Comments on: Cities Shortening Yellow Light Duration for Profit http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/ The Neat Side of the Web Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:00:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: ihateallex http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497717 ihateallex Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:35:20 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497717 This world is going to hell. As if parking enforcement isn't horrible enough, then stuff like this happens. This world is going to hell. As if parking enforcement isn’t horrible enough, then stuff like this happens.

]]> By: fsmarch http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497518 fsmarch Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:28:44 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497518 Several years ago, on my way to work, I went through one of the same intersections I do every morning. As I entered the intersection, the light flashed yellow momentarily, then red. Immediately, an unmarked NYPD car came out of nowhere, lights flashing. After being ticketed, I went around the block to see how short the yellow light actually was. The cop was parked by the light, and actually had the control box for the light open! He was controlling the light manually! I fought the ticket in court, and managed to get the points on my license dismissed, but still had to pay the fine. Talk about a rip off! Several years ago, on my way to work, I went through one of the same intersections I do every morning. As I entered the intersection, the light flashed yellow momentarily, then red. Immediately, an unmarked NYPD car came out of nowhere, lights flashing. After being ticketed, I went around the block to see how short the yellow light actually was.

The cop was parked by the light, and actually had the control box for the light open! He was controlling the light manually!

I fought the ticket in court, and managed to get the points on my license dismissed, but still had to pay the fine.

Talk about a rip off!

]]> By: OddNumber http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497466 OddNumber Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:40:55 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497466 Basing a budget for a community on traffic citations is irresponsible of the local government, and shortening yellow lights to prey on the public is reprehensible. I'll give these guys the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps the yellow lights were shortened to lengthen the green lights, which might ease traffic congestions slightly. Basing a budget for a community on traffic citations is irresponsible of the local government, and shortening yellow lights to prey on the public is reprehensible.

I’ll give these guys the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps the yellow lights were shortened to lengthen the green lights, which might ease traffic congestions slightly.

]]> By: luke http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497377 luke Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:07:16 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497377 I think the smiley looks evil. I think the smiley looks evil.

]]> By: John M. http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497205 John M. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 05:47:45 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497205 Actually, cities in America are finding red light cameras to be so effective that they're actually losing money. Many cities are shutting the cameras off. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23710970 Actually, cities in America are finding red light cameras to be so effective that they’re actually losing money.
Many cities are shutting the cameras off.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23710970

]]> By: Sean McKenna http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497173 Sean McKenna Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:12:27 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497173 I believe Ayn Rand put it best CheeseDuck. Loosely... "There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power 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." In short, yes, they want people to run red lights, as well as any of the other untold number of fools laws on the books. The fear and paranoia of breaking laws are powerful tools in the hands of the state. I believe Ayn Rand put it best CheeseDuck.

Loosely…

“There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power 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.”

In short, yes, they want people to run red lights, as well as any of the other untold number of fools laws on the books.

The fear and paranoia of breaking laws are powerful tools in the hands of the state.

]]> By: Justin http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497165 Justin Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:58:12 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497165 This is so outrageous! The whole scam ticketing for speeding, and running red lights is so preposterous! And the most absurd part is police will justify it that it saves lives and makes us safer. You want to go after the guys going 100 mph on the highway and running lights while the opposing light is green fine! But stop lining your pockets by shortening the yellow light, and keeping the max speed as low as possible. This is so outrageous! The whole scam ticketing for speeding, and running red lights is so preposterous! And the most absurd part is police will justify it that it saves lives and makes us safer.

You want to go after the guys going 100 mph on the highway and running lights while the opposing light is green fine! But stop lining your pockets by shortening the yellow light, and keeping the max speed as low as possible.

]]> By: Chakolate http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497145 Chakolate Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:23:33 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497145 In Florida, at least, the red light cameras are *causing* more crashes - people stomp on the brakes to avoid getting a ticket and get rear-ended instead. In Florida, at least, the red light cameras are *causing* more crashes - people stomp on the brakes to avoid getting a ticket and get rear-ended instead.

