Live Cameras (Red Lights) Bloomfield CT

What are traffic enforcement cameras and how can they be avoided?

March 23, 2010
By:  Lynn Bryant

Traffic enforcement cameras are used to catch motorists that run red lights and exceed the posted speed limit. These traffic camera systems are being utilized in many of the major cities throughout the United States as well as other countries throughout the world. The reason often cited for installing these devices, is to reduce the number of traffic accidents and related injuries. In general, these traffic violation cameras do in fact seem to contribute to the reduction of injuries related to running red lights and speeding violations. However, their use often evokes a certain amount of disapproval from many drivers.

Many drivers feel victimized by a system of automated monitoring and automated ticketing. They feel the system leaves room for error, and leaves drivers with very little defense against their accuser. This is in fact a big problem. Due to the nature of red light and speed camera ticket systems, drivers are at the mercy of machines. If a car is caught traveling through an intersection after the traffic signal turns red or is calculated to be exceeding the posted speed limit, a ticket will automatically be generated and mailed to the registered driver on record. Safeguards are supposed to be built into the system to ensure that unwarranted tickets are avoided. However, that does little to comfort drivers that may have received tickets in error.

The following are three measures that drivers can use to protect themselves from the ever present eye of red light and speed cameras.

1. PhotoBlocker spray -- This product is designed to be applied directly to your vehicle's license plate. It creates an invisible coating that reflects the flash of a traffic enforcement camera back towards the camera itself, overexposing the resulting photo. The company that manufactures this product, PhantomPlate, states on the website that they do not assume any legal responsibility for the use or application of their product. They recommend that you check with your state and local laws before using their product. They do state however, that once applied the product is invisible to the naked eye, making it virtually impossible to detect.
    
2. Traffic camera detectors -- There are products available on the market that provide an early warning alert of nearby traffic cameras. One option is to purchase a standalone red light and speed camera detector that is dedicated to providing this functionality. The other option is to download a reliable and updated database of traffic enforcement locations to your existing satellite navigation system (GPS), PDA or mobile phone.
    
3. Traffic camera location websites -- A free resource you can use to determine the location of both speed and red light traffic cameras is the Internet. There are several websites dedicated to maintaining an updated database of all the traffic camera locati...