against them: http://seclists.org/politech/2001/Sep/0009.html

 

Jul 17, 2009

Mount an infra red flash trigger with your own photo strobe aimed right back at their camera and white out their images: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8201

 

Jul 17, 2009

Seriously. If a community of people are contributing to the effort of averting police efforts, maybe the police are not serving the people as well as they should.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Isn't Washington D.C. where Marion Berry was Mayor, went to prison and then got re-elected as an alderman? Haven't politicians been getting away with all sorts of crime there for decades? Who the hell actually gives a rats butt about the law in Washington D.C.?

 

Jul 17, 2009

The app does the same thing the cameras and patrol units do. If they know its coming up, then the drivers will slow down. The end product is that there are slower vehicles in dangerous areas, the only diference is the city is not getting those fines.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Sorry Chief Lanier, turn around is fair play. The Police Department has "no reasonable expectation of privacy or confidentiality" in public places. Your department uses electronic devices to watch "the public", so the public can use electronic devices to watch your department's activities in public.

Fair play and all. Sorry it goes against the grain.

 

Jul 17, 2009

I have never seen so many comments on an article of any kind. That all of them are apparently on the same side is doubly unusual. Neither is particularly surprising, however. One billion dollars in fines is no small burden and widely distributed. Presumably, these people who are fined are also subject to higher insurance premiums and possible loss of driving privilidges, making the actual cost to the population considerably greater than the billion in revenue collected. With such an outpouring of protest, someone must be preparing to lead it. The interesting question is what happens next.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Please, the Chief's remark of cowardice is pathetic. Traffic Enforcement's primary purpose is to force drivers to slow down and obey the law in high speed areas. The Phantom Alert System serves exactly the same purpose in allowing drivers to know they must slow down in the "radar or camera zones" thus providing safety. However, this comes at no cost to the driver in fines which is absolutly awesome. Chief, Phantom Alert is helping you free up your officers to fight real crime; now go learn to manage your resources and stop your belly aching!

 

Jul 17, 2009

HA HA HA HA HA! So they can't make their quota. Oh too bad so sad! Bottom feeders!

 

Jul 17, 2009

haha, I love it!

This is a perfect example of that I call "technologies of freedom." Technology designed to help the individual against our growing state tyranny.

BTW, how is defending yourself "cowardly." I think these people reach for the handiest epithet they can find, whether it applies or not.

Ken
http://www.kenstech.com

 

Jul 17, 2009

It just goes to show what the police really think of you: You are sheep to be herded; cash cows to be milked.

Brother, you asked for it...

 

Jul 17, 2009

Lets have a cheer for Police Chief Lanier..
Gimme a C. Gimme a U. Gimme an N.. You know the rest.
These idiots think they deserve statehood? They must be thinking of Police state or Communist State.

Die in a fire witch!

 

Jul 17, 2009

Bad economy and what does government do???

More speeding tickets, more taxes, more permits, more parking fines... more more more.

Tis' the endgame - America. It's a comin'

 

Jul 17, 2009

Cowardly? How about the "cowardly police" who prefer to let a machine rake in the money, when they should be out arresting the crackheads murdering people. That's why we pay them, they're NOT revenue agents for a corrupt city.
Its nothing more than revenue generation, expect to see more of this crap in the "Oboningo police-state".

 

Jul 17, 2009

Lay off the individual officers!!! All you mothers basement dwelling slackers want to say this and that about the police…well guess what! No matter what kind of person you may be the police risk they're lives everyday for you! Under payed and over worked! Don't break the law and you won't get a ticket! Most of you conspiracy nuts should be thankful for the cameras…a camera can't search your car and find an oz of your favorite brain shrink!!!! Aren't police chiefs an elected official?????? Hmmmmm

 

Jul 17, 2009

When the DCPD get's the city's murder rate out of the top handful in the nation, then they can whine about people trying to avoid paying a huge fine for drifting a few miles over the limit.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Chief Lanier........it is YOU that is a COWARD. A TYRANT !! An abuser of power. It is you who screws it's citizens with cowardly law enforcement by removing the integrity of Police Officers witnessing infractions and then dealing with it properly. Instead....you coward.... you use technology to GOUGE and incriminate your citizens you swore an oath to protect. You chose to violate your oath to Protect the constitution of these great United States. Some where along the way....you have FORGOTTEN that the BILL OF RIGHTS matters.....and you abuse your power to violate your citizens rights to LIFE....LIBERTY....and THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. May your freedoms be infringed - a thousand fold and even taken from you. For this is how you treat us. Your uniform doesn't give you the right to call your citizens COWARDS....... for you again are the COWARD.

 

Jul 17, 2009

The two ways this works:
1. With Trapster, people actually slow down (saving lives), but sorry, no money for the PD :-).
2. Without Trapster, people don't slow down, because they don't know the cameras are there...not very safe. Money for the PD :-(.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Looks like trapster is mess'n with one of DC's Cash Cows. Big cities don't like to sacrifice them cows.

 

Jul 17, 2009

You're cowards for not letting us profit off of you any way we can!!!

That's as bad as businesses refusing to do business with me because I refuse to pay THEIR sales tax...

Enuff already...I'm tired of getting robbed by these parasites!

 

Jul 17, 2009

In England, devices and programs that tell a driver when they're approaching a speed camera are perfectly legal. Why? Because the purpose of a speed camera is to get people to obey the speed limit. If a device tells the driver one is coming up, what does the driver do? He/She slows down. Mission accomplished.

 

Jul 17, 2009

The stooge cheif needs an app that alerts the force when the squaud car is near fresh donuts. Speed traps are merely taxation without repesentation.

 

Jul 17, 2009

"Mikester" is exactly right: If the true goal of the police spreed trap are to slow drivers down and thus save lives, then cars equipped with these iPhone apps will slow down = goal achieved. Unless of course, $1.9 million of revenue is the true motivation. Hmmmm.

 

Jul 17, 2009

ah ... has anyone bothered to point out this application does not work on iPhone? Knuckelheads

 

Jul 17, 2009

The purpose is to save Lives?! Ha ha, how much of a police officer's time is spent on revenue generation by way of speed traps and other tickets to bring money into the coffers. Police have been reduced to tax collectors and everyone knows it. City Hall must not be happy about the lost revenues and she's feeling the heat.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Speeding violations have more to due with money than with safety. I prefer speed cameras because they are impartial. You think DC Mayor Fenty would have gotten a ticket if he was stopped by a cop?

They have speed cameras in Europe. You can download where they are located to your GPS. If you have a problem with speeders or a particularly unsafe portion of the road, put up a speed camera and people will slow down. Assuming safety is more important than profits.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Whah! Whah! Whah! Whah! Whah! Whah!
I don't get to extract money from people going five miles over the limit!
Whah!
I don't get to have an "arresting officer" that is nothing more than an unaccountable electronic device!
Whah!
I want my doughnut!

 

Jul 17, 2009

You really have to laugh at this. Police everywhere set up entrapment locations to snare would be speeders. They set up ride checkpoints, to catch would be drinking drivers.
These checkpoints are nothing more, civic money grabbing machines used by the local police departments to fund drive for their police departments.
So what exactly is out there to protect us drivers from unfair search and seizure.

 

Jul 17, 2009

So.. it's cowardly for us to use technology to OUR advantage, but they are noble for using technology to issue more tickets and increasing revenue from fines. I'm almost certain that when they installed these systems, they weren't thinking, "Hey everybody, here's our chance to save a few lives and curb reckless driving." No.. it was much more likely, "If we put in these systems, we'll have a lot more money we can fraudulently spend on ourselves!"

