March 7, 2010 in Letters

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Let’s look back. When photo stop lights were being discussed, we were told that they would reduce accidents and injuries at “dangerous intersections.” Revenue was not an issue, we were told. Safety, safety, safety was the only reason. Others pleaded that longer yellow lights had been found to work better. The cameras came anyway.

Well, accidents and injuries are up at these “dangerous intersections.” So it’s a no-brainer, right? End the program. Nope, wrong. Expand the program. Turns out that revenue is the important thing. Who cares if more citizens are injured? Not the City Council. Money is everything. Safety? You’re kidding.

Speaking of money, I have an idea. Since we now know for a fact that these cameras cause accidents in Spokane, isn’t it time for a class-action lawsuit? The expansion of the program would seem to me to be, at the least, reckless disregard for public safety, maybe even reckless endangerment. Steve Eugster, where are you now?

Maybe a lawyer will get this started. Maybe voters will remember come election time (council is betting against that one). Maybe the council will wake up and end this program before there has to be a lawsuit. We can hope.

Donny Hearn

Spokane

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