Most of you have probably noticed the
cameras at various intersections around Lincoln. There are about fifty scattered around town so they're pretty hard to miss. How many of you thought they were traffic enforcement cameras (aka red light cameras)? They aren't.
It seems to be a common misconception, although it's one that has been debunked oodles of times. The cameras are used only for traffic monitoring purposes, not enforcement. You won't receive a ticket or court summons in the mail if you drive through an intersection on an orange light. Not that you would ever do that, of course.
The only reason I bring this up is that I hear the "red light camera" rumor
all the time. Family, friends, strangers, kids, adults -- it's a pervasive myth. It really gets me when I have to explain the truth to the same person repeatedly. ("Nope, they
still aren't red light cameras.") It wouldn't be such a bad myth to allow to propagate if there weren't so much outrage associated with it. Some people get pretty feisty when talking about this imaginary intrusion upon their liberties. (The right to endanger fellow motorists, I guess?) Personally I prefer folks reserve their outrage for actual transgressions. There are plenty of them out there so it's not like we need to go inventing any fake ones.
Lincoln may some day have red light cameras. If that day comes, I'll be among the first to chatter about it. For now, though, let's put this myth to bed.