 

Jul 17, 2009

Police have become NOTHING except revenue collectors for Ceaser.

 

Jul 17, 2009

why is it her whinning make me happy? she's an over paid pompous ass who got her job because they needed to fill a quota. with comments like her's it's obivious she's not qualified..

 

Jul 17, 2009

The nanny state will eventually get you, one way or the other. Please stop thinking that you live in a free country. There are many parts of the world that allow you actual personal freedom. And once I have enough cash saved, I'm gone.

 

Jul 17, 2009

I agree that speed traps, cameras, and the like ARE used for municipal income generation, but for all of the conspiracy-theorist cop-haters out there: Get a grip! The officers who are out there busting you when you're doing 95 in a school zone ARE concerned about peoples' safety. Stop trying to blame them for the fact that the local, state, and Federal government have the system set up to generate income. When they sign up to be a cop, they do it because they believe they are making a difference and helping people. And if you don't believe me, try getting out of your mom's basement and meeting a few cops when you're NOT breaking the law. They're doing their job, people. Stop hassling them for it.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Is it equally as cowardly that the police set up their traps in locations hidden from drivers? Over hills, behind signs and overpasses. Folks, we're living on a one way street.

 

Jul 17, 2009

The cops would rather give tickets than promote safety by letting drivers know they are approaching a construction zone and should slow down.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Highway robbers wear uniforms.

 

Jul 17, 2009

How long do you think it will take them to figure out that all they have to do is post a boatload of fake locations from multiple IP addresses to make the app worthless. It will be beeping more or less continuously, and it will be very hard for the software to sort out the real postings from the fake. And the cops will be back in bidness. Back to the drawing board.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Maybe these doughnut munching public servants will have to give up this easy revenue raiser and have to go out and do the job they are paid to do, protect the public from real criminals and solve crimes like theft and robbery.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Here's an idea for an app for the local law enforcement officers, iDounght - it tells you how far you are from a doughnut and coffee shop.

 

Jul 17, 2009

The point of the speed cameras is to get people to slow down. It could be argued that this sytem is more effective, because without it, drivers wouldn't slow down or be as cautious at red lights since they wouldn't know where they were.

It's all about the money

 

Jul 17, 2009

The cameras are what is cowardly about this whole mess!! the police should be out there catcthing them thehirselves instead of relying on SOMETHING else to DO THEIR JOBS. I think of it as a game of hide and seek. you want to hide, I will find you! What ever happened to the freedom of information? this gives us the information of these stupid cameras. Another freedom/right of the people taken away.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Chief Lanier is a hypocrite of the 1st order ... if the iphone app gets people to slow down, she wins... that's the whole goal of enforcement.

If it helps people avoid speed cameras, so be it, these are pure revenue producers that do NOTHING in terms of real-time effective policing to take bad drivers off the street AT THE TIME they are endangering others.

And since speed camera tickets don't count for points on a driving record (precisely because of due process concerns -- if they did, then every one would be contested and the court sytem would grind to a halt).

The chief is a real "piece of work."

 

Jul 17, 2009

Ok ok, the Silly String idea...Approach the camera from behind with your can of Silly String, be sure to stay out of the camera's range of view if possible, maybe wear a hat and glasses too. If you want to make it a little more political, wear a rubber PeeBo (Obama) mask. All you need to do is point the spray can in the direction up towards the lense casing and spray! The stuff sticks to the lense cover and obscures the camera's view. Until some civil servant comes out and cleans the thing off it's basically out of commission, you save some innocent motorists the hassle of getting an unwarrented ticket. Oh, and in the winter the stuff freezes, it's even a little more annoying to these guys. Hey, this whole revenue generation thing is becoming quit a cat-and-mouse game.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Hi, Mighty Mouse.

I think the cameras are more "cowardly" than an iPhone App. DC - Infringing on people's rights since 1790.

 

Jul 17, 2009

"She said, "with the Internet and all the new technology, it's almost impossible to stop the flow of information."

That's right, honey. Get used to it.

 

Jul 17, 2009

"I think that's the whole point of this program," she told The Examiner. "It's designed to circumvent law enforcement ..."

Yeah, it's not like using a camera is designed to CIRCUMVENT having an actual police officer present, oh no....

 

Jul 17, 2009

If the purpose of the cameras is to gain compliance in areas with high accident rates, why would the chief have a problem? If a driver is alerted, they will reduce their speed and/or not run the red light, problem solved. The Chief has a problem with it because it will reduce revenue, the true purpose of the cameras.

 

Jul 17, 2009

The entire point of speed- and red-light cameras SHOULD be to get people to stop at red lights and travel at or below the speed limit in certain areas. Once people get a ticket, it usually stings enough that they remember to drive more carefully in and around that area (I never speed in the two places I've gotten speeding tickets before.)

It sounds like people with this iPhone app are doing exactly that, though . . . stopping at those red lights and traveling the speed limit in those areas. Assuming the speed and light laws are there for the public good, then people obeying them is a GOOD THING.

In fact, if more people used this application, more people would more consistently obey the traffic laws in those areas. That the police department is no longer getting paid to TEACH people those lessons, that using mobile Internet applications allows people to act preventatively rather than reactively, is not a BAD thing.

 

Jul 17, 2009

'to save lives' right... if anyone believes speeding tickets are for safety instead of a cash cow needs to wake up...

 

Jul 17, 2009

Typical government bureaucracy, trying to bilk a few more bucks from the people. What's someone named "Cathy" doing as police chief anyway? Probably because of quotas.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Something is wrong when police tactics can't stand the light of day.

 

Jul 17, 2009

The cameras cause accidents, they don't prevent them. Take a look at New York Avenue in the district, cars come into the city and hit that first speed trap about 3 miles in and lock the brakes, causing traffic jams. Secondly, the best part is this program alerts drivers of the traps; THERE ARE ALREADY SIGNS UP ALERTING DRIVERS OF THE TRAPS SAYING "SPEED CAMERA AHEAD" this program just saves some taxpayer dollars by making the signs pointless.

 

Jul 17, 2009

The real cowards are the police involved in manning speed traps. They are either afraid of real criminals or they are afraid to stand up against their money-grubbing department heads.
police departments

 

Jul 17, 2009

Is this freedom?

 

Jul 17, 2009

This is so funny. He talks about how these cameras have saved lives and thats what they are there for. So what do you think people do when they hear the noise go off? Speed up? LoL no they slow down which is what he wants them to do. Same thing as a radar detector. Sounds like this tool bag is just mad cause the city isn't getting as much revinue off there stupid trafic cameras.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Public safety my A_ _!! Charlotte, NC had these cameras, and it was all about the revenue generated for the city. When the city didn't get a big enough cut from the Contractor who owned the cameras, they pulled the plug. So much for the safety argument

 

Jul 17, 2009

Chad E.

She's what's called an 'affirmative action baby'.

It's a problem all over these days.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Or 'affirmative action babe' as the case may be.

 

Jul 17, 2009

These comments make me feel a lot better about this country. It seems most people don't prefer to live in a police state, something I wouldn't have believed a few years ago.

Just keep in mind that every time folks in the government shout "it's for your own safety!" at us, what they're really thinking is "it's so WE can have more power!"

