Red Light Cameras - REMOVE THEM NOW

Fear and Terror.... that's what I experience everytime I go through the intersection of a red light camera.  The reason? What to do...When you go through the light and it turns yellow right as you get there do you go through?  Do you Stop?

I have long railed against the stupidity of a red light camera.  Today, I experienced the stupidity first hand.

While going through a light on Mexico Rd in St. Peters, the light turned yellow. I was going almost exactly the speed limit, but I realized that I might have an issue going through the light.  So to avoid getting a ticket from the red light camera, I slam on the brakes.  My tires screech and I'm not going to stop, so instead I'm forced to turn right due to the momentum of the car to avoid being in the middle of the intersection.

When I slammed on the brakes, a car behind me had to slam on his brakes, and the car behind had to do the same thing.  Luckily none of us hit each other.  However, what if we had?  This accident would have been cause by the red light camera.  Clearly it was 100% safe for me to go through that light.  However an accident could have been due to it.

In my opinion , Red Light Cameras need to removed immediately.  I belive them to be unconstitutional and have not met one person that disagreed with me.  Even the Governor of Missouri, Jay Nixon has commented on them saying "A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a picture in and of itself is not a conviction."

I encourage anyone to comment below that agrees.  I will be sending a letter to elected officials asking for a ban of them and will include any comments I receive.

Click Here for a list of all Red Light Cameras in St. Louis