L.B. red light cameras unnecessary expense

Red light cameras have been prominent on the corners of Long Beach since the late 90s, but many of these cameras have been turned off since August pending the renewal of a contract with Nestor Traffic Systems, the company providing the recording system. Two weeks ago the contract between Nestor and the City of Long Beach went before the City Council. The new contract was approved 8-1.

The Long Beach Police Department has pledged not to issue questionable citations. With the new contract the city predicts revenue of around $464,000, but would pay Nestor a flat fee of $240,000 per year for the cameras and $192,000 for the program's staffing. So far the overall accident rate has dropped 35 percent from 40 to 26, and many believe that this decrease is due to the red light cameras.

Many people believe that the prospect of revenue from the red light cameras has created an incentive for the city to change the timing of the yellow lights so that they are shorter, or changing the angle of the cameras to increase income.

These lights are an example of government overstepping its boundaries. The fact that the city feels it necessary to monitor citizen's behavior with cameras is unwarranted.

Although the problem of people running red lights is serious with extreme consequences, monitoring citizens with cameras is an extreme and unnecessary precaution. Rather than dedicate $432,000 to a system that invades privacy, that money could be dedicated to hiring more police, or strengthening the Long Beach police force in another way. That amount of money dedicated to watching people's activities is a superfluous expense that would be better spent on something less intrusive.

Many people question the reliability of these cameras. The machines may malfunction or their timing may change and they might take pictures of cars that have not violated any laws. Since the cameras are a relatively new device there may still be some flaws with the program that could take result in the issuing of tickets to innocent people.

Rather than using scare tactics to make people behave responsibly we should explore other options that would leave a more permanent effect. When people notice that there is a camera watching they often will behave, not out of consideration for other motorists but for fear of getting a ticket. Drivers who run red lights usually do it habitually and will continue where there are no cameras. These lights are far too expensive to put on every corner so they will only be implemented at five intersections in Long Beach. This will only cure the problem in selected areas rather than changing it everywhere.

It is absolutely necessary that the government respect the rights of its citizens, and these cameras violate our right to privacy. It is undisputable that running a red light puts other citizens in danger, but the need for cameras to monitor behavior is an excessive precaution.

George Orwell wrote about a society were government monitored the actions of everyone all the time. With the passage of the Patriot Act and the installation of cameras that monitor our behavior his prediction seems more true to life.

Lauren Williams is an undeclared freshman at CSULB.