A red light camera is going up at Rio and 29 in two weeks. The county has some details. #
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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Wasn’t there something about “the Constitutionality of Red Light Cameras” a few years back?
What has changed? How is this any different?
As a follow up on this subject-
There have been investigative news stories done in other cities where red light camera’s were installed.
The issues they highlight include:
1. Shortened “Yellow light Times” which increase the rate of Photo Red enforcement (or increase the incidents of rear end collision to avoid the Photo Red ticket).
2. Conflicts of interest between the “Public Good” and “Private Corporate Profit.”
Here’s one example of those stories – In Mesa Arizona:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZINQC_yMnQ0
(Sure it was Arizona – but if it could happen there it could happen here).
For those reasons and others, I’m convinced that this red light camera thing will end badly here. It’s a solution to a terrible problem that is simple, straightforward, and bad.