Photo Enforcement

Ok, that is not the best name for the device, but it is what Escort is calling it for now. SC55 Red Light Camera Detector / System is a bit more in-line with standard industry nomenclature. Escort SC55 will do though.

The Escort SC55 is a new addition to devices that are able to warn you about red light and speed cameras. You know, those little cameras at stop lights that are installed by crooked politicians. Even though the cameras are being removed by any city with a sense of moral responsibility, they are still around and in use in many places.

There are already several devices available that use GPS coordinates combined with a list of camera locations to warn you when you are near one. That way you can be aware that any yellow light will last about .00001 seconds and you might also be involved in a crash. The first step to avoiding a trap is knowing it is there.

The Escort SC55 is here to help. Like other camera warning systems, it uses GPS location and a database. The SC55 is promising pinpoint GPS placement (not much good being warned after you go through an intersection) and an updatable, and accurate database. In fact the Escort's Defender™
Database is rather highly regarded (and is the one currently used by Escort 9500ix and BELTRONICS Pro GX65 integrated RLC / radar detectors).

We are looking forward to seeing how well the SC55 will do compared to other RLC devices currently available from Cheetah and Whistler.

The SC55 will have an optional kit to connect to certain Escort and Beltronic radar detectors. If the SC55 will work with the Redline radar detector, it could make for a very versatile protective system. The SC55 should start at around $159.95 for the base model and $179.95 with the connector kit. The SC55 will be a great way to have GPS red light warning functionality for a good price. When you realize that the cost of a red light ticket is often that much (or more), the extra preventative warning is worth it.

As soon as we have them here in our warehouse we will let all of you know. Unlike some websites, we stock every radar detector, red light camera system, laser jammer, and accessory we sell. They should be here in a few weeks.

SC 55 Safety Camera Locator sounds like a diagnostic tool for use with security cameras though.

Red light cameras continue to pop-up in new cities and towns, but they also are coming back down in others. Not every city government is willing to fine its own citizens unfairly and treat them as a revenue resource. In Dalton Georgia the cameras are being removed even though they were making a lot of money from the cameras. According to this article:

At $75 a pop, 6,906 citations were issued that year, mostly for illegal right-on-red turns; 624 citations were issued in February alone.

In 2008 though the Georgia state legislature started to look at the claims that red light cameras were just to make money. They ordered yellow lights to be lengthened and the number of tickets being issued to people "running" red lights decreased substantially. We have already mentioned in this blog how many cities reduce the yellow lights to purposefully trap people so they can ticket them even if it causes more wrecks to take place. In most cities, failing to come to a dead, complete stop before turning right on red will get you a $200 ticket. It has nothing to do with catching people that run a red light on purpose.

The mayor of Dalton, David Pennington was paying attention to all of this.

"That sort of exposed the myth of why they're there," says Mayor David Pennington, an opponent of red-light cameras. "It goes against what I was told to begin with, which is that they are for safety."

So he had the red light cameras removed. He placed the financial welfare of the people in the community over making money off of them. The people of Dalton should be proud to have him as their mayor.

If you live in a city or town with red light cameras, they are just there to make money off of you. They do not promote safety, for that they just need to increase the length of yellow lights. Find out who in your local government is responsible for having them installed, and question why they want to treat their very own citizens as cash generators. Drive them from office, they just want to use you. They are so inept, they cannot be fiscally responsible enough to run a city without stealing money from their own citizens.

We carry red light camera detectors and other automotive defensive products so you can protect yourself from expensive tickets. Be an informed, and most importantly a safe driver.

Regular readers and customers know that here at Buy Radar Detectors, we like to help you find the radar detector, camera warning system, laser jammer, etc... that is best for your personal driving needs. We work with you to research all of the products available, and we even offer services to help.

I think all of this warrants a new contest! Send an email to us at contest @ buyradardetectors.com (remove the blank spaces) briefly telling us about the time you wished you had a camera warning system, were saved by one, or a review of one of the systems. Your entry might even end up here on our radar detector blog, and the five best are going to win a free t-shirt (make sure to include what size shirt and a shipping address in your email).

