Speed-camera backlash has towns scraping for cash

Albany, NY

CASH-STRAPPED US local governments that installed traffic cameras to boost revenue are scraping to fill budget gaps after complaints by irate drivers forced them to cancel their use.

Nassau County on Long Island ended its programme after speed cameras led to the issuance of more than 400,000 tickets in less than two months, opening a US$90 million budget hole over the next three years. In Ohio, Dayton is cutting in half its number of police cruisers, and Linden, New Jersey, is shelving plans to hire more cops after both states effectively ended camera systems following a backlash from motorists.