Using drones to catch crooks = ok. Using drones to catch speeders = not ok.

[Anonemous]

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2...omestic-drones-but-not-to-catch-speeders?lite

 

[BoomerD]

How is the use of drones to patrol the highways any different than manned aircraft patrolling the highways to catch speeders?

 

[reallyscrued]

Maybe public opinion on our speed limit is the issue?

 

[Red Squirrel]

I think all speed limits should be increased, but they should be enforced more.

So many people speed where I live, but the limits are also very low, and that's probably the issue everywhere. People who may not agree with the limits but still want to abide by the rules get run off the road by the people who don't care and go 20+ over the limit, and they're hardly enforced so they don't get stopped.

 

[waggy]

I don't think drones should be used in either.

 

[sactoking]

It's similar to the warrantless GPS use: there's an expectation that technology not be used to expand routine police work to an extent that everything is monitored at all times. You want to know where I'm going without a warrant? Get you ass in a car and follow me. Likewise, you want to know if I'm speeding without probable cause? Get you ass in a car and clock me.

This is, in many respects, no different than if the digital radar boards used (you know, the ones that show you your speed as you drive by) just spit out a ticket the moment you go 26 in a 25 zone.

 

[Kadarin]

In other words, the public does NOT want these things used for "revenue enhancement".

 

[SMOGZINN]

Speeders are crooks.
Speeding is breaking the law. Breaking the law makes you a criminal.

That being said, I disagree with the use of drones for monitoring civilian populations for any reason.

 

[Borkil]

I think all speed limits should be increased, but they should be enforced more.

So many people speed where I live, but the limits are also very low, and that's probably the issue everywhere. People who may not agree with the limits but still want to abide by the rules get run off the road by the people who don't care and go 20+ over the limit, and they're hardly enforced so they don't get stopped.

if they raise the speed limits, people are just going to complain that those are too slow and then they will start speeding again.

 

[SMOGZINN]

if they raise the speed limits, people are just going to complain that those are too slow and then they will start speeding again.

Anyway, with a few notable exceptions, speed limits are not too low, drivers are just impatient. They have been led to believe that their cars are safer then they really are, and want to go faster then is really safe.

EDIT: Remember 80% of people believe that they have better then average driving skills.

 

[Venix]

Speeders are crooks.
Speeding is breaking the law. Breaking the law makes you a criminal.

Committing a crime makes you a criminal. Most traffic offenses are civil infractions, not crimes. So speeders are civil infractioners or something.

 

[gorcorps]

Just obey the damned law and quit whining how it's enforced.

Fucking children... I swear

 

[MayorOfAmerica]

In other words, the public does NOT want these things used for "revenue enhancement".

How much revenue will it generate in revenue versus total cost of program operation? Will it save lives or prevent serious injury? I don't know enough to definitively answer but if the program costs more to operate and doesn't save lives (or serious injury), then we've simply got an expensive way to harass our citizens.

In other words, I'd like to know more before rushing to judgement.

 

[woodie1]

How is the use of drones to patrol the highways any different than manned aircraft patrolling the highways to catch speeders?

Agreed.

 

[Kadarin]

Just obey the damned law and quit whining how it's enforced.

Fucking children... I swear

So when you get that automated ticket in the mail for going 26 in a 25, you'll be perfectly ok with it.

 

[foghorn67]

How much revenue will it generate in revenue versus total cost of program operation? Will it save lives or prevent serious injury? I don't know enough to definitively answer but if the program costs more to operate and doesn't save lives (or serious injury), then we've simply got an expensive way to harass our citizens.

In other words, I'd like to know more before rushing to judgement.

Look at all the photo radars/red light cams being dismantled.
Several years ago, the proponents, city officials and law enforcement agencies used words like " safety". Nobody discussed revenue.
Fast forward to today. They cite lack of revenue and increased accidents for the reasons they are being taken down.
Funny, how it was about revenue the whole time?
But anybody alive, warm and breathing, knew it wasn't about safety at all.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Come to think of it, how would these drones work exactly, will it be fully automated or will it just be people driving them and clocking random cars? Even then, if you catch a speeder how do you know who is driving the car? You can't ticket a car, you can only ticket a person. Even if it scans the license plate, what good is that if it's a multi owner car, or even a stolen or rented car?

Or do they just notify a standby cop car ahead of the road to then pull over that vehicle?

 

[waggy]

Come to think of it, how would these drones work exactly, will it be fully automated or will it just be people driving them and clocking random cars? Even then, if you catch a speeder how do you know who is driving the car? You can't ticket a car, you can only ticket a person. Even if it scans the license plate, what good is that if it's a multi owner car, or even a stolen or rented car?

Or do they just notify a standby cop car ahead of the road to then pull over that vehicle?

expect laws to be changed. in some areas you can ticket a car for a redlight camera. i am guessing it will be the same.

 

[skyking]

I think you are missing the probable usage. My guess is one officer uses a low altitude drone to fly a laser or whatever, and other officers sit down the road and write you up. Officer #1 has a high definition image of your plate to tell who to pull over.

 

[Red Squirrel]

expect laws to be changed. in some areas you can ticket a car for a redlight camera. i am guessing it will be the same.

So they just ticket the car so it's basically the primary owner who has to pay? I guess that could work, in most cases the users of the car are in the same household so it's up to the family to pay the ticket. They could maybe have a shot where they get a picture of the driver and that could be sent with the ticket, though depending on windchill angle to the camera, the weather, etc wont always get a clear shot.

They'd have to figure something out for rentals though, guess the rental company could go back after whoever was the renter at the time of the ticket. I'm guessing there would be a date/time stamp on it.

 

[Jeff7]

expect laws to be changed. in some areas you can ticket a car for a redlight camera. i am guessing it will be the same.

I doubt they'd change laws if it would result in either reduced revenue for the government, or a lack of a future surge in revenue.
(Well, unless it's massive tax cuts for the super-rich. They need that money to feed their families.)

 

[Doppel]

This is inevitable. I have long thought, an easy prediction, that with better technology moving violations will more or less be a thing of the past. Speeding will be prohibitively difficult to do and get away with on a consistent basis, the same for red-light running, etc. Doesn't have to be a drone, though they seem like a good plan. Can be highway cameras, GPS in car to lower insurance rates, etc.

 

[Pray To Jesus]

Big brother says hi.

 

[John P]

Or do they just notify a standby cop car ahead of the road to then pull over that vehicle?

This is how they do it with aircraft (don't ask me how I know).

For those of you opposed to this tactic - Do you agree that it's ok for somebody to use a radar detector to avoid getting a speeding ticket?

 

[gevorg]

Drones? What a waste, they should in used in Iraq/n or some other ME shithole.

For America, just install a mandatory GPS device linked to the owner's credit card. The moment some criminal commits speeding, instantly charge the credit card. Increment the charges based on past behavior, make sure to add convenience fees. Send location data to local cops for preventive enforcement. Peaceful and law-abiding Americans should have nothing to worry about!