There’s news in today’s papers that the Patrick administration is proposing to allow cities and towns across the state to put up cameras to catch people who run red lights at intersections.
This is an issue that has been circulating around the Legislature for a long time. Red light cameras would have obvious benefits for safety, and they would take some burden off direct enforcement.
But at the same time, there is evidence from other states that red light cameras are ineffective, harmful to privacy, or that they actually cause accidents in some cases. This story in today’s Boston Globe tells more about the pros and cons.
But the Globe story also suggests that Governor Patrick is making this proposal mainly as a way to allow cities and towns to raise money, and that worries me.
Even though I staunchly support cities and towns and want to find ways for them to improve their fiscal situation, I think it’s bad policy to enact laws that relate to public safety just as a way to increase revenue. It seems like the Governor wants to raise money with red light cameras, and if they happen to improve public safety at the same time, then that’s all the better. In my opinion, if we ultimately decide to allow red light cameras, then it should be based on a set of priorities that are the other way around. There are other ways to help cities and towns, like passing a municipal reform and relief bill that I filed that would give municipalities tools to cut costs like health care and pension costs.
What do you think? Do you think red light cameras would help or hurt public safety here in Massachusetts? Do you think they’re being proposed to make our roads safer, or just as another way to raise money? Please post your comments below. I’d love to hear from you.
