Cities install red light cameras for revenue? *gasp*

The L.A. Times ran a well-meaning, but hopelessly naive story today on its suspicions that the city installed red light cameras not for public safety reasons but to make money.

Its evidence?  The fact that the lights are mainly catching people for making rolling right turns at red lights without coming to a full stop.

The evidence I would present if the cities I covered (or when they have) put in red light cameras is the fact that they openly have said that red light cameras would be a good source of revenue.

For example, Covina, which installed them last year, said it would help the city meets its funding goals.  Opponents of the city's utility tax used the minimal revenue gain the city expected to get from the lights as a reason not to renew the tax.

West Covina, which is facing a budget deficit next year, has discussed the idea as a way to bring in some city funds.  They also brought up overnight parking restrictions as a way to bring in money- forcing people without driveways to essentially pay a tax on using tax-payer funded streets.

So maybe we should expect another Times story on the city's brutal parking restrictions, once they discover that those are also *gasp* around to bring the city revenue.