RE: Speed Cameras, etc in Texas

["Lewis, Gerald" <gerald.lewis@domain.elided>]

Actually, Texas did experiment with photo speed cameras.  The cops and
municipalities loved 'em.  LUCKILY, a judge with a sense of justice (is this
an oxymoron?) ruled that under the law the defendant had the right to
confront his accuser and since he could not confront a machine that the
tickets the camera issued were illegal.  They have since disappeared.

In addition, Texas has done alot to reduce those notorious local speedtraps
that are used to generate local revenue. Under state law today, 70% of all
local traffic fine revenues must be sent to the state.  In fact, a local
jurisdiction was just fined $750,000 for failing to send in all of the
required revenues from traffic fines.  Since then, most (not all) of those
notorious speedtraps have disappeared.  It is no longer financially
rewarding for the municipality, i.e. no longer worth the effort just  to
collect revenues for Austin.

In the last 20 years living in Texas I have received 2 speeding citations.
One in my old 74 GTV (80+ in a 50, justified) and another in a 96
Cougar...not justified.

Jerry in Houston

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