Should Red Light Cameras be legal?

Should local police be allowed to install red light traffic camera’s in your city or town?  That very debate is taking place nationwide as many citizens have taken their protests to the internet. I feel like many of these claims are completely valid and should be pointed out.

Do Red Light Cameras increase public safety?

Well this depends who you ask. Most if not every study on red light cameras, done by red light camera manufacturers or by the local police who install these cameras say they increase overall accidents by close to 30%.

Many independent and transportation department studies say that the cameras don’t decrease accidents and may even cause more rear end accidents due to quick breaking to keep from running a yellow light.

How do Red Light Cameras catch traffic violators?

Cameras look for two basic violations:  Clearly running a red light or not coming to a complete 2 second stop during a right hand turn on red.

It’s is estimated that 70% or more of all red light camera violations are for not stopping completely during a right hand turn on red, which is far less dangerous in most cases than speeding through a busy intersection.

How are Red Light Cameras are a local government money machine?

Many locations have made well over a million dollars of red light cameras just months after installing them. As the economy worsened in 2008, red light cameras sprang up in over 5,000 U.S. cities. If you choose to not pay the fine, it may show up as a debt on your credit score or even a lien on your home. According to many, it wont be long before every traffic light in the country is fitted with red light cameras.

How do you feel about red light cameras? Should modifications be made to the current system? Is the idea even legal?