Macey Bailey

Professor Nathan Helmers

English 1201

15 January 2019

The Use of Traffic Cameras

I chose to learn and write about the use of traffic cameras in the world today. Traffic

cameras being used has been a controversial debate for 20 years. This varies from state to state,

depending on their laws, and regulations. This is a good topic to talk about, and to inform people

of because not very many people are aware of traffic cameras, until it’s too late. Meaning “until

it’s too late”, as in receiving an unwanted ticket in the mail unexpectedly. Tickets can be very

expensive too, while some people don’t have the extra money to pay a ticket they were unaware

about getting.

My father got a surprise ticket and visit one time for running a traffic light on accident in

order to prevent a car accident from happening. I remember wondering how such technology

worked, without even getting pulled over on the spot by a cop, and how important it was to know

the law and your own rights. Some people feel attacked as soon as they get pulled over by a cop,

or don’t know what to do or say when they are getting pulled over. Traffic cameras work to catch

those who have bad driving habits such as speeding, not stopping at stop signs all the way,

catching people not wearing their seat beats, texting and driving, and much more.

Traffic cameras are not only used to give away tickets, but I think of it as an extra “safety

precaution”. For example, if a traffic camera is in place in a big city such as Columbus, Ohio,

and someone hits a pedestrian walking down the street alone, and does a “hit and run”, and no
one else seen it, but the traffic camera did. The traffic camera can be used by the police to check

the make, model, year, and the license plate of the car. Once the police have all the right

information, they can track down the person who did the hit and run, based on using the traffic

cameras. There are many uses to traffic cameras, other then giving out tickets for those breaking

the laws when a cop, or state patrol is not around to catch them.

I am interested in learning about different states that support, and use traffic cameras, and

those who oppose and disagree with using them. I have many questions, that I hope I can figure

out the answers to. I chose this topic to learn, and help educate others along the way of my

learning. I feel like in the world we live in today, traffic cameras can be used in a positive way,

more than a negative way. It can be used for safety measures, along with keeping others safe, and

teaching others to obey the law when the law enforcement is not around. It teaches safety habits,

and promotes others to do the same.