Not enough cops to cover traffic everywhere

Re: Cameras could replace cops

Sadly, if it were only so. In the issue where Mr. Woods' letter appeared were these headlines: "Blackburn investigation completed," "Kalisz pleads not guilty in deputy's death," "Sheriff's office seeks help thwarting home burglaries," "Man on phone breaks gas line" and "Attempted copper theft leads to burglary charges."

Unfortunately, human nature will always give law enforcement more than enough to do above and beyond traffic enforcement.

I referenced the Florida statutes as my guideline for driving and to emphasize the fact that stopping is required by the state of Florida. I never said it was the enforcement law used by the City of Brooksville. In fact, I stated that no points were assessed and it was "just like a parking ticket."

Perhaps I was a little vague in this area. There had been enough in print about the cameras and I wrongly assumed that everyone knew it was a city ordinance that was being enforced, not the statute.

Like ordinances in cities and counties all over the country, Brooksville passed its own covering the red light cameras. A quick look at the city's Web site and following the link, one can find it is Chapter 74 Streets, Sidewalks and Other Public Places. Under that main heading is Article V Traffic Light Safety followed by Sections 74-201 through 74-214 covering the cameras' function and the process followed by the city.

Yes, I was paid to enforce the law and I like to think I did my best. If more people had stopped for red lights, I could have spent more time enforcing the law and less time investigating accidents and notifying next of kin because of the sheer stupidity of some driver who thought he/she could disobey a red light with impunity.

There are not enough police, and never will be, to cover all the traffic everywhere. However, if drivers believe that they can get fined for running a light even if they can't see the cop, perhaps, just perhaps, a life can be saved and some other cop will not have to knock on a door with bad news.

As for the "government cameras everywhere" hyperbole, like flying cars and robot servants that walk the dog or fix dinner, it is possible but costly and highly unlikely.

John H. Stansbury

Brooksville