Red Light Camera Petition College Station

A couple of nights ago, my wife and I were out on a date and we happened upon a “Red Light Camera Petition” tent. We stopped by (we were early for the movie we were going to watch).

I’ve gotten a ticket…or whatever it is that they call it…over on Harvey and Muson. It was an accident…I mean, I didn’t realize I was running a red light.

When I got the ticket in the mail, I was bummed. Then I had a thought that it was actually a good deterrent, you know, like having to pay money for speeding. Giving away money because I went over the speed limit is for me a good deterrent. No one likes giving their money away. But it makes me not want to speed. I don’t want to pay $75 just for running a red light, so I’m gonna do my best to not run red lights…I haven’t since.

So, yeah, it was lame that I got a ticket ($75) by the way, but whatever. Then I started realizing that whenever I passed that intersection, I slowed down, and got nervous, and even stopped a couple of times at the yellow light…that’s pretty dangerous.

My wife thought it was lame because since there was no one there, there was no way to “appeal” the fine. I disagree with her. Even if there was a cop there handing out tickets, how many times have you been able to NOT get a ticket for running a red light or not stopping at a stop sign…even if you didn’t see it, whatever, you almost always get that ticket.

So, we talked to the guys at the petition signing thing, and yeah, we signed it. Mostly just because apparently, the city of college station, I mean the people, didn’t get to vote on the installation of the cameras. They told us it had gotten piggy backed to another more important bill.

As I was talking to them, they mentioned that running a red light wasn’t a criminal offense. I stopped them, “It’s not a criminal offense to run a red light?” He said it was not if you don’t get caught.

I disagree with that statement as well. In fact, that almost made me scratch out my name from the petition, but I left it on there. I mean, that becomes a moral issue of integrity and deception. I am making a huge effort to teach my kids that just because I’m not in the room, it’s still not OK to hit their brother or sister.

Here’s what they state on their facebook group:

Problems with red light cameras:

*Decrease Safety
*Increase Collisions
*Remove right to appeal
*Remove officer discretion
*Remove the right to face your accuser
*Force one to choose between safety or fines
*Remove opportunity to explain extenuating circumstances to jury
*Create a special risk to motorcyclists, to whom a rear end collision could be fatal
*Create an unequal standard for the same offense depending on whether it was witnessed by an officer or a camera
*Have been constantly shown to only be the first step towards further camera monitoring, ranging from vehicle registration or insurance checking to speed limit enforcement.

Honestly, I agree with some of those, but when it comes to “unequal standard” and “extenuating circumstances” and “face your accuser” and even “right to appeal”, the argument falls flat for me. It’s either legal or illegal. Fairness has nothing to do with it. (and the “further camera monitoring” isn’t really an issue either, unless you are trying to hide something, right?)

I’ve known people who smoked pot and justified it by saying that they weren’t harming anyone, they were doing it in private, etc. My response is that it’s illegal. That’s it. They find it on you, you are busted.

It seems like lately it’s all about how you can get out of a responsibility. So, you ran a red light, but you were reaching back to put the seat belt back on your four year old who just figured out how to push the button and unstrap himself. You still ran a red light. What if you had ran over someone crossing the street? Solution: get through the intersection, pull in to the closest store, strap him back in, figure out a way to keep him from doing it again.

I know someone who is in jail because he killed someone while driving drunk. He’s in jail for like 5 years. I’ve also know many, many people who have made it home from a party just fine even through they were very intoxicated. The effect does not justify the action.

My wife an I played an April Fool’s joke back in college that turned bad. It could have been worse though. We faked that she fell off the balcony at the art building…she laid down at the ground floor. People looked over the edge and one student ran to a phone and called 911. Well, the cops and ambulance came full speed, through the quad, lights, sirens, everything…through parking lots, etc. The cop had to read us our rights, he didn’t arrest us. He told us that if they had caused an accident on the way here, or ran over someone in the quad or something, or even wrecked the police car or ambulance, we would be liable for that.

So, the part of me that doesn’t like giving my money away doesn’t want the red light cameras. If it’s true that they are causing more accidents, then that obviously doesn’t work. Is there a graph? I’d like to see a pretty graph.

I’m not sure that signing a petition to get something on the ballot to vote on in November is going to change anything. How many people vote anyway, really…but that’s another issue altogether.

The city does NOT get revenue from the cameras. The money goes directly to the company in Arizona that installed them. It is not a traffic violation…apparently. So, for a vote to get them torn down, it’s not so much about the vote. This is a company that is making money. It would be like trying to get all the adult video stores out of town. It’s been done, but it took quite a bit of work.

