It's for the public. It's for the Children. It's for the common good. Er, well, no.
PHOENIX – Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano says the deployment of new photo radar or other speed enforcement technology on state highways is all about public safety. But her proposed state budget counts on the anticipated speeding fines to help erase a projected revenue shortfall.
The proposal, submitted to the Legislature late Friday, anticipates $120 million in revenue the first year, including $90 million in net income after expenses from the statewide effort. Even bigger dollar amounts are expected in future years.
The state faces a projected revenue shortfall of at least $1.2 billion in the fiscal year that starts July 1.
While some states use photo radar and similar technology on a limited basis in areas such as construction zones, experts said Arizona is in the vanguard of moving toward a widespread deployment of speed technology on highways.
"It wasn't designated primarily for revenue generation but since we have it (and) it works, we want to move statewide," Napolitano said. "We made that decision before the whole budget issue arose. Now we take advantage of it and use it for law enforcement highway safety purposes."
The governor's budget aides said Friday they could not immediately provide details on assumptions used to project the revenue estimate, including the numbers of expected violations.
Expect more of this – and for the offenses that will be heavily fined to become less and less severe. This will be the next cash cow to be bled dry by politicians like Napolitano. She sees every citizen not as a person but as a golden goose waiting to be plucked. It is all about the right of the state to take from the people, not government for the people. It's for the common good.
And all that lovely, lovely money.
You got it pretty well pegged, Gaius. And another thing, who is to say if they are even catching speeders? They can take pictures of whoever they want and just call it speeding and send you the bill. Some cities have been caught doing that with their stoplight cams. They just set the cameras to take the pic before the light turns red and the motorist is simply screwed. It is interesting that more and more, Government prefers to fine people rather than send them to jail. Gee, I wonder why?
Here in the Old Dominion we had a set of new harshly punitive fines to be applied to residents only. We’re finally getting them shut down but, ye gods of war and little fishes, they were dumb. I think you’ve written about them before, Gaius.
So, what happens if all of the people in Arizona decide to obey the speed laws in protest? There goes that cash cow.