Accept photocop or alter law

By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

. . . or you can just slow down.

Don't get me wrong. I believe it is a good and healthy thing to question government. More than that, it's our responsibility to poke around into the state's business and make sure they're doing right by us. But opponents of the Department of Transportation's traffic camera program are starting to sound like guilty children whining about how unfair it is to get busted instead of maturely taking responsibility for their behavior and accepting the punishment.

The three-year photo enforcement project is far from being unassailable. That the fines for violations are so high, that the cameras are being operated by a private company and not police officers, and that the private company stands to profit from each ticket certainly raise questions. On some level, it does seem more straightforward and fair to be busted for speeding by a cop, someone you can look in the eye, someone you can talk to (or talk back to, as the case may be.)

But to conjure up comparisons to George Orwell's "Big Brother" requires a large leap and a good dose of exaggeration. The literary Big Brother censored everyone's behavior as well as their thoughts, and spied on people's private lives in their private homes. That's very different. Your behavior on public roadways is, naturally, subject to observation by law enforcement. If it wasn't, there would be chaos.

There are other valid points of contention. Yes, the speed limits are unreasonably low in a number of areas. For example, 35 miles per hour on the Pali going downhill out of the tunnel is pretty hard to do. But that's something to call your local lawmaker about, not a point that can be argued in court.

Another issue is that the citation will go to the registered owner of the car, and not necessarily the person driving. This puts a burden on all those who own cars to make sure you have a clear understanding with everyone who gets behind your wheel. Yeah, it's a drag if you get a citation when your friend or your kid or your auntie was driving, but isn't it your kuleana to make sure your friend, your kid and your aunty obey the law when they use your Honda?

The biggest argument is the one people have a hard time saying out loud and signing their name to: People want the supreme right to break traffic laws according to their own judgment and according to their own needs. Except too often, they're dead wrong.

The bottom line here is public safety. How can anyone argue against protecting lives and preventing accidents?

Yes, the system needs fine-tuning. The legislative session opens Jan. 16. If this really bugs you, start writing those lawmakers right now. And remember that you do have the right to contest a citation.

Or you could just . . .

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com