
Texans Weigh In On New Sneaky Law Enforcement Tool
I wrote an article the other day about a new law enforcement system implemented by some Texas counties that uses cameras and infrared lights to scan traffic and potentially ticket speeders without them ever being pulled over.
The system is supposed to encourage drivers to slow down and follow the speed limit. It also frees up police officers to focus on crime and other pressing matters rather than sitting under a bridge holding a radar gun.
I think most of us would agree that it's a good idea to find a way to get Texas drivers to think harder about the choices they make behind the wheel. They can mean the difference between life and death. We all use the highway and we all want to get home safely to our families.
The majority of reasonable drivers would probably say that speeding is bad, even if they do it occasionally.
However, I felt some Texans might be put off by the idea of "sneaky" traffic tickets that don't require a discussion with an officer.
You might remember back in 2019 when our state outlawed traffic light cameras. They caused an all-out ruckus and Texans were mad as hell about them.
I wondered if this new system for speeders might cause the same sort of fuss, so, I asked my readers to let me know how they felt.
I was bombarded with emails.
There were nearly 100 in my inbox when I arrived at work the morning after I published that article. I never get that big of a response when I ask my readers to holler at me and keep the conversation going. I thought others might be curious to hear what they had to say.
Here are some of the thoughts and opinions that stood out to me the most:
"So now when someone steals your vehicle and goes for a joy ride. You will be sent a ticket for speeding as well? Sure you can fight it and would have proof with police reports (assuming you reported it stolen) but that means you need time to fight in court and possibly hire counsel to fight it. So now not only did someone steal your car but you have to either pay speeding fines not incurred by you or you spend time and/or money to fight the fraudulent charge. All because a camera took pics of your car speeding? That is just my initial thought on this." - Scott
"Chrissy: We have become a lawless society, especially as relates to speeding, running red lights and stop signs and aggressive driving. The police cannot begin to limit such dangerous actions, which are hazardous to innocent drivers, without technology. The police's duty is to serve and protect. If technology allows them to better protect, then so be it. Lastly, the more a cop has to actually stop the car for speeding the more likely the cop or the citizen may be hurt. We had two cops killed near where we live in the process of a traffic stop. The decision not to use red light cameras is a mistake. Thousands of red lights are run a day in Texas. At some point, some innocent driver will be hurt or killed. There is no deterrent for the lawless criminals (average citizen) to run red lights. Thanks for your article." - Harry
"I’m all for speed cameras. Our law enforcement officers have more important duties to respond to than sitting on the side of the road watching for speeding vehicles. I say if you don’t like getting a speeding ticket this way or any way, stop speeding!" - Jerry
"Acceptability of this new system depends on: 1. Assured accuracy. There are 2 measurements of speed involved here; our speedometer vs. the LIDAR. Both may disagree. 2. The threshold for the determination of speeding. Is it 1 mph above the posted speed limit? 2 mph above? 3 mph above? 5 mph above? There must be a built-in tolerance to account for the differences in measured speed." - John
"Your photo enforcement article has one glaring inaccuracy. It does not ticket speeders. It tickets car owners. It does not identify the driver. Some car owners may be
companies or corporations. Please be more accurate with your writing." - Ryan
Thank you guys for taking the time to chat with me. If you'd care to give your take on this subject, I'd love to hear from you. Drop a comment on this article or email me at Chrissy.Covington@townsquaremedia.com.
Keep scrolling for more Texas-based news in the galleries below...
The Final Words Of 10 Texas Death Row Inmates
Gallery Credit: Chrissy
These 11 Texas Cities Ranked Among The Most Sinful in The United States
Gallery Credit: Chrissy
How People Die At Big Bend, The Most Dangerous Texas State Park
Gallery Credit: Renee Raven