By FITSNews || It’s pretty hard to screw up something as simple as an Interstate, but this is South Carolina we’re talking about, people.
Not only are the vast majority of our elected officials perfectly willing to kill “golden egg-laying geese,” but judging from the look of them many probably would wouldn’t mind “having a go” with the geese first (Anderson County, represent).
Anyway, in the latest example of the Palmetto state’s ass-backward inbrededness screwing up everything it touches, the tiny town of Ridgeland, S.C. (in Jasper County) announced this week that it will use automated cameras to issue speeding tickets to motorists on Interstate 95. Offenders will receive a copy of the speeding citation in the mail as well as a link to a website where they can access footage of themselves speeding.
The cameras will be operational later this summer, and will be placed on a stretch of road where the speed limit is 70 miles per hour.
Hmmmmm …
Other than the invasion of privacy and obvious congestion problems this will cause (who the hell drives 70 miles per hour on I-95???), all we can say to this is “way to go, South Carolina.”
Ripping off passing motorists to grow local government … you just gotta love the “reddest state in America,” don’t you?
Pretty soon we’ll see these scams up and down all of our interstates, as well as toll roads that automatically deduct money from your bank account – whether you shared that info with the government or not.
Sheesh …
By CNChapin May 4, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Speed cameras are tyrannical and oppressive. Hopefully some people will keep the damned things disabled with their trusty 12 gauge once they are installed.
The damned things should not even be legal as they are counter to our system of justice and individual liberty. They’re also just cash machines for the government. Don’t even get me started on speed limits in general and the money traps that they are.
I guess it makes sense that the cops in SC are too lazy to even show up in person to try to enforce their tyrannical and oppressive laws. The damned Krispy Kreme “Hot Doughnuts Now” sign must be on 24×7 in Ridgeland, SC. The Barney Fifes down there need to find something else to do instead of harassing the citizenry who are hurting no one.
By EM May 4, 2010 at 9:37 pm
I don’t like the speeding cameras but after driving to NYC this past winter, I’m all for Tolls>entering and exiting SC, residents of the State get a free pass. We might as well make some money from all of the people going up and down our highways. Speeding tickets are just wrong though, unless the cop catches you.
By SCHotline May 4, 2010 at 10:09 pm
And of course we can count on the Ridgeland, S.C. folks to keep the cameras calibrated et cetera… What is the threshold, 5-10 mph over… Our quick guess will be 1 mph over.
What is important to remember here is that they are doing it for your safety, the heart you big-time!
By Liberty For Me May 5, 2010 at 6:22 am
CNChapin…what I was thinking but not that close….a scope would be a lot safer.You dont want your picture takin.
By The Colonel May 5, 2010 at 8:05 am
These things have been ruled unconstitutional in several places, have been demonstrated to not affect speeds and only rarely turn the profits the contractors sells the city/county on.
Charlotte actually lost money on their system when the state courts ruled that the profits had to go to the school system rather than the city. Rather than pay up, Charlotte turned them off (so much for supporting your local school system)
In Kuwait, they have them on the highways and the lowest fine is $100 – ranging to $1,000, the speed limit is 120 KPH (75 mph). I get passed like I’m standing still every time I venture on the highway.
By stimulus May 5, 2010 at 9:36 am
do a little research FITS. a known crook from HHI is behind this FOR PROFIT business…
By jimmy May 5, 2010 at 10:51 am
In Arizona, these became so controversial a referendum to get rid of them will be on the November ballot.
By TerryB May 5, 2010 at 11:06 am
Aren’t speed cameras that issue tickets against state law? Thought an officer had to ‘observe’ the offense and issue the ticket in person.
By flipnut May 5, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Please forgive me, I’ll be the jerk going the minimum posted speed limit, 40mph, through Ridgeland.
By Barry May 5, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Amazing. Speed and red light cameras are coming down all over the place due to citizens rightly asserting their constitutional rights, yet Ridgeland thinks it’s time to get in the game? Seriously? I can’t wait to beat one these in court.
I give it one year at the most before they are (quietly) turned off.
By Shelly May 5, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Maybe they got a load of a new report that ranks states on the number of speeding tickets they give each year. S.C. comes in 8th.
Maybe this is an effort to capture 5th place from Mississippi?
http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1419/top-10-states-for-speeding-tickets/
By bwam May 10, 2010 at 5:28 pm
100% we should have toll roads on I-95
By Jon David December 7, 2010 at 8:59 pm
The only logical thing to do is for everybody to put a copy of other peoples license plates on their cars and drive as fast as shit past the cameras. (maybe the mayors, a couple of senators, and the local baptist preachers) http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/26/2632.asp