Cellphones and the internet are returning power to the citizens, and our rulers don't like that.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Of course the Nazi's don't like it. How dare the peons try to circumvent their Stasi surveillance tools? Funny how she pretends the purpose is to save lives and not fill up the "people's" bank account.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Designed specifically to save lives? It's a fact that in Maryland, more accidents have occurred due to people slamming on their brakes to avoid the red light. Accidents were up 18% at the red lights monitored from rear end collisions. It's nothing but an attempt at a money grab, not safety. Get real.

 

Jul 17, 2009

This is no longer a free country, its become a f-ing joke

 

Jul 17, 2009

Maybe the D.C. police chief should focus a little more on the astronomical homicide and violent crime rates in her jurisdiction and a little less on speed traps. Oh wait, speed traps are a lot easier and generate money, whereas homicide investigation and prevention is hard and costs money. Nevermind.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Wow, the people who have gotten tickets are out in force. Brian and no-name and '30 Years No tickets' and annie-oakley are right on target.

The argument that the app helps safety because the users slow down is flawed. The users will only slow down for the small percentage of locations that have enforcement. Let's face it, users of the app have it because they expect to break the law. Leave on time, slow down, pay attention, and you don't need to know where enforcement is.

But the "cowards" comment was obviously out of line. And any attempt to outlaw this type service would surely fail.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Anyone got a complaint about slowing or restricting your travel, being watched or any other measures that "monitor" us?

 

Jul 17, 2009

Maybe when someone using one of these devices runs a red light, with no camera and kills someone, they and the maker of the device and support the deceased family for the rest of their lives. How about that for a solution.

 

Jul 17, 2009

What a pathetic excuse for a chief cop. They just put in ticket robots so they can go eat donuts and still make $1 billion per year.

The era when people were stupid enough to just follow along with the "it saves lives" B.S. simply because it comes from the mouth of a chief of police is long gone. Your credibility is zero now. Don't act surprised when nobody believes a word you say.

Ticket robots are the bane of society and should be made illegal or just destroyed outright.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Pulling people over for doing 42 in a 35 is a speed trap, and it is NOT there to save lives. DUI check points also is an invasion of privacy. How many people get pulled out for having a glass of wine with dinner LIKE EVERYONE ON THE PLANET...you just dont find people having 10 beers in them.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Cops are out-of-control.

Solution: an independent force that is comprised of people NOT connected to the police force, who's primary job is to investigate and prosecute police officers who break policy, the law, or abuse power.

The problem in the country is that COPS think that they are here to ENFORCE the law. They are NOT. COPS are simply agents of the courts, that is to arrest those who BREAK laws.

COPS everywhere are powerhungry thugs who abuse their power without consequence. We must reign in these people.

The main problem to an oversight force: police unions. Police unions are like a mafia.

 

Jul 17, 2009

It appears to me that these warning systems are helping people to obey the law, if anything it reminds drivers that they need to double check that they are within the speed limit and results in safer slower driving all around.

The cop is just moaning about the reduced amount of cash they are generating.

 

Jul 17, 2009

If the government, police specifically in this case pant any harder for money, maybe they can squeeze another 12 cents from us. Go to H3LL - go make money elsewhere STOP STEALING FROM PEOPLE. You should be quoted as thanking the programs for slowing more people down as they are DETERRED from speeding, but no, you keep whining and complaining because you are a thief... thief... GO MAKE MONEY THAT YOU DESERVE instead

 

Jul 17, 2009

Haha, saving lives you call it? A stop light camera taking a picture of someone who didnt stop completely at a stop light and then going when it's perfectly safe, then issuing a ticket is far from saving lives. If an officer if present in 50% of the cases involving a camera, a ticket would never be issued, just by using human jusdgement. Use all the technology you can to avoid these red light cameras. I call unfair on this one.

 

Jul 17, 2009

I didnt know about the app until I read the article- thanks Chief! Downloaded yesterday and already using it, appreciate the heads up!!!

 

Jul 17, 2009

I think the police need a zookeeper at this point. There are now numerous studies that prove beyond any doubt red light cameras cause accidents yet they are still in play. It is us against them. we no longer have a government by the people for the people. The government is the elite class and we are now servants. Is this the hope and change you were seeking?

 

Jul 17, 2009

Ironic, I'm sure someone else already posted it but I just found this quote on the Trapster website, "If someone slows down because of it, it's accomplishing the same goal of trying to get people to obey the speed limit"
Bill Johnson - Executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations

 

Jul 17, 2009

I, for one, am in favor of both speed cameras and red light cameras. I would suggest to police departments and camera system manufacturers the following: The main problem with people scoping out and reporting on camera locations has entirely to do with the fact that the cameras are far too conspicuous. Whether the camera is in a housing box, on a trailer or in a well-known van/ vehicle is how the i-phone trackers do their tracking. My suggestion would be to design a system that is more portable. This way the system could be placed in any number of innocuous vehicles and set up in differing locations. Maybe a system that fits on the dashboard of a car. One day the system could be placed in a red Taurus, the next day, a blue station wagon, the next, a green Volkswagen. The car could then be strategically parked to view the particular intersection (for red lights) or stretch of road (for speed) without the i-phone dorks being able to track as easily.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Revenue, revenue, revenue.
No wonder common people can't live
right. They are getting screwed out
of their money to live in SO many
ways by SO many bureaucratic departments! This is certainly one
of them. They should take those
cameras down!

We don't need Big Brother watching

 

Jul 17, 2009

the police are just another business, in my county the police officially announce they refuse to investigate property crime under $10k. they simply give you a report number to pass on to insurance. they won't respond to any property crime in person, because of budget cuts. but they said that if you know of speeders they'd be glad to put out a speed trap in the neighborhood (speed traps bring in $, crime solving spends $) our sheriff publicly admits and published those same sentiments.

 

Jul 17, 2009

I with Mikalah. Had no idea this existed. Now its residing on the front page of my iPhone. Thanks D.C. police chief Cathy Lanier.

 

Jul 17, 2009

@dollarcops I agree with that tactic though, and known speed traps are in fact deterrents. While I was growing up in south Texas there was a widely known city just north of San Antonio that was notorious for speed traps on Hwy 35. That strip of 35 was one of the safest in Texas because everyone knew about it. Fast forward some 20 years and the highway grew to where it couldn't be trapped the same way and now it's one of the most dangerous highways in the US.

 

Jul 17, 2009

The best way to raise the integrity of the police and courts in this kind of thing is to get the profit motive out of traffic enforcement. The financial incentive to generate revenue by issuing traffic citations is ruining what law enforcement is supposed to be about. 'To Protect and serve' is not supposed to mean 'to serve tickets'. To those in law enforcement, is your aim profits or is your aim public safety? As long as the states, courts, municipalies, police, etc. benefit monetarily, they will be at odds with protecting the public - which is what their true purpose is. BTW - in many areas of the country, these cameras can be defeated at the ballot box because in a lot of places sherrifs and judges are elected. This can be effectively made a campaign issue, they did it in one county in Arizona last year.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Didn't the Supreme Court confirm that in our Constitutional republic, that a citizen who is NOT commiting a crime has a RIGHT to know that the police is survieling him? Speeding is not a crime. This is traffic law. It has become a cash cow for local governments.

That's why I quit writing them. Call me a bit "tired" of things.

 

Jul 17, 2009

funny, the city of Dallas , TX announced it was removing some of their red-light cameras because they were no longer economical. they used driver safety to put them up and after drivers became aware of their locations, they followed the law. now the cameras are no longer a monetary asset, but a economic liability. funny thing is, statiscally, t-bone accidents went way down, and rear end collisions went up. now this? the DC police no longer have the advantage and now they're crying.

