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For those that have never lived in DC, the cameras are everywhere. Inside the district they have a bunch of white lines where you are being measured for speed

For those that have never lived in DC, the cameras are everywhere. Inside the district they have a bunch of white lines where you are being measured for speed so that the camera's two photos' time stamps can (presumably) be examined to make sure you were actually speeding.

dailyrorschach 13y ago
The speed limit sign before the camera area also has a yellow sign beneath it saying Photo Enforced, I've found it very easy to avoid getting a ticket.
eli 13y ago
My impression is that they're also pretty popular among residents. I think many--probably most--DC residents support the cameras, at least in principle. See, for example, the comments in this thread: http://www.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/comments/1jagry/yes_some_people_are_actually_calling_for_more/ http://www.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/comments/1jagry/yes_som...
- zzleeper 13y ago
  Well, most people driving in DC actually live and vote in VA and MD. For DC, it's an easy way to "tax" commuters and get a nice revenue stream
- incision 13y ago
  Well, DC is the special case in the area. Over a third of residents don't own a car and just a hair under half (49.5%) walk or use public transit to get to work. Contrast that with MD or VA where the numbers are 11% and 6.6% respectively. In MD/VA 83%/87% drive or carpool to work. (http://factfinder2.census.gov/ http://factfinder2.census.gov/) I expect the majority of people ticketed in DC are those commuters coming from the surrounding suburbs. It's logical that people who aren't negatively affected by the cameras have a better opinion of them. Even then, the survey linked in that thread shows a fairly narrow majority (55%) approval. There's more cheering for red light cameras and requests for box block cameras than traffic cameras in general. Anecdotally, most find red light cameras more acceptable than speed cameras. Personally, I commute into DC every day, but rarely by car. I don't mind the cameras outside of the uncharacteristically low-speed ones posted along empty stretches on the main arteries in and out of town. They're automated toll collectors targeting tourists and first-timers. Also, what a typical Reddit thread. Every comment that's remotely critical of the cameras has been downvoted negative despite some perfectly valid points.
  - eli 13y ago
    DC is also a special case because it's the only place in America where it's against Federal Law to implement a proper commuter tax.

dailyrorschach 13y ago

The speed limit sign before the camera area also has a yellow sign beneath it saying Photo Enforced, I've found it very easy to avoid getting a ticket.

eli 13y ago

My impression is that they're also pretty popular among residents. I think many--probably most--DC residents support the cameras, at least in principle. See, for example, the comments in this thread: http://www.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/comments/1jagry/yes_some_people_are_actually_calling_for_more/ http://www.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/comments/1jagry/yes_som...

zzleeper 13y ago
Well, most people driving in DC actually live and vote in VA and MD. For DC, it's an easy way to "tax" commuters and get a nice revenue stream
incision 13y ago
Well, DC is the special case in the area. Over a third of residents don't own a car and just a hair under half (49.5%) walk or use public transit to get to work. Contrast that with MD or VA where the numbers are 11% and 6.6% respectively. In MD/VA 83%/87% drive or carpool to work. (http://factfinder2.census.gov/ http://factfinder2.census.gov/) I expect the majority of people ticketed in DC are those commuters coming from the surrounding suburbs. It's logical that people who aren't negatively affected by the cameras have a better opinion of them. Even then, the survey linked in that thread shows a fairly narrow majority (55%) approval. There's more cheering for red light cameras and requests for box block cameras than traffic cameras in general. Anecdotally, most find red light cameras more acceptable than speed cameras. Personally, I commute into DC every day, but rarely by car. I don't mind the cameras outside of the uncharacteristically low-speed ones posted along empty stretches on the main arteries in and out of town. They're automated toll collectors targeting tourists and first-timers. Also, what a typical Reddit thread. Every comment that's remotely critical of the cameras has been downvoted negative despite some perfectly valid points.
- eli 13y ago
  DC is also a special case because it's the only place in America where it's against Federal Law to implement a proper commuter tax.