1945

Which is the issue people often cite with traffic cameras and the like, which the robot would solve, so at least it makes sense in that regard.

1946

I don’t know. If you know the camera is in the area, most traffic slows down, doesn’t it?

1947

The idea is more: “Prove I was driving the car at that time.”
Depending on the placement of the camera and lighting, you could make a pretty good case against any tickets dished out by such a system.

And often people don’t know they are there. If you’re driving in a strange town you aren’t going to know where the traffic cameras are, or if they even exist.

1948

Actually, does it matter who is driving the car? I think it’s one of those cases that the car gets the ticket, not the driver.

1949

What? No, that’s not how it works.

If I drive your car 200 mph and get caught you don’t lose your license, that would be dumb.

1950

It absolutely matters. Personal anecdote time.

Back when I was 16 and had gotten my driver’s license just a few months earlier I accidentally passed a school bus that had its stop signs up. I was young and dumb and I just thank god I didn’t hit a kid crossing the street or something.

But anyway, a cop pulled me over and I got a ticket. And that sort of ticket is rightly very punishing. I think it was a $250 fine and a mandatory license suspension, which for 16 year old me felt like a death sentence. So I found one of those traffic court lawyers who for 2x the cost of the fine would represent me in court. Keep in mind this was 1989. No internet, no online communities, etc. I actually have no recollection as to why I decided to do this or how I found the lawyer.

But anyway, fast forward to the trial. The state calls the cop, who says he saw the red Toyota Celica pass the bus, yada yada, basically making the case.

The state rests and my lawyer stands up, moves to dismiss because at no time did the state identify me as the driver of the Toyota Celica. The judge agrees and case dismissed.

That was a crazy year.

1951

Okay, but we are talking about speeding tickets. In Maryland, they are 40 dollars, 0 points and you have the option to name someone else as the driver (considering that it’s your car, maybe you should have idea of who is or isn’t driving). And yes, I would rat you all out in a heart beat. Most of you are so old, you shouldn’t be allowed behind the wheel in the first place, having learned to drive back when the Model T was first coming out.

Anyway, this surprises me. I’m almost positive that in Europe, you must pay the fine, or give the information of the person driving the car, so that he or she can pay the fine (which differs in the US). Europe tends to be more crazy about cameras and speeding in general, as well as not allowing 16 years to drive a car (which has to be one of the top 10 stupidest things about the US, although it still doesn’t get as dumb as the 2nd amendment).

Anyway, some of the laws are changing with safe driving cars coming around, allowing the car or the system be held liable instead of the owner.

1952

Here in Washington State, you have to clearly mark with signs any traffic cameras- red light/blocking intersection, and speeding. I actually got a ticket a few weeks back for not fully stopping at a red light when I was turning right. On the notice they mailed to me was a link to an online video of the incident, and a note in bold type that said it was not considered a moving violation, but a parking one. Which neatly avoids the ‘but it wasn’t me driving’ defense.

1953

IIRC there are occasional proposals for putting remote “off switches” in cars. Cops like those. There are also probably consumer devices that you can activate via a smartphone that do the same thing. OnStar may have this feature.

[edit]

And someone already mentioned it.

1954
1955

I wonder if these chips actually think these guys are the actual perpetrators of these crimes. If so, then they’re the actions of sunshine who is trying to actually enforce Justice, albeit in a misguided manner… But if they know these guys aren’t actually the criminals, then I have no idea what their goal is.

1956

My guess is they thought, “If he didn’t do it, he did something else.”

1957

I may have watched too much of The Wire, but it could be pressure from above to clear cases. Gotta have good looking numbers or you get heat from those above you.

1958

Probably not the best plan for a suspected DUI either.

1959


1960


1961

Holy crap. I can’t believe this happened over a year ago and nothing has been resolved. How does a Brain, heart & throat go missing from a body?

I wish there were more facts - if he just went to PA to resolve an outstanding warrant on a DUI, why the fuck did they put him in Prison to begin with? Holy shit. I mean, who spends time in a jail for a DUI unless it’s the night you are arrested?

1962

Common occurrence in police states I believe.

1963

It’s to hide evidence of abuse. If you e.g. killed the guy with a chokehold…

1964

Cop held accountable. Probably helped that his victim was white.