Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Speed traps

According to Vermont Public Radio:

"Law enforcement issued more than 24,000 tickets worth upwards of $4 million in fines to drivers in Vermont in 2017. A quarter were issued in just three Vermont towns: Plymouth, Bridgewater and Mount Tabor.

The top two towns, Plymouth and Bridgewater, have a couple of things in common. They both contract the Windsor County Sheriff's Department for speed enforcement services, and that department issues nearly three times as many tickets as any other law enforcement agency in the state."

My favorite quote from the pieces is from Windsor County Sheriff Michael Chamberlain who said, “There are no sidewalks,” he said. “It wouldn’t take much for someone to go off and hit a child, or hit a family.” Given his four decades plus of law enforcement experience, he may have delivered that line with a straight face.

Let's be honest.  Plymouth, Bridgewater, and Mount Tabor are not champions of pedestrian and motorist safety while the rest of Vermont is engaged in a sensible Volvo version of Death Race 2018.  These municipalities have created and perpetuated speed traps for the money.  

In Maryland, all revenues from traffic citations go to the state.  In neighboring Delaware, municipalities keep the money.  Where do you think speed traps are more common?  Ask anyone from the Free State who routinely travels to beaches in the First State.  Economics 101, people (including local governments) respond to incentives.

Yes.  Speed traps may enhance traffic safety, much as red light cameras, speed cameras, or school zones adjoining building that haven't housed students for years.  The real motive, however, is money.  Traffic enforcement should be driven (no pun intended) by legitimate safety concerns, not balancing a budget.  The Maryland model of citation revenues going to the state minimizes the profit motive for local governments and that's better for everyone. 

Sequim

I have a soft spot for the Olympic Peninsula, a truly beautiful corner of Pacific Northwest.  Years ago, a recruiter contacted me about the ...