Texas DOT to Install Speed Cameras
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: College Station, TX
Texas DOT to Install Speed Cameras New type of speed cameras on :
State Highway 6 near College Station
link: http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/18/1800.asp
State Highway 6 near College Station
Texas DOT to Install Federally Funded Highway Speed Cameras
Despite the opposition of the state legislature, the Texas Department of Transportation proposes a federally funded speed camera test.
Despite the near-unanimous opposition in the state legislature to the use of speed cameras, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is moving forward on a proposal to deploy photo radar on state highways using federal gas tax funds. Legislation awaiting Governor Rick Perry's signature prohibited only municipalities -- like Marble Falls and Rhome -- from installing automated speeding ticket systems. It was silent on the possibility of a state-run system (read legislation).
TxDOT began searching in April for a vendor that, using federal funds, would allow the agency "to assess and evaluate all elements of an automated speed notification system." Once selected, the vendor would operate an average time speed camera test for at least six months on Interstate 10 near El Paso and State Highway 6 near College Station.
Time-distance ticketing systems use multiple cameras spaced far apart on a freeway. Each car is photographed once as it enters the first section of road. Miles later a second photograph is taken that allows the vehicle's average speed to be calculated from the time it took to travel between the two locations. In use in Britain under the trade name SPECS, these cameras are commonly referred to as "yellow vultures" and are among the most lucrative in the country.
In its request for proposals, TxDOT cited success of speed cameras in the UK, which generated £120 million (US $240 million) in revenue in 2003, and in Washington, DC, which has generated $217 million in revenue with its red light and speed cameras since 1999. TxDOT's vendor will send notices -- warnings at first -- to motorists driving just 5 MPH over the limit with an accuracy level of +/- 2 MPH, meaning those driving just 3 MPH over the limit could receive a photograph and letter in the mail.
The River Cities Daily Tribune, which first reported the story last week, noted that TxDOT also ordered Marble Falls to remove its speed camera van from state highways in April citing safety concerns.
"How hypocritical is that?" Marble Falls Mayor Raymond Whitman told the Daily Tribune. "I have a bit of a problem with it, not because they're using the camera, but because if it's unsafe for us to use, how can it be safe for the state to do it?"
Despite the opposition of the state legislature, the Texas Department of Transportation proposes a federally funded speed camera test.
Despite the near-unanimous opposition in the state legislature to the use of speed cameras, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is moving forward on a proposal to deploy photo radar on state highways using federal gas tax funds. Legislation awaiting Governor Rick Perry's signature prohibited only municipalities -- like Marble Falls and Rhome -- from installing automated speeding ticket systems. It was silent on the possibility of a state-run system (read legislation).
TxDOT began searching in April for a vendor that, using federal funds, would allow the agency "to assess and evaluate all elements of an automated speed notification system." Once selected, the vendor would operate an average time speed camera test for at least six months on Interstate 10 near El Paso and State Highway 6 near College Station.
Time-distance ticketing systems use multiple cameras spaced far apart on a freeway. Each car is photographed once as it enters the first section of road. Miles later a second photograph is taken that allows the vehicle's average speed to be calculated from the time it took to travel between the two locations. In use in Britain under the trade name SPECS, these cameras are commonly referred to as "yellow vultures" and are among the most lucrative in the country.
In its request for proposals, TxDOT cited success of speed cameras in the UK, which generated £120 million (US $240 million) in revenue in 2003, and in Washington, DC, which has generated $217 million in revenue with its red light and speed cameras since 1999. TxDOT's vendor will send notices -- warnings at first -- to motorists driving just 5 MPH over the limit with an accuracy level of +/- 2 MPH, meaning those driving just 3 MPH over the limit could receive a photograph and letter in the mail.
The River Cities Daily Tribune, which first reported the story last week, noted that TxDOT also ordered Marble Falls to remove its speed camera van from state highways in April citing safety concerns.
"How hypocritical is that?" Marble Falls Mayor Raymond Whitman told the Daily Tribune. "I have a bit of a problem with it, not because they're using the camera, but because if it's unsafe for us to use, how can it be safe for the state to do it?"
They're using them already in the Phoenix area. They nabbed a guy driving a Hyundai rental car over 140 mph. Didn't know they would go that fast. 
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2013 Corvette Grand Sport A6 LME forged 416, Greg Good ported TFS 255 LS3 heads, 222/242 .629"/.604" 121LSA Pat G blower cam, ARH 1 7/8" headers, ESC Novi 1500 Supercharger w/8 rib direct drive conversion, 747rwhp/709rwtq on 93 octane, 801rwhp/735rwtq on race fuel, 10.1 @ 147.25mph 1/4 mile, 174.7mph Half Mile.
