pixel_of_moral_decay t1_j80q9bc wrote on February 10, 2023 at 7:45 PM

Reply to comment by cC2Panda in Driver, Pedestrian, Cyclist: no matter what I am, I feel unsafe traveling by lordleft

It’s technically possible. There’s also excellent software for detecting fake and modified video even beyond the stuff available commercially used by law enforcement and governments. So the argument of fraud is bullshit.

But a lot of people with deep wallets benefit from officer discretion. So it won’t happen. There’s no technical reason why all speeding and red light tickets can’t be 100% automated. Technology exists. The only reason is you can’t show a camera your PBA card or name drop your cousin, or your seat on the city council. And that’s a deal breaker for too many people.

mrwigglez t1_j828kyd wrote on February 11, 2023 at 2:10 AM

It also means fewer police needed and less opportunity for police to arrest people on other things after initiating a traffic stop. I’ve heard that police unions are actually a major reason places don’t automate these things.

pixel_of_moral_decay t1_j82fm0h wrote on February 11, 2023 at 3:08 AM

There’s not much evidence to back that up, and a lot to discredit that. Most obviously:

They aren’t doing it today, so it’s not like someone is losing work. There’s data to back that up. This isn’t a job they are doing.
It’s work unions actively complain about having to do citing danger to officers.

111110100101 t1_j82wkrn wrote on February 11, 2023 at 5:49 AM

> There’s no technical reason why all speeding and red light tickets can’t be 100% automated.

NYC has widespread red light & speeding cameras, and for a certain class of reckless drivers it’s useless because they will either use fake/obscured plates or simply not pay any of the tickets. Even suspending people’s license doesn’t really work because most people will just drive on the suspended license anyway.