Should We Demand a Referendum to Remove Red Light Cameras?

This is an idea I want to get out there and see what not just New Hyde Park but communities all across the island think. I want to see how many people in both Nassau and Suffolk counties are opposed to the red light cameras and want the cameras removed and program dissolved; and what their arguments are.

Let me start with myself by saying that while I do not oppose utilizing remote cameras in heavily-trafficked, public areas by the police for security and emergency response purposes, I do heavily oppose red light cameras at traffic intersections which capture a violator’s person and license plate and send a ticket in the mail for private operator profit and government revenue purposes.

My interest increased between talking with an activist about his protests against the cameras in Suffolk County and a feature MSNBC article discussing the pros and cons of the system across the United States, with over 1,900 citizen comments (many negative) remarking on the system. The article mentions that Los Angeles is on the way to removing its red light camera system in “an anti-camera movement that appears to have been gaining traction across the country in recent weeks.”

I have heard and seen several arguments against them in my research so far:

• They are an invasion of privacy and its constitutionality is being questioned.
• They punish minor violations e.g. unlawful turn on red at quiet hours when there are no cars or pedestrians present
• They cause motorists to either pull heavy on the brakes or rapidly accelerate under a yellow light, causing dangerous situations (I witnessed this on many occasions at the Marcus Avenue / New Hyde Park Road intersection)
• They are an unfair "revenue mill" designed seemingly not to enforce the law but create profit.

…And some rumors:

• Someone could shorten the yellow light to generate more profits.
• Trucks are abused due to the amount of time it takes the entire vehicle (including trailer) to pass through the intersection at a yellow light, which is something I've heard from truck drivers I do business with.
• And could this one day lead to the same cameras issuing speeding tickets to anyone going five miles over the limit?

So now I ask you, what’s your take? If a referendum vote was authorized for this Election Day to propose removing the cameras, would you vote Yea and if so, why?