...owner said in an interview. “I knew right away there was something wrong. I knew that camera was broken, but you can’t fight City Hall- and that is a fact.”(Kidwell and Richards). Like many other stories out there, Wague was caught by a faulty camera system. After averaging just three tickets a day, the camera that caught her was suddenly averaging 33 tickets per day, then out of nowhere the ticket spree ended (Kidwell and Richards). Many question whether or not these red light camera systems were malfunctioning or being tinkered with by local authorities. Instead of increasing safer driving conditions, the use of red light camera enforcement in the United States has directly threatened the public interest by favoring revenue over safety, and invading our privacy. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, privatized traffic law enforcement systems are rapidly spreading throughout large cities in the United States (Madsen 5). Primarily, this...
Words: 2326 - Pages: 10
...an increasingly vital role in the enforcement of traffic violations and motorist safety, but not all advancements have been welcomed by the driving public. Over the last decade many cities and states have begun using red light traffic cameras to catch and fine motorists in an effort to motivate the public to drive more safely. In theory it makes great sense, however when put into practice it has yielded mixed results at best. While the number of citations issued has gone up dramatically the number of accidents has not. In fact many intersections with red light cameras installed have seen an increase in accidents. It is clear that the safety of the general population is paramount, but is red light cameras the most effective way to proceed? Once the data is analyzed it is clear that there are far safer alternatives that will also save taxpayers a great deal of money over red light cameras. In a September 2004 study by the Texas Transportation Institute conducted by James Benneson, P.E., many aspects of the way red light cameras operate were broken down by the researchers. It was discovered that in most instances the red light cameras issued citations within the first second of the light turning red. Almost all incidents of people being cited for running the red light occurred when the light turned red while the vehicle was already in the intersection. Due to the delay between the light turning from red to green in the opposite flow of traffic there was little risk of a right-angle...
Words: 891 - Pages: 4
...rapid spread all across Chicago to where there are even two cameras at one intersection. Based on the studies reported, there is, however, strong evidence that suggests that red light cameras are less effective than the high hopes that were placed at their inception. In this debate, I’m not asking to take down red light cameras because some people believe they are to create revenue, nor am I saying the cameras are worthwhile. The priority is to get them to work in the way they were intended to be used for not just for revenue as it has now become. Changes in the engineering aspect to create a better flow would do the best for the city of Chicago. A great amount of technology, contracting, design, and implementation goes into these traffic signals we use every day which help keep road regulation smooth and safe. Although road signals are organized, getting motorists to follow regulations is the hardest part. The problem the federal highway administration was faced with was the great amount of accidents resulting from motorists running red lights. They have found that red light running accidents to be more deadly than any...
Words: 2296 - Pages: 10
...runners crashing into others? If you look at our traffic crash data over the past several years, you'll see that is not the case. My background is law enforcement. I worked for two years as a Florida deputy sheriff and the remaining 23 years of my 25-year career with the Florida Highway Patrol, where I worked as a trooper, traffic homicide investigator, and squad sergeant, and retired as an investigations lieutenant. I currently operate a small lobbying firm in Tallahassee that specializes in issues involving liberty. According to our Department of Highway Safety, red light running as a cause is around 2 to 3 percent of all crashes. One thing you will never see in any news story about the devices is how many red light running crashes are taking place to justify the need for these automated for-profit law enforcement devices. (Like the Florida Legislature, I don't call them red light cameras either.) Why didn't the Legislature call them red light cameras? It is simple really. Running a red light is a traffic infraction, as is speeding and passing a stopped school bus. It just so happens one automated for-profit company has devices for these other infractions. Calling the devices red light cameras would limit their use. Calling them traffic infraction detectors means they can enforce all of these laws and any other infractions. Why do I call them automated for-profit law enforcement devices? The fact they are automated is inarguable. The fact they are for-profit is likewise...
Words: 2476 - Pages: 10
...officers armed with gun and nightsticks to perform their duties and include in late 1870’s the use of telegraph and telephones, the installation of police call boxes and the adoption in 1880’s of the Bertillon system of criminal identification and in the turn of century, the use of fingerprinting systems to assist law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend criminal offenders, whatever technological development have made there’s only one goal for these officers is to serve and to protect innocent lives. The criminal justice system also has to advance in ways to communicate with different agencies because communicating quickly and effectively can positively affect the results of prosecuting the offenders such as gathering and preserving evidences, collecting and recording interviews with victims and witnesses. “Computers have provided police with important technological advances like computer mapping to pinpoint crime areas”. (William Bratton, former New York City, Police Commissioner)There are many specialized and newer technologies that are available in the market and used today by different law enforcement agencies, such as the IAFIS (Integrated Automated Identification Fingerprint System), facial recognition, and mobile data terminals, Iris scan and specialized databases such as the Criminal Justice Information System, offender management systems, and victim notification systems which is link to the Federal Bureau Of Investigation’s National Crime Information System(NCIC)...
