Enjoy driving on Indiana freeways while you can, before they become one giant speed trap. Spurred by the state's budget shortfall and inspired by the huge number of tickets Maryland has been able to write under a similar program, two Indiana legislators want to start using a "work zone freeway speed camera" program (added emphasis mine):
Under Friend's proposal, the state transportation department would lower the speed limit on freeways to 45 MPH, then allow private contractors to issue automated citations worth $300 to $1000 each to drivers who may have missed the speed reduction sign. The tickets could be issued even when no work is being done in the so-called work zone.
The program is being pushed by Affiliated Computer Services, which has a construction zone radar program up and running in Illinois and which has been spreading around a lot of campaign donations in Indianapolis. You remember ACS -- that's the bunch of crackerjack computer geniuses who got the contract to privatize Indiana's wrecked welfare system and then set fire to the wreck.
At least they're not insulting our intelligence with the usual lie that this will be "all about safety."