Here’s another quote from their facebook group:

We are part of the petition drive to place the College Station Red Light Camera program on a ballot to receive an up-or-down vote. Whether you support or oppose the cameras, it seems only fair to let the citizens of College Station decide whether or not we want them in our city.

Seems only fair? What is “fair” anyway? Will a vote get them torn down?

Anyway, go check out their facebook group, and go talk the them where they’ve set up their tent. They are really great people, well informed, and will answer all your questions.

And by the way, they told me that none of the “staff” were red light runners. They are standing on principle.

I would say that a better approach would be to do your best to not run red lights…always…not just at the intersections where there are cameras. This way, they will take them down because they can’t be paid for. I think this is better than a vote. Proof is in the pudding, right?

Date Night Dinner, Books, Coffee and a Movie

So, My wife’s parents came to town last night and they kicked us out.

We started the evening with a meal at Ozona Grill. It was a slow Sunday night for them, so our server was very attentive. My wife got a “Cheap Margarita” and they let me try their Ace Pear Cider on tap. I liked it so I had a glass.

Leigh had a salad and I had their Chicken Fried Steak. It was all very good. Something funny, my wife saw a sign at the server station that said “Sip and Go Policy”. We started speculating what that could mean. I thought it meant that the servers were encouraged to take a sip off the top of whatever drink they were serving, you know, total quality management, make sure the soda isn’t flat, etc. Leigh thought that it meant they would be fired if they were caught taking a sip from anyones drink. Well, truns out, it mean that if they need a drink, they are to use the small disposable cups provided to them, take the quick drink, and keep on serving. The management doesn’t want the servers hanging out at the server area having their drink. Makes total sense.

So, we finished and wen’t to Barnes and Noble to look at books. Leigh looked in the Christian section and flipped through a book called “Ruthless Trust” by Brennan Manning. It’s a book exploring the issue of “trust” being the most important aspect of a Christian life.

I looked at a book called “Masters of Deception” about optical illusions in art, including Dali, Escer, the guy who paints veggies and fruits to look like faces, etc. Really amazing book. Of course, I am attracted to the art and graphics section of the store because I’m a Graphic Designer.

The store was closing so we went to It’s A Grind for a coffee and a brownie. It was nice. Their special right now is the Funky Monkey that is a frozen coffee, chocolate, peanut butter, banana drink. yum. They even split it into two small cups for us, very nice of them. Leigh doesn’t like “banana” flavor, you know, the “banana runts” candy flavor. I do. So they made my half with banana and hers without.

So, we left there and started toward the Cinemark theater over by Sam’s to watch Star Trek. On the way there, there was a tent set up for a petition to stop the red light cameras in College Station. We stopped by and signed the petition and asked them a bunch of questions. I’ll write about that tomorrow. They have a Facebook Group.

Then we watched Star Trek. Really cool. A little confusing with the whole time travel thing, but it was fun.

So, there you go. Dinner, books, coffee, signing a petition and a movie.

And we didn’t talk about the kids the whole night.

Bryan, College Station Election Day 2008 Results

Pretty much accross the board, the Brazos Valley voted for McCain.

Here’s a quote from the Eagle:

…more than 58,567 Brazos County residents voted in Tuesday’s election for the nation’s 44th president. Of those voters, more than 20,459, or 35 percent, voted for Obama, while John McCain received 37,403, or 64 percent of the ballots.

Those numbers aren’t surprising in a community that’s home to the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum as well as Texas A&M, nor were the local results rare for a state that traditionally votes conservative.

Across the Bryan-College Station area Tuesday, many kept up with the televised exit polls and news reports that had Obama leading almost all day. Race was hardly mentioned, though. Instead, residents talked about a need for a change in the way the U.S. government is run and the way economic policies are carried out.

Although more local residents voted Republican than Democrat this year, many interviewed by The Eagle on Election Day expressed excitement over the race and a desire for a president who would improve what’s in place now.

Brazos County Clerk Karen McQueen said 58,567 of the county’s 93,000 registered voters cast ballots this round. That’s about the same number that voted in 2004. Obama garnered 5 percentage points more than the Democratic presidential candidate in that presidential election.

Election officials had expected high turnout Tuesday because a record-breaking number of people had cast ballots during early voting. Of the 34,136 who voted during the weeks before Election Day, 62.77 percent voted for McCain and 36.19 percent voted for Obama.

Here are the proposition results:

For:

Proposition 1 – The issuance of a $48,785,000 tax bonds and notes for street and transportation improvements.

Proposition 2 – The issuance of a $8,385,000 tax bonds and notes for library improvements.

