The 36 fixed cameras and 40 in vans will be shut down on July 16, the Associated Press reported. The whole scenario was based on two simple steps: one - Big Brother recorded every single driver that exceeded the speed limit by 11 mph or more and two – the fine was sent via mail. But drivers with a heavy foot found the easiest solution to deal with the fines: ignore them.
The result was embarrassing, especially for state authorities who hoped to get $90 million in revenues. As always, officials claimed that all cameras are actually created to save lives, not to bring money to the state budget. Obviously, the avalanche of criticism assaulted all speed cameras' supporters, but the program still received the green light.
According to figures provided by azcentral.com, the photo-enforcement gadgets caught 2 million drivers exceeding the speed limit in 18 months and submitted more than 1.2 million fines. The results were disappointing, at least as far as Arizona officials are concerned: 30 percent of the fines were actually paid, which translates into a $63.5 million revenue for the state budget.
Reactions are however divided. Some people are still shouting that all these speed cameras are actually useful because they enhance safety and “force” motorists to drive more carefully. On the other hand, drivers are claiming that all radars are being used to generate money and accuse police officers of “unfair” tricks to fine them. Since the program received the government's approval, drivers fought back with their very own weapons: there were reports saying that Post-it notes, Silly String, and other “gadgets” such as pickaxes have been used by drivers against the vigilant eye of the speed cameras.
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