Melvin Ladousier: Install traffic cams on state highways

Presidents Day weekend was a deadly weekend for travelers on Merced County’s state highways. There are not enough California Highway Patrol on the road to enforce speed limits, and there never can be. Self-policing through fear of economic pain is the only viable answer to safer highways.

Sacramento and some other large cities use traffic cameras at intersections to photograph offenders and issue citations through the mail. Given that a “California stop” costs the driver $300, I am sure the system pays for itself and then some. Why not place speed activated traffic cameras, solar powered, satellite-linked to a central computer which automatically issues speeding citations to the owner of the offending vehicle then places a lien against the vehicle title and blocks registration until the lien is paid.

Make the only exception for getting out of the ticket being if the vehicle was reported stolen no more than 24 hours after the recorded violation. Speed kills, and not necessarily just the speeder. Let’s kill the speeder’s bank account, and put the proceeds into repairing roads and expanding the citation system. Add signs like “Speed radar and photographically enforced” at highway entrances or on every speed-limit sign.

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Melvin Ladousier: Install traffic cams on state highways."