 

Jul 17, 2009

A speed trap has nothing to do with safety. It has everything to do with more confiscation of YOUR money. If they really cared about safety they would applaud wider conciousness of dangerous speed zones.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Jul 17, 2009

Lay off the individual officers!!! All you mothers basement dwelling slackers want to say this and that about the police…well guess what! No matter what kind of person you may be the police risk they're lives everyday for you! Under payed and over worked! Don't break the law and you won't get a ticket! Most of you conspiracy nuts should be thankful for the cameras…a camera can't search your car and find an oz of your favorite brain shrink!!!! Aren't police chiefs an elected official?????? Hmmmmm

------------------------------------

You are a nutcase..
Underpaid my &^*&^(&^(
Cops in Illinois make up to 150K per year, half of it on overtime, going to courts.

 

Jul 17, 2009

I wonder how this Police Chief feels about citizens filming cops doing their job...

 

Jul 17, 2009

Someone should get that cop a dictionary. If it's cowardly not to bust yourself on a red light camera, it's cowardly not to shoot yourself in the head for no reason.

Speaking of "cowardly," all you ever see cops do is pull over harmless people who are going with traffic at 15 mph over the posted speed limit set in 1945, or who pause and roll through lights instead of a wasteful, full stop. They don't want to do real law enforcement, like walk a beat in a bad neighborhood. That's too dangerous. Does any cop walk a beat any more? Or is that too much exercise, and not enough drive-through donuts?

 

Jul 17, 2009

The only cowards here are the police who have to use camera's and other technology to catch speeders. When average citizens use technology for a fair fight we are labeled as cowards? If you want a fair fight play fair. Don't denounce your citizens for playing your game. God bless the IPhone

 

Jul 17, 2009

Let's be honest about these camera tactics. It is about revenue for DC. In Phoenix they have these cameras everywhere. Now they have cameras on the freeways in the Phoenix area for speeding. I guess they don't need real police bodies any longer. Judges are throwing a lot of these tickets out. Folks are screaming about this unconstitutional act. The chief should be honest and tell everyone the real motivation about these cameras. The Almighty Dollar. What is next cameras on my front door.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Compare this article to the reports coming out of Iran. Believe me when I say that a thin line separates America from dictatorial countries. Many people here in positions of power would love to rule rather than lead. We must be vigilant against such would-be dictators. Ms Lanier identifies herself as a would-be ruler through her sloganistic word choices, such as, "cowardly tactic."

 

Jul 17, 2009

@Lier - lighten up Francis, nobody's slamming the individual officer out on the streets. Everyone's talking about the policies chosen by the department heads to either enforce the laws, ensure safety of the people in their cities or in this case bring in revenue generated by red-light cameras. I know many cops, one of which was my father and they agree that the cameras, unless marked, are only there as a way to generate money for the department. You want to ensure driver safety, announce that the intersections are being monitored to begin with.

 

Jul 17, 2009

I am a DC COP and I have TRAPSTER on MY Personal iPhone in the police cruiser to avoid speed traps and red light cameras. The cameras and traps are all on commuter routes so they can get the maximum REVENUE for each ticket. When the number of tickets falls with the mobile cameras, they move them to a new location. Trapster works and I believe a POLICE OFFICER should give you a ticket not a machine. That is why ALOT of officer don't work speed camera overtime.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Hey, dont want to pay a fine??? THEN DONT SPEED... I have never seen many whiny paranoid people... Its really easy to follow traffic regulations and then you will never have to worry about any of this...

 

Jul 17, 2009

to LIER,

Easy there Barney, you don't want to shoot yourself in the foot! Somebody should take your bullet away for the rest of the day...

 

Jul 17, 2009

Odd, I've NEVER considered a speed camera a SAFETY device. It's a slap on the wrist, and revenue generation, THAT'S IT.

Sobriety checkpoints on the other hand, DO save lives.

Don't equate the two, that's a blatent falsehood.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Go ahead, punk...Say 'cheese'!

 

Jul 17, 2009

Petulant Cathy the Police Chief should take her feminine poutiness and go home. Her 'cowardly' comment is about the most ridiculous attempt to insult and offend that I have seen from a public servant.

Cowardly indeed. If she wasn't such a stupid woman, she might understand the difference between cowardice and bold thinking. Perhaps the interviewer just caught her at the wrong time of the month.

As for the users of this radar detection app, I say GO FOR IT! As for me, I didn't know this software existed for my brand new iPhone 3G S. Can't wait to download it today!! Thanks for the heads up, Petulant Cathy the Police Chief!

 

Jul 17, 2009

Let's get this straight: the chief of police is complaining that people aren't speeding?

"Hey, these cameras are out there to generate the city income and this app on the iPhone is causing people to follow the law. We need people to break the law to balance the budget."

Absolutely ridiculous. The supposed point of traffic cameras is compliance with the law. If people aren't speeding or running red lights where the cameras are, they are serving their purpose.

The reality is that cities that use traffic cameras don't care about reducing accidents and fatalities. They care about income from citations. Several studies show that cities have reduced the yellow light duration and installed red light cameras in order to make money from tickets.

If safety was the true concern, they would make yellow lights longer.

 

Jul 17, 2009

While your car and house is getting broken into they are giving people tickets for going 5 mph over the speed limit. Police are useless. Everyone should own a firearm and we should have 80% less police officers

 

Jul 17, 2009

If the police were smart, they'd go along with this. Instead of shilling out big bucks at every intersection installing new hardware, why not just label the intersection as a red light intersection when it really isn't? That way people will slow down and we'll all save money. Welcome to the digital age, cops! One database entry can get people to slow down, and that's what red light cameras have been sold to the public as, correct?

 

Jul 17, 2009

Most cop's dashboard cams are filled mostly with shots of the front windows of the local Dunkin' Donuts.

 

Jul 17, 2009

It's great to live in the state of MS where our system has eliminated the use of the cameras because it denies the people caught "Due Process". That's two words I'd recommend you people learn. Check out what our courts say about it. The rulings of one court carry over to other courts. Fight the tickets. You'll win with the due process argument every time.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Sounds to me like the police are throwing a little temper tantrum because they can't push people around. Too bad. The little threat of, we're gonna catch you eventually anyway is pure childish. Anymore, alot of younger cops are becoming punks with guns and badges. They're not really interested in 'serving' you anymore, more like push you around. I'll defend myself from the criminal element in society. Don't need a cop for that, not when you gotta a Glock! : )

 

Jul 17, 2009

What ever happened to a person's RIGHT
to face their accuser ?
What if I lend my car to a friend and HE
committed an offence ?.
I, know, I GET THE TICKET !
Law enforcement (haha) gets around this
because, they say, driving is a prevalidge
and NOT A RIGHT !
YOU have a RIGHT to own firearms but they
let you drive by their good graces !
If cars were around when the founding
fathers penned the constitution and bill
of rights, I'm SURE driving would be a
RIGHT and NOT a PREVALIDGE !

MONEY STEALING BA$TARDS !!

 

Jul 17, 2009

The police chief thinks it is cowardly to out speed traps? What is cowardly are police who hide to enforce speeding laws, while letting violent crime run amok.

 

Jul 17, 2009

"It's designed to circumvent law enforcement -- law enforcement that is designed specifically to save lives."

INCORRECT... this is law enforcement designed to raise revenue via fines.

