Only in America :: It's always about the money...

Here's an article about traffic light cameras - originally installed to catch people running red lights, and in theory, reduce fatalities, discourage the habit, and increase public safety. The gov't also made the incorrect assumption that they would reap in millions in ticket fines.

In actuality, the reverse has happened. Yes, fatalities are down, safety is up, but fines are also down because people are being safe - not running red lights.

So, because fines are down, at least one city - Dallas - is turning the cameras off. In camera based fines, they took only in $11 million versus their projected $15 million.

I can understand (although not necessarily agree with) the budgetary realities for public entities. But come on now, really.

Here's another one for you. Aspen recently spent somewhere around $1 millon on solar powered parking meters - to be installed into extended residential areas around the town core.

So now, you have to pay to park on the street in front of your own house.

Only in America, is breaking the law an economic benefit. They want us to break the law. It's good for business. It's good for government. It's good for the GDP. But not the big laws - just the little ones - misdemeanors and parking offenses. Don't go postal on us.

Here's the link to the traffic light camera article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23710970/