After traffic cameras went in, Everett saw 70% decrease in speeding

[bello]

2. Taxation via law enforcement

Taxation via law enforcement leads to bad law and worse law enforcement.

That said, I can see where cameras could be needed in some places.. In school zones as described here. In construction zones. I’m sure other examples exist.

Today in many cases, photo enforcement is handled by a contracting firm who also provides the equipment for a cut of the action. This is an analogue of old west bounty hunters. There is a reason we don’t allow any yahoo to buy a squad car and enforce laws for a cut of the action.

My solution would be to mandate that all gross revenue from the camera enforcement would have to be given to a state run revenue sharing plan. Contractors couldn’t boost their income by over-enforcement. Local government couldn’t boost their income by over enforcement. Cities couldn’t boost their income at the expense of travelers and tourists.

Local government would have to justify the purchase of cameras on enforcement needs in a similar way that the justify the purchase of a new squad car.