 

Jul 17, 2009

The speed cameras will take away the police jobs. lets give all our jobs to machines.

 

Jul 17, 2009

This is all obamas fault

 

Jul 17, 2009

BS, this is another money grab by greedy cities and politicos to wring every possible penny out of your hide. Safety isn't even a concern when these hair brained schemes are thought up. If that were the case, red light cameras would be banned because study after study proves that they INCREASE rear end collisions. It is about squeezing all addition monies out of you that their confiscatory tax policies still leave on the table.

Get a new police chief while you're at it DC.

 

Jul 17, 2009

"Well, my pocket has money in it," Ganoe quipped

EPIC WIN

 

Jul 17, 2009

That is the most rediculous comment a law enforcement person can make. The Trapster points out the cameras which in turn causes the driver to slow down which is the intended effect. However, it does lower the opportunity for violators to receive money making tickets.

 

Jul 17, 2009

I'm not a fan of these cameras, but for those of you who say this application makes people "slow down," you need to be a little clearer.

It makes people slow down where ever their iPhone picks up a speed trap or camera. Once they're clear, you can almost be sure they're speeding right a way again.

 

Jul 17, 2009

How can people obeying a law, that by law they must, be cowardly?

This is absolute rubbish and this police chief has much larger fish to fry. She might try http://911essentials.com for some real information to open her eyes.

 

Jul 17, 2009

That cop loves those revenue generators and she couldn't careless about us.

 

Jul 17, 2009

How about the cowardly cops that hide traffic cameras and use hidden unmarked radar cars to nab unsupecting citizens???

 

Jul 17, 2009

A friend just took early retirement from the state police because he feels that he had become a profit center for the state.

 

Jul 17, 2009

We live in a police state. this is just another way people in government are trying to take more of our freedom away from us.

9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB this scared us into 2 unjust wars and the patriot act and HR 1666 the enemy combatant law. and a way for the new world order to take control of us. RESIST THE NEW WORLD ORDER
infowars.com
prisonplanet.com
wearechange.org

 

Jul 17, 2009

Great app, and here's why. You cannot take a traffic camera to court. Thus, you are not allowed due process of law by being able to question a witness. The iPhone app prevents a person from being denied due process by showing them where the unConstitutional cameras are. When the driver knows, he or she can avoid it and preserve his or her rights under the law.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Technology vs. Technology = Win!

 

Jul 17, 2009

Hammah

Jul 17, 2009

I'm not a fan of these cameras, but for those of you who say this application makes people "slow down," you need to be a little clearer.

It makes people slow down where ever their iPhone picks up a speed trap or camera. Once they're clear, you can almost be sure they're speeding right a way again.

-------------------------------------

Current speed limits are designed for one purpose only, to collect revenue.

 

Jul 17, 2009

"Police chief denounces 'cowardly' iPhone users monitoring speed traps"...

After viewing numerous videos of police brutality on youtube, and the total misuse of power and authority that are caught on video, I guess I could probably classify myself as cowardly too.

If some poor 90 year old lady can get maced or tasered by some trigger happy rookie just itching to try out some of their new law enforcement toys, I can only imagine how I might be treated being half that ladies age.

Avoid the police at all costs is my motto, and who ever came up with this iPhone app has my vote for sure!

 

Jul 17, 2009

HA HA HA, The little police chief is crying, boo hoo.

 

Jul 17, 2009

stop trying to pretend those cameras are not for money making. i'd actually love to see a cost/income study done to see how much police spend to catch speeders over how much they actually get from tickets.

and for the LAST TIME...just because you speed DOES NOT mean you are an agressive driver!

 

Jul 17, 2009

Lanier states that DC’s red-light and speed cameras are “designed specifically to save lives” and would probably argue that the cameras are installed for that primary purpose, rather than to produce revenue. She then condemns the use of a computer program that in essence assists in the accomplishment of her alleged goal as a, “cowardly tactic”. And, then accuses the designers of the program of assisting in the circumvention of law enforcement.

Chiefette Lanier probably sincerely believes that the Constitution, specifically the 1st ten Amendments along with the 14th Amendment, was also designed to circumvent law enforcement. We already know where she stands on the 2nd Amendment. Now we know what she thinks about the 1st Amendment as well, "with the Internet and all the new technology, it's almost impossible to stop the flow of information."

 

Jul 17, 2009

Sometimes police forget that they work for us, not the other way around.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Dear Free Ed and Elaine Brown,

Only mentally ill people think, "9/11 was an inside job".

Yes, the CIA secretly raised all 19 hijackers from birth and sent them to Jihadist finishing schools and forced them to commit murder suicide by putting little controller computer chips in their heads (the same kind that the aliens put in both of your heads).

 

Jul 17, 2009

Krackonis:

We understand your concern about missing DC homeless population and want to assure you that they have had 100% successful completion in our 'Soylent Green' transition program.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Dear Free Ed and Elaine Brown,

The same aliens from outer space who abducted you and forced you to have insane thoughts about 9/11 conspiracies, are now controlling the democrats in Washington DC who think that the way to get out of a deep recession is to double to cost of energy for businesses, drivers and home owners (Cap and Trade), and to promise the world to all comers in an already near bankrupt health system.

Fix the economy first!

Don't martyr America for global warming when no one else in the world has promised to make serious sacrifice.

Fix healthcare one step at a time. Don't throw out what is good (free market innovation and technology) for cheap promises of equal shares of a mediocre nationalized system.

 

Jul 17, 2009

ATTENTION POLICE DEAPRTMENTS:
Red Light Cameras and Speed Cameras are illegal. Fact 1) There is no chain of evidence created. To issue a citation you have to use a live human being standing there handing out the ticket. Why do you think that parking tickets are handed out by hand? You can't choose when and where to obey or enforce the law. To all drivers; trash the ticket. If and only if you go to court simply cite "Chain fo Evidence" does nto exist. Since these illegal cameras photos are 'manipulated by civilians' the citation is illegal. To all those who disagree, - Sit on it and twist!

 

Jul 17, 2009

I just paid a $50 ticket last week, from one of the radar cameras in Chattanooga...I was very pissed, because I felt like it was impossible to fight. Now thanks to this story, I have installed Trapster and can keep tabs on their location!

 

Jul 17, 2009

These cameras generate HUGE profits for auto insurance companies, because they raise the rates of people who get caught in these police scams.

 

Jul 17, 2009

...GEICO is even on record as donating lasor and radar detecting equipment to PD's for that very purpose.

 

Jul 17, 2009

You know who also uses these systems - the PRC - Peoples Republic of China. Lanier is nothing but a third rate bureaucrat. All the concepts - face the accuser, reasonable doubt are thrown out the window-with the excuse for the greater good. They started removing our civil liberties with seat belts and zoning laws, now we have machines accusing us and finding us guilty. When are we going to wake up? When it is too late and they are telling us that our opinions are unhealthy. It is going to end badly for us America.

 

Jul 17, 2009

typical American talk "specifically to save lives." "its for the children" bla bla its to get easy money in to the town, easy job for Police and city

 

Jul 17, 2009

It's all about money, not saving lives. Neither the police agencies nor the insurance companies care about "saving lives"... What the insurance companies care about is NOT PAYING OUT on insurance claims, and insurance companies are the driving force behind traffic law. All the police care about is generating revenue for their municipalities. I have YET to see the police PREVENT a crime. They only RESPOND to crime, and usually much too late to save lives.

