MiddletownJournal.com

By annoyed

July 7, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

And for the record… to anyone planning to avoid Middletown just because of these cameras… You’ll have to start taking the really, really long way around here soon, because cameras are going up everywhere. Including Hamilton, Cincinnati, Dayton, and I believe Franklin is talking about it, right?? Well… good luck with spending more gas money just to ensure you’re able to run a red light somewhere else and crash into the inicent family that had the green light!

By annoyed

July 7, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

Everyone in Middletown knows that the financial state of the city as a whole has taken a major blow. This includes the Police Dept. They haven’t been able to afford keeping an ample number of officers on the street at all times. These cameras have helped to free officers from having to monitor stupid drivers - and focus on other crimes (ask any officer, and they’ll enlighten you of how bad crime really is in Midd). I’m not for or against the cameras - I’m just annoyed by other’s dumb comments.

By Tom

July 6, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

The red light cameras are there soley for the purpose of making money for the city and the camera operators. They actually increase accidents according to independent studies. See www.thenewspaper.com for examples of this. I used to come to Middletown fairly often to shop or eat out, but now I just avoid it. If Middletown wants my business back, it should scrap the cameras.

By Queskappefs

July 4, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this

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By Doug

June 30, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

A post below suggests that if you don’t run red lights, you have nothing to worry about. This issue runs much deeper than that with much more sinister undertones. It is about erosion of your right to be treated fairly by those who wield power over you. It is about police powers being sold to private enterprise. It strips you of “innocent until proven guilty”. You can’t face your accuser. Anyone with a computer can generate photos of anyone doing anything. These systems can and do make mistakes

By James

June 30, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

Cowboy - it is perfectly legal in Ohio to enter an intersection under yellow.

Regarding thenewspaper.com - everyone affected by the camera situation in Middletown, or any other locale owes it to themselves to read the articles especially those pertaining to the impact of traffic cameras. They just don’t work for safety, and frequently (as Middletown is finding out) don’t line the coffers as much as anticipated.

Regarding the plate spray - it is simply clear coat and has essentially no effect.

By Sharon

June 30, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this

continuation - I provided phone records to the red light dept to document my call to the Middletown Police, etc. I fully supported the red light program because I used to think it was there to help reduce accidents - now I know personally that it is only way of making money for the city.

By Sharon

June 30, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this

I ‘slid’ through Central/Breiel red light in march due to black ice on the road-I immediately called Midd Police to report it and also talked to the Red Light dept-I paid my $100 and asked for an appeal which was offered feeling confident that they would be fair and refund my money-I did not hear from them on my appeal-I called and was told that they forgot my appeal but would review-next day I received a letter denying my appeal.I guarantee no one even reviewed it.

By Mark

June 30, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

I’m anti cameras. All they do is produce revenue, not safety. If you want safety, take a page from Morraine. They have traffic monitoring recorders at major intersections. When an accident occurs, Police and Lawyers can review the recording to determine fault, no tickets generated for x% to the city and xxx% to the Camera owner. When I was young, we would have spray painted all the camera lens so nobody would get tickets. Yee-Haw !

By Reason

June 30, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this

Let’s see if I get this straight, no running of red-lights….no ticket. No speeding…no ticket. No ticket, city of Middletown does not get paid and cameras are now useless decorations. Pretty simple to me.

By Chris

June 30, 2008 7:03 AM | Link to this

Cash Cow idea. I rerouted from Madison to Lebanon via Verity through Franklin. Two reasons are way better fuel economy (8 Lights from the Sunoco in Poasttown to red lion Versus 24 going through town) which 3 have cameras of which 2 work. I think the Save a lot camera near Kmart is the broken one. And the other reason is the fear of getting rear ended by a loaded coil truck with weak brakes when I have to lay skid marks because of these idiotic cameras.

By LUXXYLADY

June 30, 2008 1:01 AM | Link to this

THE MIDDIE HAS WENT TO HELL AND SO HAS THE TRAFFIC.. I HATE DRIVIN HERE ANYMORE, I GOT A TICKET AND THEY CAN GO TO HELL, I WISH I WOULD F**K MY CAR UP THAT I PAY FOR IN ALL WAYS TO TRY AND MAKE A COMPLETE STOP AT A DROP OF A DIME… THEY MONEY HUNGRY JUST LIKE ERRYBODY IN THE U.S.A.

By roadrage

June 30, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this

Doug- go online or go to youtube, there is a manuafacturer who sells the spray for $30-$40. I haven’t had a ticket in 25 years, but this is just about being padded down for money. The city doesn’t do this for safety. Its about helping the city make money for the court system, nothing else. It should be ruled unconstitutional, almost was, so why bother taking a chance. Just think how many thousands won’t come to Middletown for Midfest or the air show in September to avoid being fleeced.

By Doug

June 29, 2008 10:14 PM | Link to this

A quote in the above article says, “City manager Judy Gilleland wants feedback from city council” Hmmmm— City government would be more wise to listen to “feedback” from it’s citizens! People in general are begining to realize the difference between being protected, and being fleeced.

