Speed Cameras: More Debate

As an automobile enthusiast, I'm not a fan of speed cameras. I think they're generally a revenue stream disguised as public safety. The city where I live, here in Ontario, recently introduced speed cameras to our community.

At first, they said they'd put them only in school zones. This, of course, came with little protest since everyone agrees that people shouldn't be speeding in areas where children are present. However, I warned on local forums that this was just a gateway for them to expand the use all over the city, and sure enough, more cameras started appearing in what they called "high traffic" areas.

Debating with speed camera supporters, they instantly assume you dislike them because you intend to speed, and owning performance-focused cars, that's hard to argue with. However, I think if you look at it from a different angle, it becomes painfully obvious that the real goal is to generate revenue.

My car's GPS shows the posted speed limit of whatever street I'm on. So technically, the car knows the speed. Technologically, we'd have no problem creating vehicles that were physically limited to only go as fast as the posted speed of the streets they drive upon. So it would be physically impossible for them to be speeding, and thus there would be no need for speed cameras at all. Of course, it's not as easy as that. There are older cars this tech wouldn't work with, and people would straight-up hate it! But why?

I would assume most people see a speed limiter as a restriction of their freedoms. But if we're willing to accept speed cameras in our communities, which hand out automated punishment when you exceed the speed limits, aren't they also limiting our freedoms as much as a speed limiter in your vehicle would? Is it that we think we can get away with speeding outside the camera zones when "the law" isn't looking? What if there were insurance breaks for those who installed a speed limiter in their vehicles? What if all commercial vehicles were required to have them?

Like it or not, I think autonomous vehicles are opening the door to this future. Soon we will have taxis that drive themselves, buses, shipping vehicles, and I would bet that personal passenger vehicles that are not driven at all aren't too far off.

Once this happens, future people will be amazed that people of the past were ever allowed to control a vehicle by hand at all. When automation comes online, speed cameras, traffic cops, state troopers, and their revenue will be a thing of the past.

Wanted to share this vid posted when I talked about this subject on the Throttle House Discord channel.

Do Police Have a New Trick Up Their Sleeve to Catch Speeders?

Last month I took a long road trip from Toronto to Iowa to visit family.  I drove the Focus RS and was sure to bring my radar detector which is an Escort Passport 9500ix.  Along the way I got the normal chirps for X band warnings which are usually not important as well as some Ka & K band warnings that are usually the police.  My detector also has GPS to warn of common police hiding spots and speed/red light cameras.  So I feel I’m pretty well covered.  Many times during the trip I would get very aggressive warnings which were usually caused but those speed warning signs they put up next to construction zones.  You know the, “Your Speed is….” warnings.  Everything seemed to be working well.  I still keep an eye out but I’m certainly more relaxed when I’m using it.

However there were three times during the trip that the highway patrol was out in force.  Many patrol cars not even trying to hide pointing the radar guns right at the oncoming traffic but my detector didn’t even chirp.  What the hell?  Not even a sound.  If the officers were using laser my detector warns about that too (often too late) but it does warn me.  Are they using something new?

I went to the Escort website and looked at their top of the line model.  The Escort Max 360c is $599, connects to wi-fi connected ability as well as linking to your smartphone the thing seems really advanced.  But just like mine it covers X, K, Ka, & Laser bands, with no sign of a new band.  I’ve emailed Escort about this and have yet to hear back.

Here in Ontario radar detectors are illegal and believe me the police look for them.  If you are caught you are fined and the device is confiscated.  Because of this reason I only use mine in “dark mode” and at night.  But in light of my last trip I feel much less secure and wonder if it’s even worth the risk if its missing something.

I'll update when I know more.

Warning Letter From Ontario

So last week I received a letter from Ontario saying, "If you get another speeding ticket you could lose your license." I thought WHAT??  They listed my tickets and I got one speeding ticket in 2015 and then recently I got one ticket in 2016.  So just two tickets and they say I could lose my license??

Technically they said I COULD lose my license. They said each ticket is 3 points, after 9 points I could be asked to attend a review which would cost me $50 (another Ontario money grab) and they could take my license.  Then after 15 points I would lose my license without question.  So if we sift though all the scare tactics in their letter what they are really saying is that after 5 tickets I will lose my license.

They also reminded me that tickets usually lead to an increase in insurance premiums but I cleverly have removed that problem from the equation by using a US insurance company.  Fortunately Canada and the US don't talk.  So issues that happen in Canada aren't seen by my US insurance.  These keeps me immune to this problem.

Ironically both tickets were while I was driving my Hummer.  I had the bright orange Mustang GT, and now the insanely fast Shelby GT500 but I get my speeding tickets in the 5500 lb Hummer with a 5-cylinder.  I guess I must just be paying less attention when I'm just commuting to work and back.  Plus I keep a radar detector in my fast car which I do use occasionally and I have nothing in the Hummer.

Anyway, each ticket stays on your record for two years so February of next year one will be gone.  I really need to locate some place to have some fun with speed without the risk of a ticket.  Of course there are tracks but rarely do you get to have the track to yourself.  I'd feel much better getting to know my 662 hp monster if there was not risk of hitting others.  Wish me luck.

Traffic Cops Serve No Purpose Beyond Cash Generation

Today I’m driving to work in my huge H3, nothing special just rollin’ along with traffic.  I pop over the hill and there is a cop, I was driving with others and didn’t think much about it.  But nope he singles me out and pulls me over.  He walks up with the attitude of a bored checkout clerk, shoves the radar gun in my face and says, “You’re doing 75 km in a 50km. License and insurance.” I give him what he requested and he goes back to the car.

So I’m sitting there thinking how I was just driving to work, not bothering anyone or driving recklessly at all.  I then realize it’s all a load of shit.  These traffic cops have exactly the same job as parking enforcement, they are sent out there to generate money.  That’s it.  They tell us we broke the law but it’s a bunch of shit.  I wasn’t driving reckless, I was with others doing the same, and we we’re all just going to work.

One enjoyable thing about it was that I pulled over into a super small and busy street so his car was in the way and blocking traffic which forced him to get his crap done rather than delay me as long as he could.  So he came up to the car and said, “Here is your license and your ticket” and walked away.  He then got back in his car and did a U-turn pulling up to the intersection behind a school bus.  The light was red and I guess he didn’t want to wait so he chirp his siren and light at the school bus until it moved and ran the red light, once he got through he shut them off.  What an asshole.

There was really no point to the ticket other than to generate money.  He wasn’t serving and protecting anyone, he was just making cash for the city.  I’m glad my job isn’t that pointless. 

If someone is driving recklessly or unsafely certainly pull the guy over but to bother people just doing their daily grind to work is just bullshit.  I really didn't want to break out the radar detector just for my boring daily commute but it looks like I have to.  Yes I know they are illegal in Ontario but better than a ticket.

Car Stories: YouTube Video Series

I uploaded a few videos over on my YouTube channel.  One is about my first speeding ticket and the other is my views on street racing.  I mainly want to see people reaction and see if I want to do more stories.  Please feel free to check them out and leave a comment.  Thanks