In Tucson yesterday I noticed a sign alerting drivers of photo-enforcement of the rules of the road. As a bicyclist I should probably approve, but I don't have the guts or the foolishness to ride my bicycle on these busy highways anyway, despite all their efforts at putting in shoulders for bicyclists.
What happens to a traveler who is caught by one of the surveillance cameras going ten miles per hour over the speed limit? Is a $350 ticket mailed to his mail box in South Dakota or Livingston, TX? There must be a time limit for paying the ticket. What if the traveler only requests his junk mail be forwarded every month or two. Has the speeding ticket now become a $1000 ticket? Does he need to appear in court because the ticket is unpaid? Will he need to hire an attorney?
At the end of the year, I wonder how the traveler would categorize that expense? I would put it in the "transportation" category or whatever you call the cost of being mobile.
Now please don't tell me that this wouldn't happen to a traveler because it's "unfair" or shows no "common sense". You aren't living in Mayberry anymore, and the post-9/11 police state is not Sheriff Andy. You should have realized that much when you saw the surveillance cameras going up in the first place.
If you got the ticket the old-fashioned way -- with a police officer stopping you-- you'd have an easy time paying it off punctually. (You'd would make sure the police officer used your mail-forwarding address; then you'd ask how long it takes to mail out the ticket; finally you'd call your mail forwarding service to see when it arrives.)
But with photo-enforcement, a ticket could show up any time with no warning. The penalties about late payment assume that you're a normal person who gets mail every day. No allowance will be made for someone with a "weird" lifestyle. The post-9/11 neocon reich is hostile to the very idea of mail box addresses. This is just speculation. If somebody knows different, I'd like to hear it.
If you got the ticket the old-fashioned way -- with a police officer stopping you-- you'd have an easy time paying it off punctually. (You'd would make sure the police officer used your mail-forwarding address; then you'd ask how long it takes to mail out the ticket; finally you'd call your mail forwarding service to see when it arrives.)
But with photo-enforcement, a ticket could show up any time with no warning. The penalties about late payment assume that you're a normal person who gets mail every day. No allowance will be made for someone with a "weird" lifestyle. The post-9/11 neocon reich is hostile to the very idea of mail box addresses. This is just speculation. If somebody knows different, I'd like to hear it.
Comments
A friend of mine was recently hurt by a driver that was texting and didn't notice my friend on his bike. Careless driving Toronto cases are more and more ofter and innocent people might be hurt because of car drivers...The law should protect us but from dangerous specimens that are usually everywhere.
A judge, even in a state where you do not live, has the authority to suspend your driving privileges in that state, even though you do not have a drivers license there. That notification will be sent to the state where you do have a drivers license and that one will likely also be suspended.
I agree with the "Too much government" comment. It's getting harder and harder to duck it, too. Wait until they launch those 30,000 drones. ARGH!
There are mail forwarding services that will let you know, via email usually, when you get mail. Some will even open and read the mail to you over the phone or scan and email you a copy. I'd talk with my forwarding service so I got notified, at least when something official looking shows up.