City counting on you to do your part in helping to increase red light revenue…
You might think I’m being cute, or snarky but that’s the reality when it comes to the increase as reported in City mulls $120 fines for traffic violations. The City is counting on the increased revenue to help the budget which means, they are counting on residents of NWO to run red lights and to speed through intersections:
“No one likes to raise fees but, quite frankly, we are trying to balance the budget,” Mr. Sobczak said. “It’s not out of the range of acceptable fees, and the administration is counting on increased fees to help balance the budget.”
As pointed out in the Blade article in 2007 $606,025 was generated from the cameras with hopes of generating 2.5 million this year. The Blade makes it easy for those of you who want to help out the budget to know exactly where all of the red light cameras and the speed cameras are, so speed up just a mile or two (but be safe) or if there is no traffic, go through that red light (we don’t want any accidents) and help the City out of it’s financial woes at:
Toledo’s photo camera locations
• East and west on Hill at Byrne
• East and west on Alexis at Lewis
• West on Alexis at North Detroit
• East on Airport and north on Reynolds
• North on Front and east on Main
• East and west on Dorr at Secor
• East on Monroe and north on Secor
• North on Secor at Laskey
• North on Reynolds at Heatherdowns
• East on South and north on Anthony Wayne Trail
• South on Summit and east on Cherry
• West on Alexis at Jackman
• South on Anthony Wayne Trail at Western
• South on Talmadge at Sylvania
• North on Douglas at University Hills
• West on Laskey at Douglas
• West on Heatherdowns at Cass
• West on Laskey at Lewis
Toledo’s fixed-speed camera locations
• Westbound on Alexis at Jackman
• Southbound on Anthony Wayne Trail at Western
• Northbound on Anthony Wayne Trail at South
• Southbound on Talmadge at Sylvania
• Northbound on Reynolds at Heatherdowns
• Eastbound on Main at Front
• Northbound on Douglas at University Hills
After all, if you all slow down and follow our traffic laws by driving safely then imagine the horrible affect it would have on our budget…
Well in one way it’s great to increase the fee because that would manipulate drivers to slow down and not run the red – now we have this idea that we can use the “revenue” from these cameras to help balance the budget. The two of these stips will definitely stop people from running that light, no one likes paying high fees especially if it’s to balance the budget. This little scenario will be interesting to see pan out in the near future. So if you’re against the 3/4 percent tax then make sure you don’t fund the budget by running the red lights.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:02 pm“After all, if you all slow down and follow our traffic laws by driving safely then imagine the horrible affect it would have on our budget…”
Isn’t that what some have been saying, all along?
February 6th, 2008 at 3:04 pmlol
February 6th, 2008 at 3:30 pmpretty much
Lisa, I think you are being snarky in this one.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:47 pmMaybe just a little…
February 6th, 2008 at 3:50 pmMy wife gave her contribution just last week. $95 on Douglas @ University Hills
February 6th, 2008 at 4:11 pmIf she really had Toledo Pride, she would have waited until the fee increased. Maybe she can do it again. After all, it’s for Toledo!
February 6th, 2008 at 4:14 pmSounds like the cigarette tax to me. Jack up the tax, become dependant on the revenue while trying to pursuade citizens to give up smoking, which will eventually create a need for a new tax because the government will never cut a budget.
February 6th, 2008 at 4:22 pmNow guys, if you are running through the red lights which you shouldn’t, you will eventually pay the fine. You can call it contribution or not, but a fine is a fine–don’t break the LAW!
February 6th, 2008 at 4:29 pmIt’s just a thought but, if they are trying to balance the budget, call me crazy here, couldn’t the maybe find a way to cut some of the expenses?
I mean balancing can be done in two ways:
1. Raise revenue.
2.Cut spending.
Last time I checked, they both worked. . .
But, then again, government never willingly cuts anything….
February 6th, 2008 at 4:29 pmRockets, that’s true, however the budget depends on people breaking the law, else there would be no chance at increased revenue. Of course it’s logical to tell people to not break the law but the statements being made support the basic assumption that people are not going to follow the law. If everyone followed the law, that would be 2.5 million less for the budget.
If Tom Waniewski’s proposal was adopted, people would slow down, avoid being cited and there would be decreased revenue.
February 6th, 2008 at 4:36 pm“If Tom Waniewski’s proposal was adopted, people would slow down,”
Maybe.
We have yellow lights now and they are for some, a message to speed up to beat the red.
February 6th, 2008 at 5:03 pmThe cameras are for revenue? Wait a minute. Didn’t Chief Navarre tell all of us that the cameras were not for revenue generation purposes, but for safety? Chief wouldn’t lie to us…. would he?