Words: 1135 - Pages: 5
... The world of criminal justice contains almost 18,000 state, local, and federal agencies. These agencies have over a million employees nationwide. The subject of this paper focuses on the various perspectives of policing within the state, local, and federal levels of organizations. The possible future changes in laws is addressed and identified in the paper. Finally, the impact these changes will cause in policing. These agencies have certain fragments that interfere with the development of centralized systems to regulate or coordinate the different agencies. Policing has four different levels of service that consist of federal, state, city, and county. These agencies have different responsibilities and roles in the law enforcement industry. The six largest police agencies in the United States are Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angles. In the United States the local departments have 12, 656 agencies, 3,061- county sheriff’s department s, 45 federal organizations, 49 state organizations, and 1,376 special police organizations. Most of these departments handle major duties such as responding to complaints by citizens, patrolling certain areas, and investigate murders, and crimes. The specialty police organizations consist of agencies that enforce the...
Words: 1207 - Pages: 5
...When faced with an amber light at a signalized intersection, approaching drivers are called upon to make a decision to either drive through or brake and come to a complete stop. If they are near the stop line, driving through can be necessary, but if they are far from the stop line, braking and stopping is the appropriate action. The option of what action to take becomes inconsistent when they are in the dilemma zone [Lum and Wong, 2003]. As a result, there are approximately 10 red-light running violations per hour at signalized intersections [Porter and England, 2000], a statistic significant enough to influence both safety and traffic flow at signalized intersections. This investigation is a continuation of work by the corresponding author....
Words: 368 - Pages: 2
...something that is developing very fast, and it has become very useful to law enforcement. Everyday there is something more developing in technology. When you are traveling on vacation you would not think that you would have a negative experience with the use of technology. When you go on vacation you are just trying to relax and enjoy where you are, and hoping for the sun to come out every day. But when my Uncle Bob was on vacation this is what happened to him, he had a negative experience. He was arrested and put in the back of a police cruiser, after he answered the questions that the police officer had for him. When looking at the scenario with my Uncle Bob, it was very clear that he was in a strange situation. Even though he was caught speeding he was very stunned by the fact that he was placed in the back of the police cruiser. It became obvious to me that the reason was because the charges that my uncle had in California must be federal. People need to understand that if you are facing federal charges they...
Words: 745 - Pages: 3
...for speeding in Florida. He answered the Law Enforcement Officers’ questions calmly and was then placed into the back of his cruiser. The process by which the Officer obtained the information is very routine; personal, one-on-one conversation. Many people do not realize it but when they are talking to an officer of the law, that person is constantly being evaluated; verbal and non-verbal. The officer is always taking in information no matter now simple is may seem. While Uncle Bob was being questioned he provided the following: his name, birth date, height, and weight, and resident state. As this is the basic form of information gathering the officer then would have entered the information gathered into their regional type database. Once the officer relayed the specific data to the regional office or agency the bigger wheels started to turn. This would have been completed either via radio and the distant end using a searchable database to input Uncle Bob’s information or the officer might have had the means to affect this himself. Newer police cruisers have computers connected to the main regional office so the officer in the field can provide quicker customer service to the community. Once the regional office has received the data request on a suspect their local systems would begin to communicate to larger agencies such as the FBI or DEA. These agencies have databases that have far greater capacity then local law enforcement have. The FBI’s NCIC, for example, is an Interstate...
Words: 648 - Pages: 3
...Different kinds of computer Technology within law enforcement and courts Cover page Abstract Law enforcement units and courts have made advanced technologies in crime detection and prevention. The past technologies mainly used were mainly aviation technology such as use of planes and helicopters and biometrics. The new computer technologies involve use of crime lights, in-car camera systems, graffiti cameras, thermal imaging, lasers, language translators, less-lethal technologies diagramming systems and global positioning system. It enables the responding of a crime activity in a very short time possible and transfer of information efficiently over a longer distance. This paper involves the research on both past and present technology. Past technology Aviation Technology In the past, technology used in law enforcements or police departments included planes and helicopters which acted to save resources and time. It was used in searching for a missing person and doing a survey of a scene. Biometrics technologies This is the technology which used the physical features or behavior of a person to identify it. The methods used included identification of fingerprints, face, voice, iris, signature and handwritings to detect the criminals. Body Armor This was used to protect a criminal investigation officer or police from injury or death through protection from gun and rifle ammunitions, knife stabs and other sharp weapons .The protective vests was mainly used and was composed...