So go and read the articles about redlight camera systems, and let us know if you have any questions!

Do you know of someone that spends a lot of time driving where there are redlight cameras? Well, we may have a few gifts they might like.

The Cheetah C100 Redlight / Speed Camera Detector ($224.95)is pre-loaded with thousands of safety camera GPS locations, including redlight and fixed positions speed cameras, and you can even mark up to 100 locations yourself. The C100 also has the Rescue Me feature, which when enabled, will announce your exact GPS co-ordinates. A digital compass is also included and with a press of a button, the C100 will announce your driving direction.

The Whistler RLC-100 Redlight / Speed Camera Detector ($79.99) also uses GPS locations with an on-board database of redlight and speed camera locations, and alerts you when you are near one. Another great feature of the RLC-100 is that it has a secondary power outlet so you can connect a radar detector or other 12 volt device to it. (Interface cable sold separately - Radar detectors that use a phone style jack will also need to use our Bel / Escort Barrel Power Cord Adapter).

These are a true GPS warning systems. They do not require you to use redlight camera websites for inconsistent updates, or have to constantly check your location on a phone or navigational display while driving.

"Oh, don't lean on me man 'cause you can't afford the ticket" - David Bowie

Most people do not run redlights on purpose. While this may seem like a strange fact to some, I have never encountered anyone that runs lights for fun. "I was so late for work, I just ran all the lights!" Most of these redlight cameras are being put in to give tickets to people that do not come to a complete stop when turning right on red. Most people come to a rolling stop, then turn. In fact if you do come to a stop, the person behind you will start laying on the horn.

Meanwhile, you get processed a ticket that tends to run $100. Have a nice day, drive safe!

There is an interesting news story about just this. In Collier Florida the citizens are getting more than a bit annoyed at getting tickets.

Out of 507, only 7 were people that ran a light. The rest just did not come to a complete stop when making a right turn. Many cities now know that all you have to do to make some money is shorten the yellow lights, and to also ticket those turning right on red. It is pure revenue.

It is not about safety, at all. It is about publically elected and appointed officials making money from their constituents. They want us out there playing bumper cars with each other, and causing road rage, while they profit.

In previous post I have discussed redlight cameras and how they are only about making money. In some areas, citizens are taking their elected government officials to court to have the cameras removed. They have realized that redlight cameras are just a money making scheme. They have nothing to do about safety. A camera is never going to make driving safer, only active police involvement will. In Bradenton Florida, the city is being sued over the fact that, according to an article in the Bradenton Herald:

Now in a counter argument, the police chief Michael Radilowski sates that:

So according to the police chief, people running redlights has become an "epidemic". To fix this vehicular epidemic that has turned the intersections of Bradenton into a demolition derby, they going to just install some cameras and issue tickets. So much for public safety. Why don't they, oh, have actual police go out to these known spots of daredevil driving.

According to Bradenton Council member Marianne Barnebey:

Are the people in Bradenton that bad at driving? Do they think that some camera will stop this with just a few tickets if she is telling the truth? Or are the people in charge of the safety and well being of the citizens of Bradenton a lot more interested in making money and using a lot of extreme reasoning to scare others into not challenging them.

If you live in an area with these cameras, then fight to have them removed. If the city you live in is thinking about installing them, make sure the people who propose this never get elected to anything ever again. Until then we will continue to provide redlight camera warning systems and other countermeasures to help protect you. Keep safe!

It seems that over in Des Plains Illinois, the citizens are tired of redlight cameras turning their intersections into bumper car rides. They just do not like crashing into other people like everyone in Washington DC. From the news story:

"The problem is that people slam on their brakes when they know the intersection has a camera and the light turns yellow," said Brookman. "They won't dare go through a yellow and this causes rear-end crashes. Studies have shown that Red Light cameras lead to more crashes." He also said that drivers often approach intersections when the light is green and expect to travel through safely. However, if the light suddenly turns yellow and they're only a few feet from the intersection, they may not have time to stop unless their slam on the brakes creating a dangerous situation.

