Government’s abuse of Photo Radar

For those of you who don’t know, the first photo radar system to be deployed in the U.S. was in Arizona.

A typical system works like this; respective municipalities lease the equipment and pay a fee to the photo radar equipment manufactures for the equipment. Manufactures are also typically paid a percentage of what’s collected from fines collected. Manufactures may have the right to move the equipment if target revenues are not met.

According to an article in “thenewspaper.com”, photo radar units on the Loop 101 freeway in Scottsdale, Arizona have generated more than $2,894,766 in revenue since the set of six speed cameras were activated on February 22. As of May 3, the city mailed 18,438 citations worth between $157 and $201 each. Australian vendor Redflex takes a $42.48 cut of the profit on each ticket the company is able to generate.

In another article cited by “thenewspaper.com” Officials in Richland Hills, Texas have manipulated the yellow signal timing at the city's lone red light camera monitored intersection. By slicing the amount of warning time available to motorists from 3.6 seconds to 3.0 seconds for several months, the intersection of Glenview Drive and Booth Calloway Road generated an estimated $300,000 in extra photo ticket revenue. Richland Hills Police Chief Barbara Childress admitted that she ordered a private contractor to shorten the yellow signal time.

The argument used my cities to deploy these system is safety…right! So how safe are intersections when yellow light are shortened? Safety my Butt!

Government must think we are stupid. Just follow the money and we can see why there’s such a huge interest on the part of Municipalities to deploy these system.

At one time, IRS agents were paid commissions based on what they colleted…Yea, that wasn’t abusive! (this is sarcasm, under this system millions of U.S. citizens were targets of abuse.).

Under the 6th amendment of the U.S. constitution, you have the right to confront your accuser, in this case, your abuser. So exactly how do you cross examine a radar system? You can’t and these cities know it. They also know the odds of an individual fighting a photo radar citation is small. These are no small fines, they can reach several hundred dollars and judges are quick to side against you.

I would recommend anyone, receiving a citation, present your case in court. It’s your right. Yes it adds cost to the court system. Maybe cities will think twice about the way citations are issued.

At one time, the city of Tucson had two schedules of fines, one schedule if you don’t contest the citation and another if you do, how ridiculous! Government has no business discouraging individuals from their constitutional right fight a citation. Besides, what ever happened to the presumption of innocents?

Now we hear Gov. Napolitano is deploying photo radar systems throughout Arizona. As an individual and as a police officer this upsets me. Why? Because Gov. Napolitano is not deploying Photo Radar because of some compelling safety issue. She’s using the income from Photo Radar to balance the state’s budget. This is nothing shot of a TAX!

Municipalities are depending more and more on the revenues for these types of technologies. Why, because it’s easy. For the most part, people are tired of Taxes and Municipalities know this.

Can speed radar read faulty, you bet. I remember running radar and clocked a tree moving at 20 MPH…and I was stationary.

On a personal note; if I would have known that Gov. Napolitano would have resigned as Gov to accept a position with Obama's Administration...I would have voted for Obama.
She’s been terrible for the State of Arizona. Anyone that resolves budget problems by deploying Photo Radar across the State is Clueless and a poor leader.

This is not the end. My plan is to do something about the abuse…stay tuned.
It's time to kick butt and take names.....

- Bill Conley

Pinal County's Jail Commander.

One of the statements made by Sheriff Vasquez was, Paul Babeu was elected Sheriff because Paul is a better politician…I beg to differ. It may be a defining moment and one of the biggest disconnects Chris Vasquez has with his responsibilities to the office. Sheriff Vasquez; you didn't loose because Paul is a good politician, you lost because the voters threw you out of office, it's that simple. The inference you make is if Paul was a poor politician you would have won. To assign your loss to anything else is a slap in the face of the voters.

Sheriff Vasquez doesn’t seem to understand why he lost the election. He doesn’t understand why the Sheriff’s office is in a depressed state of low moral; he doesn’t understand why the rank and file within the office doesn’t support him.

I think Sheriff Vasquez is clueless on why he lost the election.
Maybe I can explain;

I’m not trying to state the obvious; but Paul Babeu was elected Sheriff because the people of Pinal county had very little faith or confidence in Vasquez and refused to accept the same ole’ Sheriff’s office.

Case in Point; Deputy Chief Terry Altman was hired in April 2005 to run Pinal County’s Jail system and according to the East Valley Tribune he was hired as a result of a nation wide search.