Words: 1262 - Pages: 6
...February 7, 2012 Patrick Daulton Introduction Law enforcement agencies in the United States have numerous different functions. There are three basic levels of law enforcement; Federal, state, and local level. Each level of law enforcement is organized to deliver effectively the services that meet the public’s needs. Collectively these levels and agencies work together to achieve many duties. Whereas each level of law enforcement has its own responsibilities and procedures, their functions are very comparable. Research reveals the various roles of each police agency at its perspective level, how these functions compare to each other, and the impact these roles have in a community. Basic Functions of Policing First, the basic functions of police agencies include law enforcement, arresting offenders, crime prevention, maintaining order, and providing other services to community members in need. Many of these functions may coincide with each other. As an example while enforcing the laws, officers are often required to arrest the offender, which results in the maintenance of order. These functions in turn help prevent future crime. Federal Level of Policing The Federal level of policing includes organizations such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The FBI, for example, is the Nation’s premier law enforcement organization and is responsible for collecting facts and gathering...
Words: 1380 - Pages: 6
...Promising Technology vs. Intrusion on Personal Privacy Thomas L. Wilson University of Maryland University College: HMLS 312 Professor Steven Woodall 06 September 2014 Term Paper Security vs. Privacy Executive and legislative measures implemented to strengthen the security of the United States and territories within directly contributed to an increase in privacy concerns following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States and ignited debate, discussion, and study regarding balancing security and privacy thereafter. (Parker, 2004) I am concerned whether or not citizens of the United States will have to forfeit a significant amount of privacy due to intelligence gathering against terrorist activity directed at this country. In my mind, this cannot be answered directed, tucked away and blindly followed. Every step and implementation of new procedures and technologies in direct support of intelligence gathering and identification of terrorist suspects must be debated and understood before going forwarded to ensure due process for privacy concerns. They may have to be an understanding or “give-and-take. (Jenkins, 2012) Many of our security vs. privacy concerns stem from processes implemented after 9/11 for ensuring the United States was more prepared to detect and combat terrorist activities. Of course immediately after, many disagreed and argued that a balance between states security and civil liberty has to be maintained. Additionally, there was (and still is)...
Words: 1231 - Pages: 5
...web use can be monitored or researched during an incident. 2.0 Scope This policy applies to all employees, contractors, vendors and agents with a -owned or personally-owned computer or workstation connected to the network. This policy applies to all end user initiated communications between ’s network and the Internet, including web browsing, instant messaging, file transfer, file sharing, and other standard and proprietary protocols. Server to Server communications, such as SMTP traffic, backups, automated data transfers or database communications are excluded from this policy. 3.0 Policy 3.1 Web Site Monitoring The Information Technology Department shall monitor Internet use from all computers and devices connected to the corporate network. For all traffic the monitoring system must record the source IP Address, the date, the time, the protocol, and the destination site or server. Where possible, the system should record the User ID of the person or account initiating the traffic. Internet Use records must be preserved for 180 days. 3.2 Access to Web Site Monitoring Reports General trending and activity reports will be made available to any employee as needed upon request to the Information Technology Department. Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) members may access all reports and data if necessary to respond to a security incident. Internet Use reports...
Words: 833 - Pages: 4
...Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Personnel Bureau Training Bureau Management Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Finance Payroll Grants Administration Fleet Services Facilities Management Court Services Unit (CSU) Alarm Enforcement Unit (EAU) Records Management Front Counters/Telephone Report Unit Automation and Digital Records Crime Analysis Unit (CAU) Property/Evidence Unit Operations Field Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Neighborhood Policing Centers (NPCs) Management Accountability Program (RPD~MAP) Watch Commanders Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Bike Team El Protector University Neighborhood Enhancement Team (UNET) Crime Statistics Special Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Community Services Group Citizen Academy Crime Free Multi-Housing Neighborhood Watch Business Watch Youth Court METRO/SWAT & Aviation Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Mobile Field Force (MFF) Emergency Negotiations Team (ENT) Aviation Unit Traffic Bureau Field Accident Investigators Police Motor Officers Major Accident Investigations Team (MAIT) Traffic Investigations Follow-up Traffic Program Supervisor Parking Enforcement Tow Enforcement School Crossing Guards Traffic Education Illegal Street...
Words: 22303 - Pages: 90
...environment: In China: Political: "The government often focuses on the dynamic transportation, or traffic rules, but ignore the static transportation or parking" said Ren Bomiao, director of the China Heavy Machinery Association's Parking Facility Committee (2006). Even though some big cities have proposed some solutions of parking problems, such as construction the parking lots, formulating various charging policies and parking standardization (Wu, 1999). There are also some defects in the terms of legislating and supervision of the regulations. Firstly, some regulations are not specific and detailed enough in different parking areas such as hospital, shopping mall, train station, especially airports. Secondly, the enforcement of the traffic law may be not strict and tough enough. Economical: China is now the world’s third largest automotive producer and the second largest consumer (Tong, 2010). According to the released data by China’s NBS (National Bureau of Statistics) in 2010, by the end of 2009, the amount of private vehicles ownership is around 26.05 million, increasing by 33.8% than the last year, since 2003, the amount of private cars ownership had been increased by annually 27%. Consequently, the condition of developing car-parks’ construction, as an industry, has become being mature (Shen, 2010). Social: As the living standard improving, the traffic...
Words: 1872 - Pages: 8
