Most of you know that I live in metropolitan DC.   Which means that bsides all the cameras the Feds have installed to spy on us, we have a plethora of traffic cameras.

Given my tendency to drive just a little quickly (stop snickering!), it was not unusual for me to get an envelope or two- or three- demanding that I donate a $100 to the coffers of the district government.  On more than one occasion, I was actually positive I wasn’t speeding.   Because I knew there was a camera (one of 87, in the small space that is DC) in that location.

And, on more than one occasion, I recalled there were tons of cars around me- and the “photo” they provided as “proof” had none.  I wondered if the DC contractor (there’s a new one now) deliberately doctored the photo, a la the Soviet Union of old that airbrushed out pieces of the image they didn’t want folks to see anymore.   After all, there should be nothing standing in the way of the DC government’s desire to rape the public of $ 179 million each and every year.

But, it gets better.  Most of you know I moved about 6 months ago.  It seems that the DC government assumes that you never do that.  Because they mailed a ticket to my old address.  And, not surprisingly, the “efficient” US Postal Service never forwards my mail.  (They have been consistent in that action my whole life! Even if you pay them the $ 1 fee to do so.)  So, the envelope was returned to DC.  Then, they looked up my address and sent me a note that I now owed them double because I didn’t pay my fine in the requisite time.

Yup!  DC felt it had no obligation to send the citation to the proper address.  But, I should pay them extra for their lassitude.  Oh, I won’t be politically correct.  For their stupidity.  Until I threatened to bring a lawsuit for postal fraud.

And, you know what?  A report was just issued by the DC Inspector General.  This 115 page audit (which focused solely on the 2013 fiscal year) detailed that the traffic enforcement bureau uses “arbitrary” decisions as to who is really speeding, when several cars pass the speed camera.  (I am not going to talk about the parking ticket quota that is, indeed, imposed on the “meter maid” brigade.)

Even DC officials know that their system is contrary to accepted law in the US.  One was quoted in the report stating,  “…one of the beauties of parking, it’s like the [Internal Revenue Service]. If you get a parking ticket, you are guilty until you have proven yourself innocent . . . . And that’s worked well for us.”

As I suspected, when I got that ticket that made no sense, it was due to the DC rule.  You see, it is their policy to impose a fine on the vehicle closer to the camera.  (I drive in the right hand lane almost all the time.)  Because there is no way to absolutely discern which vehicle in the photo, which is taken by the speed camera when the speed sensor is activated, is the one actually speeding.

Oh, and it’s not just DC that rips us off with such “traffic enforcement”.  Nope.  American Traffic Solutions makes between $ 4800 and $ 6400 for every speed camera in the district.  (Oh, they ‘only’ make a little more than $ 3K for every red light camera each and every month.)

Coming to DC?  Caveat emptor!

Share this: