Cow tipping
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It's no surprise in this economy that many states and localities, not to mention the federal government, have had to reach out for non-conventional sources for new revenues. Simply stated, the people are pretty much tapped out and scream loudly about tax increases, as they should.
But, nowadays, these states and localities have helped cottage industries spring up, signing contracts and engaging the services of vendors who use cameras to enforce both speed and traffic light laws. After all, depending on the jurisdiction, these tattle-tales produce tickets of usually around $40.00 for each violation. There is a split in the revenue between the county and the vendor, and there are usually enough violations to make it "worth it" for the county. Courts have held that the devices produce admissible evidence, and almost nobody will take off work to fight such a ticket in these tight times.
"Red light cameras" have become so ubiquitous, it's easier to notice an intersection that doesn't have one than to see one that does.
Speed enforcement has become another source of revenue. Not that anyone would go faster than the posted speed, mind you, but there appears to be a market for these cameras, and they apparently do work. (They work for the half mile or so from before the camera to just out of its reach past the device.)
Together, this machinery frees up the police for "real crimes" and "real traffic offenses" and yet still brings a stream of revenue to the jurisdictions that use them. The cameras snap photos of those traveling 12 mph over the posted speed, the red light cameras snap photos of people still in the intersection after the light has turned red. The speed cameras, 5 more of which Baltimore County plans to add to its arsenal in the next few weeks, are supposedly to be used in two areas: 1) school zones and 2) construction zones. (Watch for cow tipping...)
State law allows for a school zone camera "within one half mile" of a school. What that means is that the cameras, when placed, don't even have to be within spitting distance or even visual range of such a building. Of course, no one wants to see a child run over in the process of going to school. They make horrible hood ornaments.
So, in that case, you would think that school zones would only be enforced during daylight school hours, right? Oh, no. Wrong!! Many roll 24/7, just in case Junior decides he wants to be the first on his block to get to his home room... at 4:30 AM.
Baltimore County has recently experienced problems with some of this equipment, and I'm sure it goes on in other jurisdictions as well. On several occasions, some miscreant has shown... ummm... let's call it "displeasure" with unattended stationary equipment. In at least two occasions, the devices have exploded into flame, and others have suffered paint on the lenses and so forth.
Disclaimer: No matter what I happen to think of such equipment, I do not support vandalizing another's property in that or any other manner. (Not that I might not get a wry amusement out of it, just sayin...) And, to be perfectly clear, I am not guilty of any such incidents. I'm just observant.
Construction zones are the other area where the cameras are used. In case you haven't seen them, most give you a hint that they're there. You can't miss a lit sign showing "Your Speed." (Can you?) If your speed is > posted + 12 mph (in MD--your state's mileage may vary), the camera flashes as you go by, and sooner or later--usually sooner--you get your car's photo in the mail, along with a notice that you need to send in a check along with the remittance stub. They, too, usually run 24/7, whether there's an active work zone or not.
At some point, so the story goes, someone got a similar notice in the mail. He sent a photocopy of a $20 bill. They sent a photo of handcuffs. Won't vouch for the truth of it, but if someone wants to go to Snopes...
Here, though, is where the "tipping" comes in... the speed cameras in the construction zones. In these zones, the cameras are mounted to the front of a vehicle, usually a van. The vendor's operator needs to sit in the van and monitor the equipment for failure or whatever. Well, the question comes up about what to do when you "gotta go." I've noticed that the ones on the Baltimore Beltway (I-695) and I-795 north and west of Baltimore, have been provided with portable toilets, the outhouses, "spot-a-pots," or whatever you want to call them.
You got it! On several occasions, I've seen them overturned and lying on their sides. (See disclaimer above.) Yeah, somebody's got to upright them, and, yeah, it's a minor inconvenience. Yeah, even it makes a point of non-violent umm... protest.
But you gotta admit, it is somewhat funny...