Prior to Altman’s appointment as Deputy Chief of Pinal County's jail, he was in charge of the jail system for Brevard County, Fl. and under his command, five Brevard County inmates committed suicide in three months causing Altman’s demotion….he should have been fired.

So what does Sheriff Vasquez do?....hires Altman to run our jail. Maybe Vasquez should have hire Dr. Kevorkian, we may have lost less inmates and is just as qualified.

Are we to believe that a nation wide search resulted in hiring the most qualified person to run Pinal County’s jail system...really! And Sheriff Vasquez doesn’t understand why he lost the election...wow! People may not know who Terry Altman is, but his incompetence reflects poorly on the county never the less.

I wonder if Terry Altman placed on his resume that under is command five inmates lost their lives, or that he was demoted as commander of Brevard County jail. In any case, Altman should have never been hired.

Should Altman be shocked that he will be replaced in Sheriff Babeu’s administration? If he is, he's also clueless.

I refuse to accept that Altman was the best pick for Pinal County.

The bottom line; Sheriff Vasquez was removed from office by the people of Pinal County because of his lack of leadership and incompetent decisions like hiring Terry Altman. At a minimum Sheriff Vasquez should have fired Altman as a result of the Pinal County inmate suicides.




- Bill

Pinal has a new Sheriff

Every law enforcement officer can tell you the most important defining attribute is integrity and honesty. A person simply cannot be a police officer if they lack the most important parts defining a police officer. The smallest mistake involving integrity and honesty can get you in a lot of hot water, even fired or decertified. This includes all law enforcement officer, not just the rank-and-file, but command staff, Lieutenants, Captains, Sergeants, Chiefs and yes, Sheriffs.

When Chief Robert Ingulli, Florence Police Chief, lost in the last election for sheriff, I believed the same corrupt Pinal County, good old boy network would never change.

When I heard Paul Babeu was running for Sheriff, I didn’t simply accept the rumors about Paul nor did I take the statements Paul made on his website, I met with him one on one and I walked away with the confidence that he could turn things around for the Pinal County Sheriff’s office.

I wrote an endorsement for Paul, which was posted on his Website.
"Our community needs a strong leader, one that “we the people” can hold accountable, one with the highest integrity and honesty, one that believes in the United States Constitution, one that feels strongly about protecting its citizens. After meeting and talking with Paul, there’s no doubt in my mind that he is the man for the job."

I meant every word I wrote. But more important than the written words, is I plan on holding Paul Babeu accountable. I have nothing to gain nor do I want anything from the Sheriff elect; Other than security and bringing back honesty, integrity and a sense of accomplishment to the office.

He has a big job ahead of him and it’s not going to be easy. There are many rumors of the current Sheriff making attempts to scuttle the new sheriff’s transition to office; spending the balance of the budget so nothing is left for Paul to work with, leaving internal investigations open to be dealt with later, just to name a few. What the current administration does not understand is; that only hurts the people of Pinal County. Lets hope none of this is true.

I think Paul understands; this is no free ride. He will be held to a higher standard. He will need to reach and maintain a higher bar. It’s what he ran on.

If he doesn’t understand then it should be made very clear; we will not accept the same old Pinal County, you will be held accountable, my reputation is on the line, I endorsed you and gave my word to my community that you were the one to turn things around.

This supporter plans on not only holding Sheriff Elect Babeu accountable but the rest of the county government.

Holding Government Accountable

One of the things that drives me crazy is listening to people complain about politicians or their government and later find out they didn’t vote.

As individuals, we must hold our government accountable, not just Washington D.C., but local government as well.

My daughter once told me that she defines politics as; “Poly” meaning many and “Tics” meaning blood sucking parasites. I think she’s on to something. Unfortunately we have become a nation of cynics that no longer have faith in the ability of government to do the people’s business. It seems that politicians move their own interest ahead of the people they represent.

Is that the peoples fault? Maybe, you pick them! It’s my belief that time after time, politicians will say or do anything to earn your vote then fail to follow through on what was promised.

This blog will outline Pinal County Government, individual politicians and their respective progress, success and failures.

For the first time ever, I involved myself directly in Pinal politics. I gave hundreds of hours of my time and hundreds of dollars of my hard earned money and I fully plan to hold the people I helped get elected accountable.

It’s time for the great people of the United States of America to stand up and be heard.