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Another Big Brother
Posted 10/4/2012 1:24:00 AM

I was riding in a cab in Saskatoon a while back when a loud beeping came from the dashboard and the driver pulled out a tube and blew into it and the beeping stopped.  It was a breathalyzer.  The driver had a drunk driving conviction and was given the choice of losing his livelihood or paying a stiff monthly fee for the breathalyzer.  I think about that as I watch police shake their heads over the speeders who get caught at close to 200.  We have the technology to deal with drunk drivers and a letter from Gerry would indicate we could also turn the tekkies on the speeders.  He points out GPS is already used to monitor the speed and location of vehicles.  He wonders why those caught at excessive speeds are not required to have a GPS mounted on their cars.  A computer could monitor and maybe email a ticket for speeding.  Maybe 3 tickets and you lose your license.  I’m no computer expert, but I’m sure those who are will tell me if this is possible, or even a better way.  Like so many other things, we probably could find a way to deal with speeders if we really wanted to.  The question is whether we have the political will.  Let me know what you think.  Gerry did.

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Posted By: Bob Layton  

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  • 19
  1. Bill posted on 10/04/2012 07:08 AM
    That sounds like one solution. My suggestion is demarits for the owner of the car caught in photo radar. red light cameras, etc. The thinking now is that it might not be the owner of the car driving so they can't give them demarits. When I first got my licence I was taught that I was responsible for the actions of anyone that drove my vehicle, so don't lend it to someone that had been drinking, a freind that was irresponcible etc.
    Another way to make photo radar work is to do like they do in places in Germany. I saw a documentary about the autobaun where as you know there is no speed limit, but the approches do have limits. Over there they have front licence plates and take the picture on the front of the car. That way they also get a picture of the driver and can compare the picture to the registered owner. If they match they get demarits.
    1. eugene posted on 10/04/2012 11:10 AM
      @Bill I'm OK with the red light but not photo radar. We have phote radar and all it does get $ from people travelling through. They said it reduced acccidents but when you look at trends, it did nothing, maybe even increased. We have seen what police officers do, even on camera. Can we really trust these photo radar guys? Two weeks later you get the ticket. Do you remember if you were actually speeding then? I'm for banning photo radar. Put more cops out there. Not sure how much I trust the Sheriffs either.
  2. Richard G posted on 10/04/2012 07:12 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 09:18 AM on 10/04/2012
    Orwell wrote a book (1984) describing what life might be like if the Gerrys of the world ran the government. It wasn't a pleasant place to live. If governments decide a tool like this is good for the excessive speeder, it won't be long before it is deemed good for all, only it never applies to all. Orwell wrote another book (Animal Farm) best summarized by the pigs who said that, "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." We already see this with the distracted driving law: it applies to some, but others are deemed worthy of being exempt because they are more equal than the unworthy. Why are we so afraid of applying the New Hampshire state motto: Live Free or Die?

    Bob replies: Because it doesn't cover dangerous drivers doing 200 k.
  3. Richard posted on 10/04/2012 07:25 AM
    That sounds like a fantastic idea.
  4. Terry McKinnon posted on 10/04/2012 09:04 AM
    Make the speeding tickets a percentage of your gross income. A $175 ticket can make it so a young, hungry family loses their car and a possible income stream. That same ticket to an oilfield worker making $60 an hour is trivial.
    If you knew the speeding ticket was going to hurt, you'd likely be more careful.
    1. Bob $ posted on 10/04/2012 09:40 AM
      @Terry McKinnon I'm thinking more like $1750.00 there Terry. $175.00 to an oil rig worker isn't a bump in the road for some of these guys....driving the $50-70,000 trucks!
  5. Bob $ posted on 10/04/2012 09:37 AM
    Drivers driving these bikes at those speeds 200+kmh,...is no different than someone using a gun to commit a criminal offence. These "crotch rockets" are no different than a gun for humans that have chosen to use them in public at those speeds, threatening all of our lives.
    Would you hand the gun "back" to a perpetrator who used it to commit an offence. Neither would I, and neither do the police?
    Confiscate it and then crush it,...on first offence conviction at those speeds,...no if, ands, or butts! And make the owner push the crush button.....take them off the road!
    1. Connie posted on 10/04/2012 10:42 PM
      @Bob $ ""These "crotch rockets" are no different than a gun" a little bit dramatic aren't we? I sure haven't heard of a pandemic of 3rd party deaths from people driving these "crotch rockets". If anything these riders occasionally kill themselves but it is disrespectful and inaccurate to compare a largely fabricated issue (3 party deaths from "crotch rockets") while trivializing victims of gun violence, which, in contrast, actually has evidence of multiple deaths.
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  6. fred posted on 10/04/2012 09:56 AM This comment was edited by a moderator at 10:29 AM on 10/04/2012
    Bob, you can play any of the gotya games you wish but in this country you can drive without a licence, drive drunk, etc. as many times as you want. There is no one in the justice sysem that cares a bit. If you do not mind another slap on the wrist your are free to go.
    Remember the driver that was over three times the legal limit and killed the mom, dad, and two kids? Help my memory, he was out in how many MONTHS even after being assesed how many YEARS by our system?
    The reality is we need to stop pretending we give a damn about what the drivers or the judges do in this country.
    What is the answer then you say, STREET JUSTICE is what we have left.