Proposition 3 – The issuance of a $6,990,000 tax bonds and notes for fire safety improvements.

Proposition 4 – The issuance of $12,790,000 tax bonds and notes for parks or other recreational improvements.

Against:

Proposition 5 – The issuance of $7,050,000 tax bonds and notes for constructing and equipping a community center.

Proposition 6 – The issuance of $26,300,000 tax bonds and notes for constructing and equipping a city hall.

Ben & Jerry’s

On another note, I tried to take my family to Ben & Jerry’s, but the line was wrapping around the fountain. That was crazy. There had to be a few hundred people out there. Were any of you out there? How long were you in line? Did they run out of ice cream?

Starbuck’s

I most definitely got a free coffee from Starbuck’s.

jorge

Early Voting

OK, so yesterday I took my family out to early vote. It was fairly painless. In fact, we didn’t have to wait at all. The volunteers were really sweet and helpful.

The only regret is that I didn’t get to vote on the propositions. I guess I would have had to vote on November 4th. That’s kind of a bummer. I didn’t realize I wouldn’t get the opportunity to vote for them if I did the early voting. Oh well.

Remember, early voting is this week…check out my other post about the bonds and early voting.

Have a great day.

Bond Election November 4th

Early voting is from October 20th through the 31st. If you vote early, you don’t need to go to your regular polling station. The early voting stations are as follows:

Brazos County Courthouse – 300 E. 29th
Arena Hall – Tabor Rd & N. Earl Rudder
Galilee Baptist Church – 804 N. Logan
Grace Bible Church – 101 Harvey Mitchell
Memorial Student Center – Campus

Here’s a google map with these locations.

Most of these places will be open from 8:00am to at least 5:00PM. More info here.

So, along with goverment official voting, there are some propositions we need to vote about.

Proposition 1: Streets and transportation – Proposing $48,785,000 for various street and transportation projects, including: an extension of Jones Butler road to accommodate for Student traffic, new traffic signals throughout the city, extending Victoria Drive, Barron Road widening, Hike Bike Trail Completion, extension of Barron Road, installing sidewalks throughout the city, widening Rock Prairie Rd West, Lick Creek Hike Bike Trail construction and University Dr. Pedestrian Improvements.

Proposition 2: Library Improvements – $8,385,000 for expanding parking and adding a 15,256 sq ft extension at Larry J. Ringer Library.

Proposition 3: Fire Safety Improvements – $6,990,000 for building Fire Station #6 at University and Tarrow.

Proposition 4: Park improvements – $12,790,000 for park building improvements including Creekview Neighborhood Park, various other park needs, Lincoln Center addition of parking spaces, pavillion, backstop and an 8,000-10,000 sq ft extension, and Central Park Improvements. Also including more money for Lick Creek (see prop 1), a Skate Park (that would be cool), Est District Maintenance Shop replacement, Purchasing of neighborhood parks in advance of development and a nature center at Lick Creek.

Proposition 5: Community Center – $7,050,000 for a new community center off Krenek Tap Road.

Proposition 6: New City Hall – $26,300,000 fo the envisioned 4-story, 69,568 sq ft building at Krenek Tap and Texas Avenue.

Click here to download the Bond Proposition Brochure in PDF format (from cstx.gov)

The brochure explains the anticipated duration of these projects…for example, the new City Hall will start in 2009 and finish in 2012. The skate park with start in 2009 and finish in 2010. University Drive Improvements will sart in 2013 and finish in 2015.

The brochure also explains the impact on the tax rate. It explains that ONE CENT of the tax rate would generate approximately $495,000. A one cent increase will affect the total taxes on a $100,000 home by $10.00 annually. The expenditures of Prop 1-5 won’t affect the tax rate, although the maintenance costs could increase the tax rate in the future. Prop 6 (the new city hall) will likely increase the tax rate by 4.5 cents. So we’re looking at around $50.00 annually on a $100,000 home at least until 2012.

If you live in College station, you probably received the “VOTE FOR YOUR FUTURE” brochure in the mail, so check it out…it’s more detailed than my post here…or click the link above and download the brochure.

Personally, I THink all these improvements would be good…even if it means an increase in property tax.

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Oh, and Ben & Jerry’s is giving away a free Ice Cream Scoop if you go in to their store on November 4th between 8:00 and 5:00pm.

Ben & Jerry’s wants to thank you for voting by giving you a free scoop of ice cream! Come to participating scoop shops on November 4th from 5-8pm, show us you voted and you’ll get a free scoop of ice cream. Show us your “I Voted” sticker, a photo of you in front of your polling station, do the “I Voted dance” or just tell us you voted.

Yay…free ice cream.