 

Jul 17, 2009

who is the writer of this article?why don't you go back and talk to chief of police, and get her reaction on the story now! at least 99% of the comments are negative, what does that tell you!!

 

Jul 17, 2009

I received a ticket from a red light camera. I went back and timed it ten times with a stopwatch. It was way off; there was no way you could get through the intersection with their time limits. Police need to get off their butts and catch the real criminals like the gang bangers, dope dealers, and burglars - Oh I forgot that would actually make them earn their salaries that I pay. Police departments are staffed with largely overweight clowns just there to harrass people who mind their own business, work real jobs, and raise their families. Cops make me really tired with their "god I am so cool" attitudes.

 

Jul 17, 2009

GEICO is owned by Berkshire Hathaway which also owns a significant interest in a company that makes traffic cameras, sorry I forget the name right now. Berkshire is controlled by Warren Buffett, a rather over-rated '14 year-old race horse' of an investor. Clear conflict of interest. The same company selling auto insurance sells traffic cameras (!?!?).

Also, companies like Redflex, etc. spend a HUGE amount of money lobbying city police commisioners, mayors, etc. to get this stuff through, dinners, golf outings, nice trips...again more conflict of interest and the kind of thing that would get others in other industries thrown in jail, or at least highly criticized.

Study St. Louis Federal Reserve: http://research.stlouisfed.org/wp/2006/2006-048.pdf

 

Jul 17, 2009

Visible police presence makes more people obey the law than speed traps do. Any law enforcement official who tells you speed traps are about saving lives is spewing pure B.S. They're about raising revenue.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Calling the users of this program "cowardly" is stupid, but I think the argument that it saves lives by alerting people to upcoming cameras is a little weak. I imagine a cop would say that receiving a $xxx.xx ticket in the mail is likely to make you keep your speed down wherever you are, rather than just when your iPhone beeps at you. Whether there's data to support that, I don't know. If the annual revenue from these cameras is consistently that high, with no indication they're decreasing the number of speeders, then obviously it's about money, not deterrence.

Still, the indignation here is a little ridiculous. The people using and defending this software aren't doing it to save lives. They do it for the same basic reason as the cops: money. If they were really interested in saving lives (or in depriving the city of it's cash cow, for that matter) there's a much more straightforward way: slow down. I know, I know...it's not as sexy as speeding with an iPhone.

 

Jul 17, 2009

So, where are all of you folks when the tea parties are happening? Get out there and show your displeasure with these gubmint a**holes.

 

Jul 17, 2009

"So, where all of you folks when the tea parties are happening?" Studiously avoiding a**holes who say things like "gubmint".

 

Jul 17, 2009

Hahahahah! Cry about it!

 

Jul 17, 2009

Thanks Cathy!!!

Without your bringing my attention to this wonderful utility I may never have found it.

I will be certain to make certain its running next time I visit your wonderful city.

 

Jul 17, 2009

They sure squeal like pigs when they find out they have been outsmarted. I have used a radar detector for 26 years and have never had a single speeding ticket.

It's far easier to write tickets then to be out arresting murderers, rapists and child abductors.

 

Jul 17, 2009

You are right chief we the people are cowardly, if we were brave they would rip the cameras from the posts all of you cowardly, misguided, revenue hungry bureaucrats put them on. I have not drove in the district for a long time as it is not my favorite place to visitYou are a public servant not a third world police state minion. Or are you? You disgrace your uniform and should find another field. Remember who pays you at the end of the day. It is the tax-payer and they don't deserve to be called cowardly by the likes of you.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Whassa "gubmint"?

Wanna hear what you can do with a pellet gun?

 

Jul 17, 2009

They may be cowardly, but she is chickenS&*%

 

Jul 17, 2009

Cowardly huh? I thought the purpose of a proper law enforcement agency was first and foremost to PREVENT crimes? Of course you'll have some people dodging roadblocks but as far as speeders are concerned they will slow down when they know a trap is near. This is the purpose of said traps right? To keep people from speeding. The way the chief makes it sound is that people are cowards for slowing down and not allowing themselves to be fined. That isn't cowardice that's common sense and the icing on the cake is they for whatever amount of time it may be, will be going the speed limit.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Cathy - you go girl! Round up those cowardly iPod users. They are so violent. You get a few of the iPod gang, and that will probably clear up a lot of your cold-case murders!

 

Jul 17, 2009

Is it possible to shove a sensor into a tight spot on this lady so we can also avoid Her like the plague?

 

Jul 17, 2009

"Geek -Aren't police chiefs elected officials?!?!"

LMAO! Okay 1.) Thank the public fool system for graduating this fool, 2.) Obviously Geek doesn't know the first thing about elections and obviously hasn't voted. When's the last time he's seen a police chief on a ballot?!

The Sheriff is the ONLY legitimate peace officer BECAUSE the Sheriff is elected--OMG!

Hey here's a fun project-- go the Dunn & Bradstreet and run a search on your local courts, cities, states, and police agencies, and see for yourselves that they're "for-profit" corporations.

FYI this aint ROME, in these here parts, the "People" are the boss...We should all start acting like it!

 

Jul 17, 2009

Whatever happened to Home of the FREE... I do NOT want to live in D.C.... crooks!

 

Jul 17, 2009

Police are cowards. Why do they need guns? They can't use their fists like real men? What cowards.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Congress...lawmakers or powerless pawns of misdirection? Read it here.

http://stopthedestructionofamerica.blogspot.com/
http://912truck.blogspot.com

In God I Trust
Have a Great Day and a Better Tomorrow
ADW

 

Jul 17, 2009

not about safety, all they care about is revenue. tax tax tax. go on, kill the golden goose at your own peril...

 

Jul 17, 2009

I for one want the police to help when I get mugged, or robbed, or my home gets invaded etc. If someone is driving in a reckless or dangerous manner, I want the police to be there. Beyond that, these cops are needless, self-important tax collectors with bloated budgets only justified by the revenue they produce on the backs of the good people who pay their salaries. The more cameras, speed traps, etc that are set up, the less legitamate our law enforcement officers become. So so sad.

 

Jul 17, 2009

A question for folks using this software: Do you push yellow lights and drive faster than you did before when there is no alarm? As a safety engineer, that's the important issue. I agree with everyone that this software makes you safer where the cameras are. But it doesn't help if more people die everywhere else instead. This is a huge issue as we develop more electronic safety systems in the future.

 

Jul 17, 2009

And in case you're wondering how dangerous running red lights are, just watch this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/13/car-crash-video-pickup-tr_n_230461.html

 

Jul 17, 2009

The police chief is a stupid person who probably got the job due to affirmative action. This is only reason I can think of for such a stupid statement. She is cowardly for not giving people tickets face to face.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Not only do the DC Nazis Lanier, Fenty, and Nickles seek to overthrow the Constitution for our own good, they now bemoan technology that will help us to avoid them. When is somebody going to fire Lanier and put somebody in her job who understands and loves the Constitution?

 

Jul 17, 2009

And then they wonder why people call them "pigs."

 

Jul 17, 2009

Chief Lanier's comment is about as ridicules as VP Biden saying we have to spend more money or we'll go bankrupt. Of course if you know where the speed trap is you are going to slow. As a 20 year law enforcement officer I can say emphatically that the principle purpose for red light cameras and speed traps is revenue plain and simple.

 

Jul 17, 2009

This is a stupid tax.

I like stupid taxes... they have a certain Darwinian elegance to them.

