I was watching the TV news and saw a story about red-light cameras and was intrigued. A young man from Longview was protesting these automated law enforcement measures. With some research, I found out just what red-light cameras are and how they work. I found out that in 14 major cities with red-light cameras in place, fatal car crashes were reduced by up to 24 percent. However, many people oppose these cameras.
From my point of view, the cameras are a good thing. They generate revenue and allow police officers to spend less time watching intersections. Plus, their presence causes drivers to be more cautious about running red lights.
People running red lights is a crime in most places and can cause many fatalities. Everyone knows it is a crime, so they should be caught and deserve to suffer the consequences. Red-light cameras take a load off of the shoulders of police officers so that they can crack down on more important crimes.
Sean Nolan
La Center