I think I prefer the robots to the very arbitrary human enforcement. The robots are all over Scandinavia, too, so they must be good.

Yeah, those cameras are really incompetent in collecting receivables.

I guess if you are an illegal immigrant in Arizona, the message is to keep moving...fast.

A lose-lose -- Probably sounds irresistable to SamRand now.

Then there's also abuses like these on top of all that:
http://www.kvoa.com/news/new-federal-report-on-red-light-cameras-raises-new-issues/

Smile! State photo radar to take its final pictures this week
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_f9ec1a84-ad52-5e7b-a2de-056ac235afbd.html

785,000 photo radar tickets thrown out (47 percent) in the first year because the driver and/or license plate could not be identified from the photo

Red light cameras have been proven to increase rear end accidents. Speed trap photos are easy to beat and do nothing but raise revenue.

Remind me again why we need these?

I don't think red light cameras are involved in the Arizona decision. Just speeding violations. And it is wrong to enforce speed limits because . . . . .?

Allan L. asks, "And it is wrong to enforce speed limits because . . . . .?"

Because the dangerous arrogant a**holes who violate speed limits don't like them.

And, Darrin? I'm pretty sure that the research shows that excess speed results in far higher mortality statistics.

Speed kills.

There was an article in a recent Car and Driver about speed cameras. Seems in some states, people are getting tickets thrown out because they are effectively proving that the speeds posted in certain areas are too low for the conditions, and this is supported by the government's traffic data. And they are using the government's own traffic data in court to do it. But certain municipalities are not changing anything because of the revenue stream.

On a side note, there was also a full-page ad in the magazine for a new radar detector that uses GPS tech and a database to alert you to red-light cameras and speed traps.

Yes Allan L, it is wrong to enforce speed laws when the reason to enforce them is all about money and not about safety. Getting a ticket in the mail doesn't correct unsafe behaivor like getting pulled over at the time of an infraction.

Speed control cameras should be ubiquitous, and red light cameras at every intersection with lights. It is against the law to run red lights or speed. Police can only apprehend a very small percentage of violators. Cameras are a much more efficient and fair method for enforcing the law. Anyone who disagrees with me is flat wrong. The citizens of Arizona seem to be making every effort circumvent and ignore the law. If they don't like the laws as they stand then they should change them. How about no speed limits, and no lights at intersections?

As someone who has actually driven where these were in place in Arizona, I can say that the flow of traffic was actually quite fluid in these parts (of course, during rush hour it was a parking lot ala I-5 North). Everyone would speed up until the cameras, then everyone would slow down to the speed limit, hit the cameras, then speed again to the next. It was like everyone was on the same page... and it was quite nice!

Godfry, yes speed kills but so does a lot of other things that are not illegal (such as stupidity). That wasn't my point, my point is speed cameras don't change people behavior. Tickets in the mail just make the average person mad but they still speed. Also getting pulled over by cops is not a pleasant experience but does not change peoples behavior. Flat out truth is people speed and always will no matter how many tickets are handed out.

So then what is the point of speeding cameras? To generate income not change behavior.

Now back to the speed kills quote. I don't know what can be done to stop speeding short of putting speed bumps ever 100ft. Instead of spending time trying to catch speeders lets use the law to hammer anyone in an accdident where speed is a factor.

Another reason that photo enforcement in Arizona is not working so well is that many offenders are not US Citizens. These violators can't be located; if located, why should they pay? They aren't citizens which means the court system can't collect.

Here in the Portland area my friend was run over on his motorcycle by a illegal alien that pulled out in front of him. Hillsboro police couldn't/wouldn't ask him if he was a citizen, except to ask him for proof of insurance. He didn't have any and left the scene. My friends insurance company did an investigation and determined easily that he wasn't a US citizen and gave up in redress against the illegal. This same scenario happens in Arizona frequently and even applies to photo enforcement. You just ignore it if you're an illegal, or the law has no way of garnishing any wages, etc.

Please don't call me a racist. It's just a fact.

Speed control cameras should be ubiquitous, and red light cameras at every intersection with lights...Anyone who disagrees with me is flat wrong.

Thank you, Mr. Stalin, Mr. Lenin, Mr. Chavez, or Mr. Castro.

Welcome to America. Yes, we have laws. But we also have protections from the government here. Want "Big Brother?" I know a big island in the Caribbean that'll suit your taste; or a really big country in southeast Asia. Break the law there, and you're herded into the back of an ordinary looking police bus - never to come out of again.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-06-14-death-van_x.htm