Stupid people - smokers, gamblers, speeders, get taxed - so as to offset their drain on society.

Works for me.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Rick is right. Anyone using an iPhone is a coward.

HEH

 

Jul 17, 2009

Kill Cops. Kill Cops. Kill Cops. Kill Cops. Kill Cops. Kill Cops. Kill Cops.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Say what she/they may. Speed traps by officers in a car or by camera is law enforcements method of raising taxes.

Political figures are voted into office to do what the public wants. Not what they feel is right or the public needs.

So do not expect the general public to obey any law they were not invited to vote on.

 

Jul 17, 2009

Thanks for the tip Chief, just downloaded my copy.
Talk about cowardice, what do you call robot camera policemen?

 

Jul 17, 2009

Unfortunately governments think of themselves as businesses whose sole purpose for being is to raise money to grow the business.
Our forefathers would be ashamed!!

 

Jul 17, 2009

I guess I'll be the ultimate coward and NEVER visit DC. As if the politicians weren't enough, there are jerks like Lanier in charge of the PD.

 

Jul 18, 2009

One Billion...with a "B"...One-thousand-million dollars? That has to be a typo...right?

 

Jul 18, 2009

To paraphrase Ayn Rand: "There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt."

 

Jul 18, 2009

What do the Iranian's say? D**** to the Dictator! May God save the United States of America!

 

Jul 18, 2009

What's the matter chief, revenue down? Maybe if we can cut into revenue enough,your contractor partner wil have to fold the tents and go home.

 

Jul 18, 2009

COWARDS??

200 years ago this stupid chief would be TARRED & FEATHERED!!!!!!!!!!!!

Punk!

Taxing the people without REPRESENTATION!!!! Fees, Fees and more fees!

What's a 100 bucks here and a hundred bucks there -- Tyranny!

 

Jul 18, 2009

Lanier is a liar. The primary purpose of these traffic stops is not public safety but the generation of revenue. One has to wonder how many of the nuisance stops would be defeated if people had an honest chance in court and could take the time off to contest the issue.

 

Jul 18, 2009

What about the "cowardly Tactic" of police department’s stepping up in issuing traffic citations to generate increased revenue.

 

Jul 18, 2009

I'm so glad I moved from that area... I havent had a single ticket in any other state EVER. Only MD and VA. Now I know how to avoid those big brother eyes when I do return for visits. iPhone FTW

 

Jul 18, 2009

don't worry fellow americans. this govt will be dead wthin a couple of years. then we can live.

 

Jul 18, 2009

All who have posted derogetory remarks about the Ministry of Love's cameras will be found by our agents and vaporized. We will find you, we are watching you everywhere.
-Big Brother
p.s. Does anyone know where I can find John Galt?

 

Jul 18, 2009

Good thing they have solved the violent crime issue in D.C. Now they are free to generate revenue for the district.

 

Jul 18, 2009

Who is John Galt?

 

Jul 18, 2009

Alright then,

Take a large piece of cardboard, like a box torn up and flattened out, and write on it "Scamera" in big letters and put an arrow in whatever direction you want, then set it next to one of these traffic cameras with the arrow pointing to it. Just lets everyone know it's there and what it's for.

 

Jul 18, 2009

Cowardly??? What arrogance!! On the other hand, maybe she's really moonlighting as a salesperson for Apple and the cameras have missed it. I hadn't heard about that app, but now I might buy an iPhone just to get Trapster. Thanks Cathy.

 

Jul 18, 2009

Law enforcements job is to protect the rights of citizens, not to"save lives."

-Dave

 

Jul 18, 2009

The thing that irks me about people is they feel they have a right to go way over the speed limit. They think nothing about breaking speed limit laws. The simple fact is when you speed you break the law and you put others at risk. I think it's pretty arrogant to get all worked up about being caught speeding when you know it's the law to stay under the speed limit. Despite the fact that the cameras catch more people speeding (i.e. revenue), the laws are there to save lives. The mentality that it's ok to speed is the problem here.

 

Jul 18, 2009

I am far less concerned about a 45 year old in a Corvette and with a bit of a lead foot than some 21 year old chick in a Prius talking on her cell phone, driving slow and not paying attention to what's going on. Which do you think is more dangerous on the road? The 'Vette driver is way more focused and aware of what's going on around him, thus much safer. The later unfortunately are far more prevelant on the roads than the former.

 

Jul 18, 2009

boo hoo, our latest shakedown isn't working

 

Jul 18, 2009

There is absolutely nothing I can add about the wrongness of the article and the insipidness of the ignorant chief that has not already been expressed. However, if something is not changed in the 2010 elections you will start to see the ACORN folks taking over the responsibilites of the police in an attempt to remove the focus from the police, yet they will have the support of the police. While many think this is absurd, I would caution you to keep it in the back of the mind so you won't be surprised.

 

Jul 18, 2009

what is cowardly is to have a the national capital also be the murder capital...maybe the police commissioner should worry about that..

 

Jul 18, 2009

HarryM - Interesting comment. ACORN is the outfit the 'won' the Senate seat for Franken here in Minnesota (vs Coleman). Franken could not have taken this seat without ACORN's behind the scenes efforts. ACORN is deep into the AG's office, and the whole election system here.

 

Jul 18, 2009

Lot's of good comments above, don't know if this has been mentioned yet. If the chief is so concerned with saving lives, why doesn't she post a live police officer at these dangerous intersections to catch and warn people immediately. There must be some lag time between when the camera catches the alleged speeder or red light runner and when the alleged perpitrator receives a ticket or warning. If there is such concern for safety shouldn't such dangerous activity be stopped immediately and person warned not to do this again instead of allowing several more days for this to happen yet again while waiting for your citation? How may more times can you run a red light or speed in a week?

 

Jul 18, 2009

Police work is no longer about serving or protecting the public.
It's job is now creating revenue for the State at the point of a gun.

 

Jul 18, 2009

SO, You spend money on an app?? And you complain about the cops getting your money?? Seems like no matter what, the traffic cams will work for somebody! They need to be disabled. Or not speed and run red lights!

 

Jul 18, 2009

They wouldn't have to worry about the need to raise revenue if the would just cut out all the social entitlement programs like welfare, food stamps, school breakfast and lunch programs and all the other wasted monies and spend money on a one way ticket out of the country back to the dark continent where they belong.

 

Jul 18, 2009

Oh yeah, give the first ticket to the Chief so she can be the head tribes guardian. And give the second ticket to that Brown Turd in the White House.

 

Jul 19, 2009

Lil' racist dig there, eh Teeshot.
What a POS you sound like.

 

Jul 19, 2009

Teeshot,
you can get your point accross w'out getting racial.

Agreed affirmative action is caustic, and that 'affirmative action babies' are a problem. This kind of thing is happening all over corporate America too, they just call it 'sensitivity training' or 'diversity training' or some such nonsense.

Still, getting racial only works against things and isn't rite.

 

Jul 20, 2009

In this economy the salivating greedy politicians cannot resist the idea of turning cops into tax collectors.

Think of the Sheriff of Nottingham sending his soldiers to a peasant hut to collect the last crust of bread and throw the wage earner into debtor's prison. Then you understand Chief Lanier.

 

Jul 20, 2009

Here in England, speed cameras are there to slow down cars in trouble spots. As a result our government publishes the location of all speed and red light camera to allow this to happen. This police does not know what the HELL he is talking about.

