There is an intersection near my home where cars often breeze through the red (right turn) arrow. It is tempting to do this because it’s an exit off of a traffic circle, but the light is there because of (1) a pedestrian crosswalk, and (2) a nearby retirement home. A few days ago I watched a jerk in a sportscar almost run over an older man who was already in the crosswalk. Even though he stopped just short of running him down, he continued to threateningly edge the car closer as if to say ‘get outta my way you old fart or I’m gonna make street pizza out of you’. IMHO this is tantamount to assault with a deadly weapon :mad:
The old man shook his cane in disgust and the jerk shouted obscenities at him. I was some distance away but could clearly see the red light- so I shouted “you ran a red light!” but either I wasn’t heard or I was ignored.
So here is my question: If I were to have snapped a picture of this guy sitting with his front bumper half-way in the crosswalk, and you could easily see the red light in the photograph, would this be evidence enough to mail the car’s registered owner a ticket a la photo enforcement? How is the camera mounted on the end of my arm any more or less of an issue than the ones mounted on poles at some intersections?
If the camera is not “accurate” enough (maybe because I can’t snap two pics in quick succession) then what about a video camera? If I sit on the circle all day long and videotape a hundred people running the light (making certain to get a clear shot of both the traffic light & the plate), can I submit the tape to the police and say “here, mail tickets to these people”.