Beat Tickets! - Why cities use photo radar
Most cities justify their purchase of photo radar by citing accident statistics and tout their pursuit of saving lives. What they do not mention, at least to outside sources, is that it is a great way to make money for the cities.
Cities implement photo radar under the guise preventing accident in "high-accident" areas. They claim the photo radar has saved lives and prevented accidents. The only thing that is not mentioned is that the causes of accidents in the "high-accident" locations is not just speed, but other factors possibly combined with speed.
The real reason cities use photo radar is for revenue generation. Cities are able to gain huge amounts of money for little or no cost due to personnel or equipment.
The city contracts companies that specialize in the field of photo radar to maintain and implement the devices. Every night, employees from these companies look over the pictures. They cross reference the license plate number with the Dept. of Motor Vehicles to see to whom the vehicle is registered. They then send out a ticket in the mail to the address on record for that person.
If the offender looks female, they will send it addressed directly to the female sounding name that is listed on the registration, and vice versa for males.
For every ticket that you pay, a percentage goes to the contracted company and the rest goes to the city. Not a bad arrangement, eh? Money is also the reason why you sought this information, instead of paying a fine in excess of $100.00 in most cases.
Photo enforcement is a money making tool. The more money it can make without cost to the city the better. To lower the cost the city lets the photo-radar company do a lot of the work. They send you an officious letter to the registered owner of the vehicle, hoping they have the driver.
This letter states that you have been caught on film for speeding. It also gives you four alternatives; 1) Admit guilt and pay the fine, 2) Attend a defensive driving class (at your expense), 3) request a trial be set by mail, or 4) tell them who the actual driver was.
The letter usually gives you very little time to respond, say a week. Most people dash off to the mailbox with check in hand. This is what the letter is designed to do. This is how most people respond to "official notices.
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