We Can Kill Them!

State Representative Andy Biggs is my kind of guy. While so many of us are crying about the obscenely stupid speed cams dumped on us by former Governor Janet Napolitano, he is actually fighting to get them off our state’s highways. And now he has help.

Late last week the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted 5-2 to recommend approval of  House Bill 2106, legislation that would force the removal of the cameras now installed on Interstates 110, 10, and other highways. Guys like me won’t be happy until these contraptions are completely gone from city streets too but at least it’s a start.

Rep. Biggs parroted what I’ve been saying all along about these cams, “This was done in the name of revenue.” He added, “It is a speed tax, and it is being done to fund social programs.” Bravo!

Then, on Friday, January 23rd the plan to ban the cams gained more steam as even more people became outraged when they learned these cameras are recording anything and everything 24 hours a day. Though I first told my listeners about this “small” privacy infringement in October of last year I’m just pleased people are finally paying attention to all the issues in play: The right to face an accuser, the privacy expected in one’s car, the loss of human interaction and the State’s ever increasing desire to create ways to take our money. Not to mention the number of accidents those demon possessed lights are going to cause when they scare the crap out of unsuspecting motorists as folks make their evening commutes.

American Traffic Solutions Inc. claims people are still very much behind the technological scheme to pick your pockets by about 63percent which would be an interesting stat to consider if we didn’t recognize the poll to be just a bit one-sided. American Traffic Solutions is a competitor to Red Flex, the Australian company awarded the $20 million + percentages contract here. If you want to really know what your fellow citizens think about this issue–instead of a bogus poll-just bring it up, casually, to just about anyone. You’ll know in no time just how much they are despised.

Nope-now is not the time to retreat; now is the time to force the issue. This thing is going to go to the full legislature, if not to all Arizona citizens in a potential ballot initiative. So our job is much easier today than it was a week ago: We need just contact, and re-contact, our elected state legislators and tell them to certainly vote Yes to HB 2106 and any incarnation (Read this: new HB or S # it may be assigned.) around the corner.

Before I close this blog entry, trivia demands that I impart a little historical knowledge to you. Speed cams actually got their American start in Texas decades ago. They were removed after proud Texans grabbed their guns and went target shooting. Such an uprising won’t be necessary here if we kill them via our political opportunities first.