By Bob

June 29, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this

All the city of Middletown is after is money. Red light cameras are just one of the avenues our city officials take to get it. The cameras should be illegal. If I get a ticket from one of them the first person I will call is my lawyer. If I can find the spray paint the above people are talking about I will spray my plates to. I believe no police no ticket.

By daniel

June 29, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this

the cameras only cause problems, especially when people have to slam their brakes on in the rain to save 100 dollars it is ridiculous for them to waste the money they did installing them to where people like me… yes i got one back in 07 and i still have not paid it i took the city a busted brake line and reciept and they still said there is nothing they can do about it. the light had not even been red a full second.but i dont care they will never see the money from me.middletowns finest lol

By denied

June 29, 2008 8:01 PM | Link to this

After red light cameras whats next; j walk cameras, spit on the side walk cameras, shorts too tight cameras, etc. Big brother at its best. When you don’t pass the street repair levy, take it out of the “red light money”.

By Bizman

June 29, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this

This is clearly for revenue. We NEVER hear about how many fewer accidents there are. Residents should stand against the city government and throw them all out. Tell the city you want no more. There is no due process of law. They just send you a ticket and you have to pay it or else. There is no cop there to accuse you and you basically have no say. What kind of a justise is this? UNFAIR I SAY!! Down with the city of Middletown!!!! You’d do anything for a dollar.

By Normal Lear

June 29, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this

Firstly, do yourself a favor, and buy the spray which makes your plates invisible, this is solely about making money for the city, not safety. The worst and most dangerous intersection is on Breiel and Rosedale (and no light camera there!). Secondly, the negative “police state” mindset and depiction this causes leads to $hundreds of K in lost tourism, retail revenue, and home sales. Mistake city ledrs, another blunder to add to the many made.

By Doug

June 29, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

For a brief moment I thought they would be a good idea. As I learn more and more of the truth about these devices, the real reason they are spreading across the country like a plague, and they way they are designed to circumvent fairness to grab your money, the more I detest them. Want some truth? check out www.thenewspaper.com click on “red light camera studies”

By "J"

June 29, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

I see an awful lot of references to “decreasing revenues.” This should clearly indicate that the primary purpose of these cameras is not safety, but generating dollars for the city. If the goal was safety, then the city would be able to show if the decrease in citations correlated with a decrease in accidents; if it did, they would proclaim the program a resounding success! (By the way, it is not the vendor that is responsible for tracking accidents- it is the city, through police reports.)

By ajax

June 29, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

Kerry Byrd is right. I drive across town four times daily. Not only have I found alternative routes without cameras, but i can speed and not worry about having to come to an abrupt stop at these intersections. Also there are many of us who have sprayed our license plates with a reflective spray that prevents an accurate picture of the plate numbers. There is also a clear cover for your plates that distorts the numbers to unreadable when photographed. I had mine done while on vacation.

By ajax

June 29, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

Kerry Byrd is right. I drive across town four times daily. Not only have I found alternative routes without cameras, but i can speed and not worry about having to come to an abrupt stop at these intersections. Also there are many of us who have sprayed our license plates with a reflective spray that prevents an accurate picture of the plate numbers. There is also a clear cover for your plates that distorts the numbers to unreadable when photographed. I had mine done while on vacation.

By ajax

June 29, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

Kerry Byrd is right. I drive across town four times daily. Not only have I found alternative routes without cameras, but i can speed and not worry about having to come to an abrupt stop at these intersections. Also there are many of us who have sprayed our license plates with a reflective spray that prevents an accurate picture of the plate numbers. There is also a clear cover for your plates that distorts the numbers to unreadable when photographed. I had mine done while on vacation.

By deanna

June 29, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this

In some cases I believe the red light camera’s may be a good thing….on the other hand I believe that they cause accidents….people tryin to slam on thier breaks to get stopped in time. I was run off the road by a driver just the other day right at one of the camera’s and while i was trying to get myself back on the road I ran a yellow light which for all I know may have turned red….but im sure if i get a ticket that the person responsible for running me off the road will not get cited.

By Charlene

June 29, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

I think it is worse. I know people that had to stop fast because of the lights and got rear end by the person behind them. I think it causes more accidents. Not only that if some one else is driving your car you get the ticket. I was not the guilty person but im the one who gets the ticket.

By Ted

June 29, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

I would like to see the Journal report how many citations have been waived since the cameras were installed, how many rear-end accidents have occurred and how many red-light citations that the police department has written at other intersections throughout the city.

By Kerry L Byrd

June 29, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

I hate thease things. How much business is Middletown running off,extra wear and tear on side streets due to people dodging thease things,and if it’s for safety reasons why worry about revenue’s? Is the city ready for the law suit when someone lockes the brakes and gets run over by a eighteen wheeler in front of armco? If I don’t see one turn red or green I turn right. Safety reasons,Pa-Shaw. The city should be ashamed of it’s self.

By cowboy

June 29, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

yes, i think it is a good idea to have the cameras. it will stop drivers from going thru yellow and red lights…