So add another city to the list that wants these things gone. Redlight cameras are put in to make money, not improve driving safety. So if your town or city is looking to have them put in, ask where the money is going, because it is not about making your drive better.

There are a lot of movies out there where someone is able to change the traffic lights which in turn causes a lot of wrecks. I wonder if the cities that install these cameras have people sitting around watching people crash into each other all day. That is worth paying them at least $100 a ticket, right?

If you want to warned about where these cameras are, we have some very affordable redlight detectors and countermeasures. They are cheaper than a ticket, may save you from paying higher insurance rates, and also avoid having to get your vehicle repaired from playing bumper cars. Be careful out there.

That is correct, this post is not about a Whistler radar detector. It is not even about a radar detector by Escort or Bel. I would like to introduce you to Whistler's foray into the world of redlight camera warning systems, the Whistler RLC-100.

The Whistler RLC-100 is a complete warning system, it compares your current GPS location with an on-board database of red light and speed camera locations and alerts you when you are near one. The database is updateable and the RLC comes with a free one year subscription. It is also very compact and takes up very little room.

One of the things we like most about it, it has a secondary power outlet so you can connect a radar detector or other 12 volt device to it (Interface cable sold separately - Radar detectors that use a phone style jack will also need to use our Bel / Escort Barrel Power Cord Adapter). This means fewer power cords dangling everywhere using up your car's power outlets.

This is a very affordable GPS enabled warning system. You will not be relying on a redlight camera "service" or website for inconsistent updates, or have to constantly check your location on a phone or navigation display while driving.

With more and more cities installing redlight and speed cameras, a good warning device is almost a necessity to avoid overpriced fines. Failing to come to a complete stop before turning right in some places is now a $100 ticket. Not to mention all of the yellow lights that now last only a few seconds to catch as many people as possible driving under them.

We have the Whistler RLC-100 ready to ship for $79.99!

A question, if the use of redlight cameras is to reduce the number of wrecks, improve safety, catch those that do not use cowardly devices, then why do they issues fines? If this is about safety, should they not make you attend a driving safety class, make you wear a funny hat, or just call and yell at you. "Drive safer, we saw you run that light, maniac!"

Ok, I know fines are a great motivator. However the people in River Forest, Illinois want to know "...whether the village's desire to have red light cameras was a safety or money issue." The people in River Forest wanted to lower the fines, and some interesting information slipped out.

It seems that the people who install the redlight cameras make about $36 per ticket issued, then police have to have people review and issue tickets. So for the process to be cost effective it runs up to $100 a fine.

That can be a lot of money for just not coming to a complete stop to turn right on a redlight. The truth is they are using them to make money, not improve driving safety. The people selling the cameras are making even more money. So if you live in a city with cameras, make sure to tell them thanks for making the camera operators rich.

I doubt any of us want people to run redlights, but making the lights shorter to "catch" people, and putting people making a turn on red in the same category out of greed is irresponsible. Make sure you are warned about the intersections with cameras, and please contact us if you have any questions about redlight camera protective devices, or if you are looking for a radar detector.

Well this story has been making its way around. Many of you probably have already read it, but for the rest of you, here is a quick summary. Essentially the police chief of Washington DC, Cathy Lanier, is saying that those who have GPS redlight warning systems such as this one are using a "cowardly tactic".

She is actually upset that people are being warned about dangerous intersections. Because that is why the police have cameras there right, to make them safer. They are not shortening the lights in order to make money are they? Are the body repair shops around DC owned by the police? Just wondering. So prove your courage to Catchy Lanier, get in some more crashes! Turn all of DC into a giant demolition derby! Wimps! So what about insurance, or repair bills, lets smash some cars!

Those that read our blog know the truth about these cameras, and our stance on them.

Ok, for the rest of the month, if you live in the DC metro area, we are giving 10% off of every product that warns of redlight cameras, and related defensive products. We will need you to call us, and the billing and ship to address needs to be in the DC area. So give us a call, and until then be careful out there.

So show your cowardice! Buy a redlight camera protective device.