September 13, 2010 By Wayne Hanson from News Reports
Few people complain about initiatives to stop motorists who ignore red lights causing wrecks and endangering others, and so automated red-light cameras have been promoted and many municipalities now use them.
Those who do oppose the cameras complain that the devices are just a way of generating revenue, and that while they do tag red-light runners, the main source of income is motorists who fail to come to a complete stop before turning right -- the so-called "California stop."
That contention gained some credibility last week, as California's Assembly Bill 909 -- awaiting action by the governor along with some 700 other bills -- would reduce fines for drivers who fail to make complete stops before turning right on red lights. Currently, the total fine, including county assessments, would drop from a whopping $450 to $219, according to an article in the Sacramento Bee. The League of California Cities opposes the bill, said the Bee, saying it could impair the use of red-light cameras by reducing citation revenue used to operate them.
California stops put pedestrians and bicyclists at risk, and red-light runners pose perhaps the most serious risk of serious injury or death. Technology such as red-light cameras can help, but $450 for "not quite stopping" on a right turn shows that there's more than safety at issue, and that does accelerate the arguments against cameras.
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Until recently, there was no alternative to the familiar desktop computer, and its expensive upgrades and maintenance requirements. For cash-strapped local governments, the desktop computer is quickly becoming an unsustainable option for future progress. Now, a technology known as virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) offers an alternative. It can be significantly more affordable than buying individual computers for every employee, and it provides similar capability. This paper shows how VDI is the future of the desktop and is a game-changer for local governments.
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