Living in Washington DC - VI

The City of Washington DC is exactly 21 square miles. In those 21 square miles there are 25 photo radars to catch speeders. Also, there are 23 permanent intersection cameras to catch people going through red lights, and 7 movable intersection cameras. These radar machines are a major source of revenue for the City. They have also helped to slow down traffic along major streets and through certain neighborhoods.

The manufacturer states the cameras are to be calibrated every six months. To save money the city did not maintain a regular calibration schedule. Three people who received tickets in the last months asked when the cameras that caught them had been calibrated. The City would not release the information so the three people petitioned the court. A judge asked for a report and examination to be on his desk within a week. It was discovered that about 30% on the intersection cameras were malfunctioning and the City had shut them down. About 45% of the radar cameras were not close to recording the correct speed.

The last major recalibration was done in October 2005. The judge ordered the City to refund anyone who had been ticketed by most of the cameras in the last ten months. The only cameras not covered were cameras that underwent significant repairs between March 06 and August 06. The City is quickly fixing the cameras and getting them properly recalibrated. The City’s attempt to save money costs them a bundle. Living in this area, you get use to some strange thinking from officials associated with the City of Washington DC.