I came across this story via Mike at MainStreetJ.com this morning, and it brings voice to my concerns about what the previous Mayoral administration (who shall remain nameless, but if you’re from Memphis, you know who I’m talking about) has set in motion.

I like how the article notes that these cameras just might be unconstitutional, which is my take on things. I have no problem if a police officer catches me, but I do not like it when I get a ticket by mail a week or two past my offense because a police officer sat down and reviewed that videotape with me on it. I like to face my accuser, but how am I going to face a camera or picture?

And before you go off about the cameras in police vehicles, those are manned by officers, and protects the public against the police on those rare instances where the police cross the line.

Two or three of the major intersections I pass through during my travels in Memphis has these cameras. They have drastically changed my driving habits around those intersections. Usually, when I get a yellow light, if I’m close to the line, I press the light. Most of the time it doen’t change to red until after I’ve passsed under the light. Usually, there is someone on my tail who is pressing the light as well. Now, because of those triple-damned cameras, I’m going to lock up my brakes as soon as I see yellow, and hope the guy behind me doesn’t try to press the light while I’m trying to stop.

These cameras do remind me of a story that went down in California back when I was stationed in San Diego in the 80′s.

You see, in California back then you had to have a license plate on the front of your vehicle as well. What the “Chippies” (California Highway Patrol) did was park a nondescript van on the side of the highway. Inside the van was a radar gun and a camera. If you were going over the limit, the camera snapped a picture of your car and its’ license plate, the driver and the radar guns reading of your speed. So, if you were violating the speed limit, they would send you a picture of a ticket, along with the picture  of you, your license plate and the speed.

Well, one guy wanted to be a smart ass. Instead of sending in his $40 check and being done with it, he sent a picture of 2 $20 bills.

The police were not amused, but they did have a sense of humor. They sent the offending citizen back a picture of a pair of handcuffs.

He paid the ticket properly.

I highly suggest that you do NOT do this in protest of the ticket. While it’s cute the first 47 times, pretty much after that they just issue an arrest warrant and let you figure out what you did to earn a trip down to 201 Poplar (the local jail and Justice center).