On February 27, 2009, democrat Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (12th Assembly District including San Francisco, Daly City, Colma and Broadmoor) introduced Assembly Bill A.B. 987 …

“AB 987, as introduced, Ma. Vehicles: registration. Existing law authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend, cancel, or revoke the registration of a vehicle or a certificate of ownership, registration card, license plate, or permit under specified circumstances, including, among other things, when the department determines that a registered vehicle is mechanically unfit or unsafe to be operated or moved upon the highways. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.”

But on April 14, 2009, A.B. 987 was modified …

“AB 987, as amended, Ma. Vehicles: registration. automated speed enforcement. Existing law does not expressly authorize the use of photo radar from an automated enforcement system for speed enforcement purposes by any jurisdiction. This bill would authorize a city or county, until January 1, 2015, to establish a program utilizing an automated speed enforcement system for speed enforcement if specified conditions are met. This bill would require a city or county that adopts an automated speed enforcement program to submit a specified report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2015. Existing law authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend, cancel, or revoke the registration of a vehicle or a certificate of ownership, registration card, license plate, or permit under specified circumstances, including, among other things, when the department determines that a registered vehicle is mechanically unfit or unsafe to be operated or moved upon the highways. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions. “

to change the nature of the announced law into legislation which authorizes the use of photo radar from an automated enforcement system where none currently exists.

Cash-strapped municipalities are paying lobbyists to urge California’s legislature to authorize the use of photo radar – ostensibly for speed enforcement, although the truth points more to revenue generation than safety issues.

These legislative entreaties are often supported by the vendors of the “speed trap” equipment who often share in the ticket revenue and the insurance companies who generate inordinate profits from increased premiums with every ticket issued.

Considering that this is a concerted effort to “make California citizens wrong” rather than address specific safety issues, I believe that the matter should appear on a ballot rather than implemented by legislative fiat paid for by special interests.

For those interested in more information on this back-door effort to deceive Californians  by altering assembly bill contents and passing a law that greatly benefits special interests over the interests of ordinary citizens, more information can be found on “http://www.highwayrobbery.net/redlightcamsjoin.htm#Action5” 

What can you do?

If you feel as I do, that backdoor legislative efforts to create automated speed traps for the benefits of special interests, call, write or e-mail your elected state officials and demand that this issue be placed on the ballot for everyone to decide. Let legislators make their case based on safety issues instead of pandering to the special interests for potential campaign contributions in the upcoming election cycle.

Visit my favorite site for red light cameras, stop sign cameras and other automated enforcement devices … www.highwayrobbery.net.

-- steve