2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
2009.5 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0L, A6, AFR 230v2 heads. 506rwhp/442rwtq. 11.413 @ 121.29mph 1/4 mile, 168.7mph TX Mile
2000 Pewter Ram Air Trans Am M6 heads/cam 508 rwhp/445 rwtq SAE, 183.092 TX Mile
2022 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 S&B CAI, Corsa catback.
2023 Corvette 3LT Z51 soon to be modified.
Custom LSX tuning in person or via email press here.
sounds like they just want to make more money. i bet they end up getting taken down eventually when people start bitching about getting tickets b/c the people they let borrow their car was speeding.
Freaking A...another tax...go figure.
They tax us to pay for the systems to catch us speeding so they can tax us again! This BS has to stop!!
Looks like someone will have to scope out the areas once installed and take them out with a rifle when no one is around
That will show them!
They tax us to pay for the systems to catch us speeding so they can tax us again! This BS has to stop!!
Looks like someone will have to scope out the areas once installed and take them out with a rifle when no one is around
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On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 199
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From: College Station/Kingwood, Texas
Originally Posted by pdanrichey
Looks like someone will have to scope out the areas once installed and take them out with a rifle when no one is around
Teching In
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 47
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From: san antonio, tx
insurance companies are going to fight...reason is if you get to many tickets you get dropped or placed into High risk if you are not on it yet...which means higher premiums, resulting in looking for other insurance companies to pick them up, also a big loss for insurance or a big gain...losing cliental or gaining revenue on higher premiums...no one is going to be happy...that sucks i am not driving back home to visit...i already got a ticket going to el paso for going 6 miles over....i will have tickets lined up....people will be going broke.
I vote No for this!
I vote No for this!
Originally Posted by Mike96z
sounds like they dont wanna give us anything and want to take away all our freedoms I say **** TxDot
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From: Fort Worth / Crowley / Burleson, Texas
Originally Posted by jimmypop13
I wrote to Rick Perry about this but i'm sure it won't do anything
What does Rick Perry have to do with it? He doesn't run TxDot, it runs itself!
It's the cities that have to install them to and fund them. TxDot is only going to "test" their viability.
Think of it this way ya'll. Speed camera's will illeviate "traffic cops". So, you'll have MORE POLICE Officers out on the beat than standing on I-20 in Arlington with frickin' radar guns.
Get ya'll thumb out your *** and look at the BIG picture, not just a "Tax" or "Well, more revenue for the city".
OR:
If the camera's take over the traffic cop duties, than the police departmnet won't need as MANY officers to patrol the highways for speeders, thus decreasing city taxes to pay for the officers.
IF you are afraid of getting caught speeeding, DON"T speed, but don't bitch about HOW they will catch you if you DO DECIDE to speed!
Originally Posted by Splitz
ummm...that a very LEFT comment.
What does Rick Perry have to do with it? He doesn't run TxDot, it runs itself!
It's the cities that have to install them to and fund them. TxDot is only going to "test" their viability.
Think of it this way ya'll. Speed camera's will illeviate "traffic cops". So, you'll have MORE POLICE Officers out on the beat than standing on I-20 in Arlington with frickin' radar guns.
Get ya'll thumb out your *** and look at the BIG picture, not just a "Tax" or "Well, more revenue for the city".
OR:
If the camera's take over the traffic cop duties, than the police departmnet won't need as MANY officers to patrol the highways for speeders, thus decreasing city taxes to pay for the officers.
IF you are afraid of getting caught speeeding, DON"T speed, but don't bitch about HOW they will catch you if you DO DECIDE to speed!
What does Rick Perry have to do with it? He doesn't run TxDot, it runs itself!
It's the cities that have to install them to and fund them. TxDot is only going to "test" their viability.
Think of it this way ya'll. Speed camera's will illeviate "traffic cops". So, you'll have MORE POLICE Officers out on the beat than standing on I-20 in Arlington with frickin' radar guns.
Get ya'll thumb out your *** and look at the BIG picture, not just a "Tax" or "Well, more revenue for the city".
OR:
If the camera's take over the traffic cop duties, than the police departmnet won't need as MANY officers to patrol the highways for speeders, thus decreasing city taxes to pay for the officers.
IF you are afraid of getting caught speeeding, DON"T speed, but don't bitch about HOW they will catch you if you DO DECIDE to speed!