We’re living in the era of cameras. You can point to different reasons for increased surveillance. Some government entities use it to keep an eye out for terrorism and similar threats. No matter the reason for it, though, if you’re out in public in a major city, you might look up and see cameras at virtually every street corner.
That includes traffic cameras. You usually see them mounted on light posts, or you may see others above traffic lights. You might see them on buildings pointed toward busy intersections.
If someone runs a red light, these cameras might catch them. That’s useful, especially in some of the more populated states. For instance, Georgia sees about 5,200 yearly red-light running incidents. Traffic cameras catch many of the drivers and license plate numbers.
When that happens, the police can send a ticket to the offending driver in the mail. Maybe they thought they got away with it, but then they get the unwelcome piece of mail a few days later.
Some drivers might grumble about that, but the cameras work to keep other motorists safe. If someone runs a red light one time too many, they might hit another driver, cyclist, or pedestrian. They can easily kill or seriously injure them if that occurs.
Traffic cameras also help drivers in the modern era. We will talk about that in a little more detail right now.
Lawsuits Stemming from Intersection Crashes
Let’s say you’re going through an intersection, and someone T-bones you. A driver either runs a red light or they try to make it through a yellow light and don’t get through the intersection in time.
That can cause a wreck, and sometimes a serious one. If that happens, maybe the other driver leaves the scene before the police arrive.
They might do this if they don’t have any insurance or if they have an insufficient policy. Certain states mandate that drivers have a minimum amount of insurance, but some careless drivers still operate their vehicles without a proper policy in place.
Other times, an inexperienced driver might panic and drive off before the cops show up. Teenagers who don’t want to face the consequences of their actions might do this.
No matter why another driver drove off after a collision in an intersection, the cops can help you to track down the offending driver by looking at the traffic camera footage. If you then sue the other driver, then you might use the traffic camera footage at the trial.
It can prove that the collision happened like you said it did. You might force a settlement offer from the defendant. If they won’t willingly settle, then the camera footage may get you a jury’s verdict in your favor.
Carjackings That Take Place in Intersections
You might also have a carjacking that takes place at an intersection. Car thieves often operate at night, but they may even do so during the day if they feel particularly brazen and you have a desirable make and model of car.
Once again, the police might use the traffic camera footage to track down the individual who did it. They can look at the still photos and possibly identify the suspect.
If they catch this person later, they can convict them using the footage from the camera. As a civilian, you will probably appreciate that. Doubtless you want your car back, but you are probably also hoping that the police will lock up the person who stole your vehicle.
Maybe they even had a gun or knife and scared you quite a bit. In some cases, you might develop PTSD from the incident if it frightened you badly enough. Knowing the cops got this person off the streets should hopefully make you feel better.
Kidnappings That Take Place in Intersections
In rare cases, you might have a carjacking that turns into a kidnapping. Maybe someone tries to steal your car and you have a toddler in the vehicle’s back seat.
If that happens, then you have a much more serious situation than just a stolen car. Even if the person or individuals who stole your vehicle did not intentionally take the car with a child in the back, who knows what they might do when they come to that realization?
The police can look at traffic camera footage of the suspect. They can inform other police departments nearby. They can all work together and try to find your child. The traffic camera footage might help to get your young one back before the kidnappers do something unforgivable.
Additional Ways Traffic Cameras Help the Police and the Public
Traffic cameras can also help the police in some additional ways. They might use the footage to identify a scammer who’s getting money out of drivers for a fake injury.
Maybe they are impersonating a military veteran, but it is a stolen valor situation. Law enforcement takes that seriously. If an out-of-work individual panhandles, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, since they are likely doing it out of necessity. If they claim they are a veteran and they never served, though, most people agree that’s dishonest and immoral.
Traffic cameras can identify individuals who grope women at stop lights. They can sometimes identify teams of pickpockets working the intersection as well.
In short, you might not always like to see a traffic camera at an intersection because you may not like the increased feeling of scrutiny. While no one enjoys the idea of living in a heightened surveillance state, these cameras serve some legitimate purposes.
When you see them, you should feel glad they are there. If you are ever in one of the situations we have described where you are the victim of a crime, though, you should feel much more appreciative about them. Those cameras can help you win your lawsuit, get your car back, or even find your child that a carjacker took without realizing it.