]]> By: Moon http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497036 Moon Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:06:13 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497036 This is SO unlikely. In Chicago, 3 cars run every red light anyway. All they have to do to write tickets is go to any light and write them. It's so bad that pedestrians cross in the middle of the block rather than at the light because at least in the middle of the block you have a few seconds to dodge the cars. This is SO unlikely. In Chicago, 3 cars run every red light anyway. All they have to do to write tickets is go to any light and write them.

It’s so bad that pedestrians cross in the middle of the block rather than at the light because at least in the middle of the block you have a few seconds to dodge the cars.

]]> By: darelparker http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497002 darelparker Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:27:30 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-497002 We have long yellow lights in my home town, but a nearby city has red light cameras installed, paired with what seem like unreasonably short yellow lights. This is obviously the city's subtle way of encouraging me to slam the gas pedal to the floor and accelerate through the intersection at dangerous speeds when I'm within 50 feet of the light. I suppose I could be wrong, but why else would they do it? We have long yellow lights in my home town, but a nearby city has red light cameras installed, paired with what seem like unreasonably short yellow lights.

This is obviously the city’s subtle way of encouraging me to slam the gas pedal to the floor and accelerate through the intersection at dangerous speeds when I’m within 50 feet of the light. I suppose I could be wrong, but why else would they do it?

]]> By: caitlin13 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-496985 caitlin13 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:04:04 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-496985 I'm in agreement with Xander. People already run the red lights as it is. Making it more widespread problem will have it's consequences. There are other ways to rip citizens off. I’m in agreement with Xander. People already run the red lights as it is. Making it more widespread problem will have it’s consequences.

There are other ways to rip citizens off.

]]> By: Thespian24601 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-496983 Thespian24601 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:01:29 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-496983 Sounds confusing. But if it works, it works. Sounds confusing. But if it works, it works.

]]> By: CheeseDuck http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-496939 CheeseDuck Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:28:26 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-496939 What the...? So they want people to run red lights? What the…? So they want people to run red lights?

]]> By: xander http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-496921 xander Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:14:21 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-496921 So they're hoping to force more people to run reds so they can make $ of more tickets. Hey, they're onto something. And when fatal collisions are more common, the money will spread around the community more thickly. So they’re hoping to force more people to run reds so they can make $ of more tickets.

Hey, they’re onto something. And when fatal collisions are more common, the money will spread around the community more thickly.

]]> By: Parker http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-496915 Parker Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:09:53 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-496915 Hello Chicago! Horrible parking police techniques (hidden and confusing signs) and short yellow lights with cameras on every corner. You can tell when a picture is taken sometimes by a quick flash. It took me so long to get used to the short yellow lights that I was afraid I had accumulated a bunch of tickets when I first moved here. None so far, only two parking tickets that were contested successfully. It's very common to see people run red lights here..maybe it's just overlooked the majority of the time. Who has legal control over city light lengths? Hello Chicago! Horrible parking police techniques (hidden and confusing signs) and short yellow lights with cameras on every corner. You can tell when a picture is taken sometimes by a quick flash. It took me so long to get used to the short yellow lights that I was afraid I had accumulated a bunch of tickets when I first moved here. None so far, only two parking tickets that were contested successfully. It’s very common to see people run red lights here..maybe it’s just overlooked the majority of the time. Who has legal control over city light lengths?

]]> By: jessleigh http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-496895 jessleigh Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:54:48 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-496895 I SWEAR I was just telling my boyfriend today that the yellow lights seemed shorter. I need to look for a camera next time. I'm reporting them! I SWEAR I was just telling my boyfriend today that the yellow lights seemed shorter. I need to look for a camera next time. I’m reporting them!

]]> By: sd http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-496894 sd Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:53:37 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/04/01/cities-shortening-yellow-light-duration-for-profit/#comment-496894 more successful list: 1. Install red-light cameras 2. Shorten the yellow light duration 3. ???? 4. Profit! more successful list:

1. Install red-light cameras
2. Shorten the yellow light duration
3. ????
4. Profit!

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