February 6th, 2008 at 6:08 pmLOL ” Chief wouldn’t lie to us…. would he?”
It’s not as much a lie as it is a half truth, distorted reality and alternate mentality. Sure there are SOME safety benifits, but by and large, it’s about the $$$$$$$$$. I know that a person can convince themselves of just about anything with proper motivation. In his mind, I’m sure it’s not a lie.
Here’s the fly in the ointment though: While some consider cashing in on criminal behavior by people that break the law as poetic justice, I lean towards it being just shy of criminal in and of itself when it comes to traffic violations. They can nickel and dime ya to death in a routine stop, safety inspection, or a speeding violation. Now that a robot eye can do the ticketing, Lord only knows how far it will go.
I am against breaking the law, be it minor or serious. I try to live by the rules even when I think they are outrageous. I had a conversation with the Mrs. about her ticket and the impact of her speeding on our finances and the risk to her and other’s safety.
In the end, I simply go back to the Council Prez’s quote, (Mr. Sobczak said. “It’s not out of the range of acceptable fees, and the administration is counting on increased fees to help balance the budget.”)
What kind of Fool says something so telling about the capabilities of the elcted to do their job? Out loud in public no less!
Here’s a clue, rather than comming after the citizens for taxes, weaknesses and civil fines as a means to balance the budget, try choping off the stupid, foolish and inane spending on crap we don’t want or need and concentrate on the basic services and infrastructure improvement. 13 elected nitwits spent a Million Dollars on an empty mall building and a cracked parking lot. Don’t even get me started on the countless studies, flowers and other nonsense. If I were to tally up the wastefull and foolish spending the Administration and Council have done, I’d no doubt double the loss of the trash fee and speeding tickets.
Here’s what works for the average Joe: Don’t write checks your ass can’t cash. Don’t borrow more than you can afford to pay back and don’t count on money you don’t already have.
I honestly believe it’s time to cut off as much money as we can and force them to prove their worth or admit they never had any to begin with.
February 6th, 2008 at 7:46 pm“I honestly believe it’s time to cut off as much money as we can and force them to prove their worth or admit they never had any to begin with.”
How would we do this?
You helped out with the recall campaign and people seemed to want the current people in office.
Council and the Administration are simply not willing to put the city into a worse fiscal shape through deliberate actions.
What are we to do or say to them, that has not been said already or done already?
February 6th, 2008 at 9:49 pmSome only learn when they are hit in the bank account to be fiscially responsible. By way of voting down the 3/4 %, by contacting and insisting to the Council that the garbage fee be recinded, not reconstituted, by insisting no cuts can/will be made to safety and essential services will in effect help them make the choices that will cut what is waste and save what isn’t. If they are told what they cannot cut, they will then be forced to cut what is left…essentailly their own budgets.
In tough times we all learn to live without certain luxury items such as landscaping, entertainment, parties and hosted dinners. We learn to pack a lunch rather than eat out, we learn to save and conserve supplies and we do our own laundry and housework. We type our own letters, wear our clothes longer and we set “policy” to accomodate the lack of income. We turn the heat down, the lights down, we do a whole host of things to avoid losing it all. This can and should be applied to the costs of administration.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:13 pm” people seemed to want the current people in office.”
Don’t mistake apathy and fear for “want”.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:15 pm“By way of voting down the 3/4 %”
Yup. And if the public votes it in, we can blame the public for voting it back in.
From what I have read about the 3/4% some in council are pushing for it, as it will continue to fill the void, in lieu of the lack of economic revival.
“we set “policy” to accomodate the lack of income.”
Yup and these many years the policy was not even though about, but there were denials on the population decline adding to the revenue decline and the lack of oversight is undeniable.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:22 pmJust curious…
What happens if a person receives one of those red light/speeding tickets in the mail, but just never pays the fine?
Can you eventually get arrested?
Would this action have an adverse effect on a credit report?
Are there points issued against your driving record?
Does that Red Light Camera company give up after sending several threatening letters, in favor on concentrating on the other saps who will likely pay the fine without question?
Does Joey the Neck pay you a visit and whack you in the knees with a club?
Just curious.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:35 pmIt will end up on your credit report and your wages could be garnished if you don’t pay it. It’s not a criminal offense.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:40 pmNo points.
“Does Joey the Neck pay you a visit …….”
Not unless you count Code Enforcement and Engineering with nic names..hehehehe
For a collection of “A & B Teamers”, they seem to follow only 1 montra: Plan A = Preside over one of the longest running declines in known history while bankrupting the City in multiple ways. Plan B= See “Plan A”.