    Bob replies: I agree with you, but vigilantism can never be the answer.
  7. Mouselady posted on 10/04/2012 10:56 AM
    Use average speed cameras. Cameras set at defined distances so the average speed of the cars can be calculated. Slowing down for each camera is therefore not an option.
  8. GFF posted on 10/04/2012 11:20 AM
    Bob, how many times have we seen this same subject? No matter what the public says, the courts have not changed, the offenders are still out there doing what they do! The suggestion is great but we will never see it in this province. Alberta has to be the most free-willy province in the country. Why, oh why is there not changes to be the fear of the devil in these irresponsible people? I see, easily, ten people driving while on their cell phone each time I drive from the north end to downtown. I have noticed more red light offences lately. Not only running red lights but going through AFTERr the light is red! Another big bug of mine, drivers cutting through the corner store, service station, etc rather then wait their turn for a red light, That is another law never used. It is getting down-right scary to drive in this city!
  9. Mouselady posted on 10/04/2012 12:27 PM
    Use average speed cameras on all the freeways and highways - cameras posted at defined distances that measure a car's average speed based on distance travelled. Slowing down for each camera would be pointless then.
  10. Lorne Corbett posted on 10/04/2012 03:35 PM This comment was edited by a moderator at 07:39 AM on 10/05/2012
    Hi Bob...I like the idea of a GPS unit installed to dangerous drivers. Those who deem this a big brother move have probably not had their big brother or other relative maimed or killed by a dangerous driver. At a predetermined rate of speed over the speed limit I believe the GPS unit should be installed, for the first offence. The second offence the driver should have to be sentenced to 30 days teaching people to parallel park...on a hill with a standard.
  11. Brian posted on 10/04/2012 06:06 PM
    The only problem with putting such devices on cars is you don't know who's driving. We need to attach these devices to people. Sound ridiculous? So did photo radar, speed on red, random checks etc 30 years ago We need that for the government to maintain control? What do I think???
    "Given man's nature, freedom will always be in jeopardy, and the only question that need concern each of us is if and how well we took our stand in its defense during the short period of time when we were potentially a part of the struggle. – Benjamin Rogge". "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground. – Thomas Jefferson"
    "One of the greatest delusions in the world is the hope that the evils in this world are to be cured by legislation. – Thomas B. Reed"
  12. Tim posted on 10/04/2012 08:47 PM
    The constant harping about highway/freeway speeding is a little over the top. Canadian speed limits are set artificially low in comparison to many other parts of the world (ie. Europe/USA) resulting in a grey area that nobody really respects. If we spent more time educating/testing people about safe driving and policing safe driving habits (ie. left lane passing only with tickets for obstructing vehicles) we can improve the safety and efficiency of the traffic system. It's hard to take it seriously when the police make out casual speeders to be criminals by throwing in a few anecdotes about a tiny fraction of the population who was caught doing excessive speeds.
    1. Senator George posted on 10/05/2012 09:16 AM
      @Tim "(ie. left lane passing only with tickets for obstructing vehicles) we can improve the safety and efficiency of the traffic system."
      Are you suggesting, that say on QEII highway, all traffic should ride in the right lane only,...except when they want to pass,...in the left lane.
      With the traffic on that particular highway,..that would absolutely be ludicrous!
    2. Single Vehicle Commuter posted on 10/06/2012 01:41 PM
      @Tim This man for Prime Minister! Slow drivers cause just as many problems as speeders. There will never be harmony on the roads until we recognize this and stop pandering to politically correct "speed kills" rhetoric. We need new laws targeting dawdlers and geriatrics who obstruct traffic because they equate traffic flow with their own prostate. If you can't drive it, park it.
  13. Eva posted on 10/10/2012 07:57 AM
    Why are vehicles that go over 200 km/h even allowed to be sold? Does anyone need to go this fast?
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