The large fine is due to company operaating the cam's, gets their money first. Thus no cost to local govt. for cameras & operations.

But this is real simple: Don't break law & you will never get a ticket.

That's where the supposed "safety" issue becomes moot. IF it really WAS for SAFETY then it SHOULD go against your record, so you experience discipline for said crime and LEARN from the experience.

So ya .. the OP is on point. Ahhh the recession even affects the city .. desperate times brings desperate measures. LOL

PersoanlyI preferr that they fine the devil out of law breakers & make them pay more of the govt. bills.
There is a fuel surcharge on freight to help companys pass on the high cost of fuel. why not put a 10-20% surcharge on tickets, to pay for police depts. fuel. Then not raise tax's?

A few years ago I made a mistake at the red light. Well I turned and was going down our bypass this weirdo was mad at me warped in front of me and about side swipped me. Then flew on down the road. I was like your an IDIOT!!! Where are the cops when you need them. When you dont need them their there. And when you DO need them their nowhere around!!

that's a big part of the problem ...

cameras make the cops think they don't need to be patroling the roads so much and now they can hang out at the donut shops more and extort favours from hookers.

We tried some speed cameras in Ontario ... and then scrapped them.

partly because you don't know who is driving so you can only ticket the owner of the car ... even if its stolen. And there is nobody there to catch the car thief.

It also lets the drug transporters go free because nobody is stopping them. Basicly speed cameras are a bad ... lazy ... stupid idea.

red light cameras are a bit more acceptable but parked police cars work just as well as a deterrant.