2 traffic cameras struck with bullets in Newark

[jnelsoninjax]

NEWARK ? Someone with a gun is apparently settling scores with those red-light traffic cameras so reviled by New Jersey motorists.

Two of the devices were shot in Newark today, police said.

Red-light cameras at the intersections of Broad and Murray streets and Broad Street and Raymond Boulevard were given the same treatment as that ill-fated hotel room TV that enraged Elvis.

"The Newark Police Department is in the early stages of their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the damaging of two of the city?s red-light photo cameras," Detective Todd McClendon, a police spokesman, said. "The cameras were struck by apparent gunfire during the early morning hours."

The cameras were disabled after the shootings, but were being repaired today, he said. There were no injuries and police had not identified a suspect. The cameras were expected to be up and running again shortly.

Newark is home to 19 of the 85 red-light cameras in New Jersey.

They are polarizing devices. Motorists and some politicians consider them Big Brother contraptions that are little more than a money grab by municipalities. Mayors and some police officers tout them as devices that reduce accidents while bringing much needed revenue to towns.

On June 19, the state announced it was suspending 63 of the cameras ? including all 19 in Newark ? over concerns amber lights did not give motorists enough time to get through intersections. The suspension was lifted July 25 after the state said all cameras were found to meet standards.

Assemblyman Declan O?Scanlon (R-Monmouth) wants to ban the red-light cameras, but didn?t condone treating them like target practice.

"People feeling that frustrated about these automated tax machines ? just wait a little while," he said. "The truth will win out in the end, and we?ll get rid of them."

Mohamed Diallo, a sunglasses and purse vendor at the corner of Broad and Raymond, is used to seeing work crews perform maintenance on the red-light camera. But he has never seen the crews phone police to remove something from the camera case and put it in a plastic evidence bag.

Three large bullet holes pierced the side of the black box housing the camera that pointed south on Broad.

Diallo said he didn?t notice anything wrong until a fleet of police cars arrived about 5 p.m. today.

"Somebody," he said, "was really angry at the camera."

Source

[Japlabot]

The cameras were disabled after the shootings, but were being repaired today, he said. There were no injuries and police had not identified a suspect. The cameras were expected to be up and running again shortly.

Well, that is a relief! :rolleyes:

[Hum]

the Revolution has begun :shifty:

[DocM]

Good shootin' ;)

Seriously, there are a LOT of people that are dead-set against the cameras everywhere surveillance the UK has. In stores etc. is fine, but on every street corner and sidewalk upsets people. This crosses most all demographic & party lines.

[MDboyz]

Take that :) ...

Most of Red light camera is like a trap. Alot of freaking lights over here in Wash. DC turn red right after yellow fast, so they can catch people running even yellow light.

[ozgeek]

Only those who gets snapped and ticketed complains about those cameras. Only those who gets ticketed are the ones assisting to the so-called "revenue-raising".

[DocM]

Only those who gets snapped and ticketed complains about those cameras. Only those who gets ticketed are the ones assisting to the so-called "revenue-raising".

Wrong. There is a broad coalition of civil liberties groups like the ACLU and others that oppose the widespread use of cameras on privacy grounds.

[Tha Bloo Monkee]

Well when you live in a country where people can legally carry guns and are literally shooting the cameras themselves, it makes you think that maybe the cameras are a good idea... ;)

[Growled Member]

the Revolution has begun :shifty:

I aim to join them too.

[Gerowen]

Only those who gets snapped and ticketed complains about those cameras. Only those who gets ticketed are the ones assisting to the so-called "revenue-raising".

Wrong. I've never had a ticket before in my life, let alone from one of the cameras, but I think they're ridiculous and a waste of time and money, and an invasion of privacy. If you're really that worried about somebody running a red light and being a danger to the public, stick a police officer at that particular intersection. I've literally sat for minutes at timed red lights in the middle of the night with no other cars anywhere in sight, and had I chosen to safely continue on my journey instead of wasting time at the light, I would have been sent a ticket in the mail.

[ozgeek]

Neither have I until I got booked in April this year for speeding, but I admit I ran red lights but if I am caught and booked, I accept the conquences, not wringe about it. I just paid up and moved on. Do I see anything wrong with my privacy, no. They already know who I am and where I live from bills I pay them. Yes that's right, you are paying the same agency that handles your council services and billing so you do have the same privacy measures as when paying for council bills.

[moloko]

PEW PEW

[He's Dead Jim]

In the fist 2 weeks of july I had eight cameras trained on my house and the only door in an out. I'm waiting till the schools go back, as these pricks are filming kids in the street too, then I ll let the local plods know.

[jerzdawg]

In the fist 2 weeks of july I had eight cameras trained on my house and the only door in an out. I'm waiting till the schools go back, as these pricks are filming kids in the street too, then I ll let the local plods know.

what are you talking about? the traffic cameras are pointed at the intersection and on snap the picture during an offence (at least thats how they are in NJ, I've been at an intersection plenty of times at night and see the flash go off).

[techbeck]

Dont mind red light cameras. Lived in Phoenix AZ for 15 years and a lot of people run red lights. What I didnt like was the highway speed cameras which were eventually removed. They highway cameras caused more accidents (people hitting brakes because they forgot about the camera) and caused more traffic around the cameras as well. Plus, there were camera traps on the highway. A camera is setup and a couple miles ahead, another camera. So people would pass one, speed up, and get clocked by another. I lived next to the highyway where one camera was. Every night, I got a good light show with the camera flashes.

In the fist 2 weeks of july I had eight cameras trained on my house and the only door in an out. I'm waiting till the schools go back, as these pricks are filming kids in the street too, then I ll let the local plods know.

Cameras are not trained on houses. If you see cameras that are, I doubt they are owned by the city. Cameras are pointed towards the intersections only.

[Astra.Xtreme]

I completely support any type of traffic camera, speed cameras included. If people are speeding like hell or blowing through red lights, they deserve to be caught and ticketed. They are breaking the law and putting people in danger, so there's no valid excuse for it. If somebody racks up $500 in tickets in a few months period, maybe they will stop doing 90 in a 55.