In Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, two cities in the Phoenix Metropolitan area, the cities have decided to use Photo Radar to reduce the amount of people who speed. How they work is, there is a radar gun and a camera in a truck (usually a GMC Jimmy or Chevy Blazer). The camera and radar are pointed out the back window at a lane of oncoming traffic. There is also a camera on the roof of the vehicle that photographs the license plate of the law-breaker's car. A ticket is then sent to the victim's residence.

I object to this kind of enforcement and for many reasons. I believe that the cities could be spending their money in better ways. Why pay someone to sit in a truck all day when you could have on-the-job cops doing what is really their job?! Secondly, there is a loop hole in the system that allows people to get away with not paying the ticket. Now, there was an article in the Arizona Republic about a new team of about 500 people that would follow up on tickets that hadn't been paid. This program's cost is supposedly covered by all the money from the tickets.

I am not of driving age, but in a month, I will be able to get my learner's permit. Even though I am unable to legally drive, I hate photo radar. I think it's been a waste of money and many people can legally ignore the tickets. I know that won't be happening now because of the article.

This was an annoying way to come up with more money for the city. Which I don't believe has really happened. How much money can be made from traffic tickets. The article admitted that the enforcement of the tickets would be using most if not all of the money generated from the tickets.

In a nutshell, photo radar sucks.