Reject bill to bring new traffic cameras

The Transportation Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly may approve H.B. 5429 (speed ticket cameras). For more than a decade, profit-driven traffic camera companies have repeatedly pushed for camera legislation in our state, even though transportation studies prove these cameras actually cause an increase in accidents and only serve to make money for the operators and cash hungry cities/ states. Twenty-seven states (including Connecticut) do not have laws permitting their use and are the targets of these companies. However, if they are such a boon to public safety, why have cameras been banned in 18 other states? In addition to increasing accidents, consider the following evidence regarding camera company activities.

A cursory check will reveal hundreds of reports of intentionally improper camera operation to boost ticket production, as well as federal and state indictments against company owners, employees, government officials and politicians, with charges ranging from bribery to falsified testimony and bogus statistics. For example, the Senate chairman of the Illinois Transportation Committee pleaded guilty to accepting cash payments in exchange for stopping proposed legislation to ban cameras. An FBI investigation into another company revealed personnel lied to public officials and delivered bribes to local and/or state politicians in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington. No alleged “traffic safety initiative” has ever been so rife with corruption, scandal and abuse. These cameras have little to do with highway safety, but are designed solely to make money for a select few. Our representatives are elected to act in the best interest of the people and therefore, as in every past legislative session, they should reject this bill.

Charles Wailonis Ansonia