A & B Team(s) along with A & B plan(s) = Apathetic Voters. They don’t care because they haven’t been shown the other side. They can’t believe becasue they they have been entrenched in this foul subculture of political dodge ball for 3 1/2 decades. When the decline began, so did the blame and shame game. Neither side wants to own up that they had no forsight and no plan or idea that stood a chance in Toledo of working.
Add to this, our beloved Mayor and his internationally embarassing antics that earned him a spot in in a card game. A Amyor that has made the news for some very typical behavior that has been present in the last 2 terms. Aside from this carnival stuff, the sad thing is he just hasn’t hit the nail on the head. Nothing is working out. Things are getting worse, expenses are going up…way up, and jobs, people, business are leaving in convoys. It’s not so much Mr. Finkbeiner’s acceptance of this as it is we the people. We, the tax paying citizens need to care, pay attention and VOTE! We, the people need to find a candidate to run for Mayor and get them elected.
I respect the Mayor for the years of dedicated love and passion for Toledo. I respect anyone that can do what he’s done and go this far. However, I can no longer respect and support him as an effective leader. “Effective” I define as Moral, Honest, Compassionate, Driven, able to achieve desired results in a timely manner, and in full possesion of Common Sense. Driven is not enough on it’s own.
February 6th, 2008 at 11:17 pmWhen a policeman stops a driver to issue a citation, it is the driver of the car who gets ticketed, not the owner of the car.
But with the Red Light Camera ticket… who gets the ticket? The person driving the car?… or the owner of the car? If it’s the owner, how can the owner be the one responsible for paying the fine… or getting pay garnished, or getting a hit against his/her credit report? That’s BS.
Isn’t it?
February 6th, 2008 at 11:21 pmThe ticket is sent to the owner of the car. There is a place on it to identify the driver and thus it transfers to them. As is the case with my Mrs., I am the title owner but she was driving.
February 6th, 2008 at 11:24 pmSafety?? The Real Purpose?
Toledo City Counsel is getting ready to vote on the proposed increase in the fines for red light camera violations and stationary speed violation systems which includes increasing the percentage of the fine that goes to the city as apposed to the national manufacturer.
A recent Blade article, details the proposal, and cites to the fact that it appears it will not face any opposition from counsel members.
Notice what is not in the article, any MENTION of increased safety. It appears it is simply a matter of increasing revenue to help balance the budget while other aspects of the law enforcement and criminal justice budget are slashed.
At least the Blade and the administration aren’t even trying to hide the ball. Its all about the CASH.
The A-Hole.
February 7th, 2008 at 9:03 am“Its all about the CASH.”
Dropping the needle in the same groove, if we do not run the lights and do not speed through the intersections, then the cash is not there.
It does not effect me, as I pay close attention to the cameras. I want my cash in my pocket.
Administrations and councils not being upfront, who knew.
Administrations and councils not seeking answers to the nagging questions, like how to raise revenue, through means other than fees and fines, who knew.
What, are they, doing to address the larger loss of revenue and not the band aid approach.
February 7th, 2008 at 9:08 amPerhaps it is simply my warped perspective on life contributing to the discussion, but it occurs to me that installing more of the red light / speeding cameras in Toledo may actually be for an unlisted secondary effect. Slowing down the traffic in the city, even in a small way, delays the population escape that is happening here. While only a delaying tactic, it may be the best that city government has to offer.
Passing the .75% tax again however, may reverse even this short-term gain.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:45 amChad -
So the ticket was addressed to you, as you are the registered owner of the car, right? You were forced to tell the city who was actually driving, in order to get the ticket out of your name, right? You were forced to rat out the Mrs, huh? How’s the couch? LOL
Here’s my thought…. Since its a civil fine, not a legal one, it opens up some creative possibilities. Let’s say the Mrs gets another citation. As before, the ticket comes to the registered owner. You ignore it. Let it go to collection. When the collection agency contacts you, you have the right to dispute the bill. At THAT point, you respond to the collection agency that the bill is not valid, as you were not driving the car at the time the photo was taken. Then ask that the agency prove you were the driver, or remove the entry from your credit report. I’m wondering if that would be enough to get the collection agency to withdraw the matter. I don’t think the collection agency can stray from their rules because of the lack of due process this system has built into it…..
February 7th, 2008 at 10:10 pmInteresting suggestion MTB, we should get someone to test it out for us. Any volunteers?
February 7th, 2008 at 10:13 pmHere! i will try it if you pay
, here in Europe we have the same problems and you end up usually at the court if you dont pay.
February 11th, 2008 at 4:26 pm