Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Safety vs. Revenue, Volume 1

The authorities would love for us to believe that the privacy-invading Scameras and Talivans are there "for our safety".

But it's all about revenue.

Safety Scenario A1: You're going with the flow of traffic and pass a cop. Cop pulls you over for doing 46 in a 35. Cop gives you ticket. You feel like a schnook. You drive slower for a month thinking about what you did. All the passers by slow down because they see you there pulled over like a schnook so they drive safer too.
Safety Scenario A2: You're going with the flow of traffic and pass a cop. Cop pulls you over for doing 46 in a 35. Cop got lucky last night and got a raise this morning. Cop lets you off with a warning. You feel like a schnook. A damn lucky one, but a schnook nonetheless. You drive slower for a month thinking about what you did. All the passers by slow down because they see you there pulled over like a schnook so they drive safer too.
Revenue Scenario A: You're going with the flow of traffic and pass a gray box on a pole. Not even thinking about it, you continue driving 46 in a 35. TWO WEEKS LATER you get a ticket in your mailbox. The rest of your day is ruined. You think about all the gray boxes you must have passed in the past two weeks and start sweating. You start driving safer but it took TWO WEEKS. Nobody saw you get pulled over and they probably got ticketed too. But at least the city/state gets your money.

Safety Scenario B: You're going with the flow of traffic and pass a cop. Cop pulls you over for doing 46 in a 35. You're also quite drunk. Cop puts you in cuffs, calls for a tow truck, and takes you to jail. Unsafe driver off the street.
Revenue Scenario B: You're going with the flow of traffic and pass a gray box on a pole. The gray box takes your picture. You're also quite drunk. You get a ticket in the mail. You pay it and get away with DUI. But at least the city/state gets your money.

Create a Safety vs. Revenue scenario and send it to me, if it's cool enough, maybe I'll post it.

No comments: