Yet another complaint by someone who received a ticket after visiting Oak Ridge - vowing to never return.
I'm now standing on my soapbox.
The latest letter came from a Michigan resident who came down to meet with ORNL to see if "their company had what it takes to do be a supplier to Oak Ridge National Lab". I hope this whiner owns the company he represented; otherwise, I would like to be a fly on the wall when he explains to his company's owner/management why their company shouldn't be a supplier to ORNL because he received a $50 ticket during his visit.
This latest whiner said that he saw the flashing light (school zone) and slowed down. If he went so far as to slow down, why didn't he slow down to the posted 20 mph speed? Signs are posted before all the cameras stating that red light and speeding photos will be enforced. If you don't want a ticket, it's really very simple… when you approach one of the traffic lights monitored by cameras, check your speed, slow down to the posted speed, if necessary, and avoid going through a yellow light. It doesn't matter that you don't see buildings or people near the street; or, that you didn't "feel" that you're posing a threat. Most traffic laws don't give drivers the option of looking around to determine if posted speeds or other traffic signs can be ignored.
To everyone who has written an angry letter to the editor, outraged that they have received a ticket for going over the speed limit in a school zone or in a construction area - stop whining, stop trying to justify your decision to exceed the speed limit, and pay your ticket! If you don't want to get a ticket, don't go over the posted speed limit. I doubt that any city exempts visitors from obeying their laws. If you are really angry, go to court. If you win, you don't have to pay the $50. If you lose you will probably pay over $100. I'm curious how many of these whiners think their excuses will hold up in court. Most will probably try to get some satisfaction by writing angry letters and declaring their outrage and intent to never come back.
Let me get off my soapbox and say that I was opposed to the cameras in the beginning. One of my concerns was that the cameras could result in a lot of rear end collisions. I drive through most of the camera-monitored intersections daily, and I really believe that local drivers have become more careful at all of the intersections - not just those with cameras. I was a little concerned that the timing of the yellow light would be shortened like they were in some other nearby areas. I haven't actually timed any of the yellow lights, but if they have been shortened, it certainly isn't noticeable. If I'm ever pre-occupied and speed through one of these lights and receive a ticket, I hope my character is strong enough that I will accept responsibility, pay the ticket, and be more careful in the future.
Maybe, we should post a few whiner signs around Oak Ridge, "If you don't want to obey our laws, turn around now, legally of course!"