 

Jul 20, 2009

Let me see, I am driving down the road, my I-Phone tells me there is a red light camera at the red light ahead. Since I know this I make sure I stop at the red light. Sounds like this is actually helping me to follow the the law not break it.

 

Jul 20, 2009

after reading this long list of comments I find that almost 100% are wrong!!!
The police officer is not the guy at fault. He had nothing to do with where the cameras were placed, and could quite really care less. He does not issue the ticket if you are caught on camera, a private company does and then sends you the ticket.

In this case the Chief suffered a case of HUA. Please do not lay her comments onto the beat cop.

I do not know how the DC local government works but in Calif. it is the CITY COUNSEL that decides if these cameras are to be put in use. It is definitely, nothing more than a money making thing. It's just not the cops fault.

The police keep stats on crashes and this is used as the excuse for the private company to install and monitor the cameras and issue the tickets.

Nothing at all to blame the police.

 

Jul 21, 2009

The problem is with the whole system, from the attorneys gernerals offices to the state county and city level, the mayors offices, the judges, through the police department management to the beat cops. If a street officer's performance reviews tie in to how many tickets they write, that IS part of the problem.

There's too much preasure being put on ticket writing to offset tax revenue collection. This whole thing is stack against the motorist and pedestrian and unnecessarily costing them money. It's mercenary / for-profit law inforcement and is also having a negative impact on public safety.

WI is running a $5 billion defecit and we're REally feeling it on the highways. Try driving from Minneapolis to Chicago sometime.

 

Jul 21, 2009

Lanier's comments confirm what most drivers already know. Speed cameras are about revenue not safety. If the IPOD slows you down, rather than the issuance of a ticket, that seems like a win-win.

 

Jul 22, 2009

$1Billion in red light camera revenue? I guess the stupid cops ARE calling the iphone app users "cowards" and other unflattering names. Wouldn't want the fat boys to do without their doughnuts!

 

Jul 22, 2009

We need a new mayor and police Chief
a person was just killed 2 block from my home and they are cryin about cell phone get yall stuff together solve some murders.

 

Jul 22, 2009

Why do people speed? That means that they think it's safer to go faster than then posted limit. So if the number of 'speeders' is high, that's an indicator that the prevailing community ethic is that the posted limits are too low, typically artifically too low, because as Sheriff Roscose says, "If we had higher speed limits, we'd be losing a lot of money."

 

Jul 23, 2009

I am for any technology that thwarts the use of Big Brother devices like speed cameras. These clearly are nothing more than money-making devices for the cops. In some communities, the police are more busy enforcing parking and running speed traps than they are in finding criminals and stopping real crime. I've heard a number of cops boast that, "The traffic is a cop's best friend", meaning that an experienced cop can use the excuse of a traffic violation to pull over and detain a citizen for practically no reason at all. The cops enjoy most of the advantages over the citizenry so it is a good thing when the citizens develop solutions to thwart the heavy hand of Big Brother government.

 

Jul 24, 2009

How does a camera slow down the drivers? You continue to drive the same speed before and after you pass it, so there is no increase in "safety". Why wasn't this asked by the reporter immediately after the comment was made by Lanier? This article points up the poor work done by today's (choke) "journalists" more than the stupidity of the comments made by Lanier.

 

Jul 24, 2009

The whole idea of speed enforcement (manned or electronic) is to keep the threat of a fine in the minds of habitual speeders. The intent is not that people should slow down for the 30 seconds it takes to clear a speed camera (or officer), rather they should learn to drive at or at least NEAR the speed limit for their sake and those around them. Many people will not listen to the voice of reason or count their blessings for avoiding regular near misses; these people must be "encouraged" to follow the laws by hitting them where they will listen, their pocketbooks.
I have no fear of speed enforcement of any kind, because I do my best to follow ALL traffic laws...stop signs, red lights, speeds, and just general courtesy. If you do not like the laws, lobby to have them changed. But until they are changed, please stop risking my life and my child's life by driving erratically at high speeds anywhere near us.

 

Jul 27, 2009

What is hard to understand about this? Cars are dangerous devices/weapons. Driving is a licensed activity. Acceptance of the license is acceptance of the rules of driving. Rules of driving are dynamic and change from time to time. Rules of driving include enforcement cameras.

Nullsaurus writes: "Larger issue: cameras to 'prevent' traffic problems now become cameras to prevent privacy later."

Get over it. This is just the beginning. The technology to cheaply video one's adjacent property and street is at hand. It's going to be in private citizen's possession before you know it. I already video the length of my street and could add a remote radar gun to the mix for just a couple of hundred more. There is no guarantee of privacy in the future in public spaces. If you can be seen you can be on video.

 

Jul 28, 2009

Anyone thinks that speed cameras are for safety are just sheep.

I drive by 2 cameras in montgomery county on my morning commute that are NOT located near a school or where there is high pedestrian traffic.

They are just a tax and nothing more.

So you duncecaps who think that those cameras are for your safety, think again bozos.

 

Jul 28, 2009

I speak from personal experience, that those cameras I pass by every morning have created congestion.

As I said in my last post, these 2 cameras are NOT located near a school or where there high pedestrian traffic.

 

Jul 31, 2009

Yacko,
Then why are these cameras outlawed in 14 states?

idiot...

 

Aug 7, 2009

I think this is a great way to use technology. Perhaps this police chief is worried her police officers won't be able to make their quotos by setting up "speed traps" and using "camera surveillance". This simply means her officers are going to actually have to do some real work instead of relying on technology for themselves. Here's a smart idea, since people have found a benefit for the iPhone, why can't law enforcement do the same thing with the device?

 

Aug 26, 2009

What's cowardly is traffic cameras. If you want to write a ticket, then stop the violator and issue a citation. This camera and ticket by mail is a rip off of the American People.

 

Aug 26, 2009

Speed laws and traffic control devices are designed to save lives; this is true. And while the tickets may be a deterrent, all they are really there for is to raise money. Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that. I can't count the number of times I've watched cops pull up to a red light, stop, see no traffic coming, turn on their lights, drive through the red light and turn their lights back off. No emergency to get to, they just wanted to run the red light. Until police officers start holding themselves up to the same standards of the laws that they enforce (traffic laws that is), people will continue to break those laws without an ounce of remorse.

 

Aug 28, 2009

does other phones besides iPhone capable of detecting police speedtraps? how about express music 5800? does this phone support the software?

 

Sep 4, 2009

omgfgdfsgssmdfsb

 

Sep 22, 2009

These tickets are illegal as they do not allow you to confront your accuser at the time of the infraction. Secondly, the municipality uses the US post office to mail you the ticket. In which case I would ignore it as there is no proof that it reached you. Put the burden of proof right back on the criminal politicians that are picking your pocket and violating your rights!

 

Oct 6, 2009

let me just say that it works, i was coming home and i was speeding and i was useing my i phone and it notifed me that there was a scanner being use, thanks i phone

 

Oct 27, 2009

Discover how to beat the cameras at defeatredlightcameras.com

What is Cathy Lanier afraid of? Losing money? Wah Wah!

 

Oct 28, 2009

No sympathy at all for the $1 billion in revenue that the District stands to lose. You go out of your way to give them a reasonable explanation, complete with photograph, for why the parking ticket you got is unfair--like the sign is unreadable--and you might as well be talking to a wall. There's no intelligence in those lightless caverns that pass for skulls. Let 'em collect unemployment. I'd rather pay tax dollars for them to do nothing than for what they're doing now. It'd serve 'em right!
__________
Levitra brand blog

 

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