Posted by Alex Rion on 02/02/11

We filled the hearing room in Olympia yesterday to speak out against traffic cameras. We didn’t show up just to complain, but came bearing a solution.

Washington State Campaign for Liberty wrote language for a bill repealing the state law that allows Automated Ticketing Machines – or as the politicians like to call them, “traffic safety cameras”. We identified a bill sponsor in the State House, and have begun recruiting co-sponsors.

The bill is HB 1823 – “Repealing the authorization for automated traffic safety cameras.”

Here’s an opportunity where you can make an immediate difference.

Call / email / fax your State House Representatives today and urge them to co-sponsor HB 1823 repealing Automated Ticketing Machines.

The deadline for co-sponsorship will be Thursday, Feb. 3rd at 2pm.

Look up your representative’s contact information here.

Consider writing something like this:

“There is a bill being circulated regarding the repeal of state laws that allow the use of traffic cameras – HB 1823. As a voter in your district, please know that I and many of my neighbors support this legislation.

Many studies reveal that traffic cameras actually reduce safety. I certainly support ways to make our streets safer but there are engineered methods that are effective, Automated Ticketing Machines are not.

I strongly encourage your support of this bill. Please consider co-sponsorship of HB 1823, the deadline is Thursday, Feb. 3rd at 2pm.”

The way bill introduction works in Washington State, co-sponsors can only be added for a limited time after the bill’s official introduction. The cutoff to co-sponsor will be Thursday, Feb. 3rd at 2pm.

Many legislators – from both parties – have signed on already:

• Rep. McCune – 2nd LD
• Rep. Shea – 4th LD
• Rep. Crouse – 4th LD
• Rep. Rodne – 5th LD
• Rep. Kretz – 7th LD
• Rep. Short – 7th LD
• Rep. Haler – 8th LD
• Rep. Schmick – 9th LD
• Rep. Condotta – 12th LD
• Rep. Johnson – 14th LD
• Rep. Taylor – 15th LD
• Rep. Walsh – 16th LD
• Rep. Orcutt – 18th LD
• Rep. Blake – 19th LD
• Rep. Liias – 21st LD
• Rep. Zeiger – 25th LD
• Rep. Dammeier – 25th LD
• Rep. Green – 28th LD
• Rep. Kirby – 29th LD
• Rep. Miloscia – 30th LD
• Rep. Hurst – 31st LD
• Rep. Upthegrove – 33rd LD
• Rep. Haigh – 35th LD
• Rep. Morris – 40th LD – PRIME SPONSOR
• Rep. Overstreet – 42nd LD
• Rep. Goodman – 45th LD

It’s important to act quickly!

There have been bills introduced this year modifying the law allowing Automated Ticketing Machines. The bills tinker with requiring mandatory study periods, lengthening the “yellow change interval” at intersections, etc.

These are prime examples of trying to make a bad law into a law that is “less bad”. The tinkering bills would make the law worse than it already is!

If there is a bad law on the books, the right thing to do is to repeal the law.

Support HB 1823 that simply repeals Automated Ticketing Machines.

Contact your representative today!

Posted by Alex Rion on 01/31/11

Traffic Cameras = Automated Ticketing Machines

They are popping up across the country at intersections near you. Traffic cameras are marketed as a safety solution and a cost-saving measure for cash-strapped municipalities…unfortunately the truth is far more sinister.

ATMs Don’t Solve Problems, They Create Them

Did you know that traffic cameras actually increase accidents at intersections? That they routinely issue tickets for false positives to those making legal right-on-red turns?

How about the companies that push the cameras, did you know they are for-profit companies? That they have revenue-sharing agreements with the cities that host the cameras? It’s a built in incentive – for both the company and the municipality – to maximize the number of tickets issued.

If those problems weren’t bad enough, think about how they shift the burden from presumed innocence, to presumed guilt even when it’s widely known that drivers are routinely misidentified or ticketed due to an equipment malfunction. There are a host of liberty issues: invasion of privacy, denial of due process, and financial conflicts of interest to name a few.

Traffic cameras are about revenue. Make no mistake about it, local politicians may tell you ATMs are about safety, but Automated Ticketing Machines represent considerable cash flow to municipalities who, instead of cutting budgets, are casting about for more ways to get their hands in your pockets.

What Are We Doing About ATMs?

The legislative season is in full swing.  One of the top issues we are working on this year is getting rid of invasive Automated Ticketing Machines. On this issue we have opened up two fronts.

Local Initiatives

Washington State Campaign for Liberty has partnered with liberty-minded groups around the state to turn back the tide in four cities: Bellingham, Longview, Monroe and Wenatchee.

Washington State Campaign for Liberty, BanCams, and VotersWantMoreChoices are involved in all four cities in conjunction with:

• Transportation Safety Coalition – Bellingham
• Seeds of Liberty – Monroe
• We the People – Wenatchee
• Mike Wallin and Joshua Sutinen – Longview.

In each of these cities the legislative body – the city council – has decided they will put the safety of their citizens at risk for a revenue stream by installing Automated Ticketing Machines.

If you live in – or near – any of these cities, here is your chance to help make a statement. Print a petition and get registered voters in the city to sign the petition and return them to the address on the petition.

A Legislative Solution

We appreciate the unique opportunities the initiative process provides Washington State citizens. However, we generally favor more comprehensive legislative reform efforts. As the political police, it’s our job to hold our elected officials accountable.

There are several bills introduced in the state legislature this year modifying provisions of the law that allow traffic cameras – requiring mandatory study periods, lengthening the “yellow change interval” at intersections, etc.

These are prime examples of trying to make a bad law into a law that is less bad. In some cases, the proposed legislation makes sections of the law actually worse than it already is!

It’s easy to fall into the trap of supporting this kind of legislation in the spirit of moving closer to our eventual goal. However, if there is a bad law on the books, the right thing to do is to repeal the law.

To that end, Washington State Campaign for Liberty has drafted language for a bill that completely removes the authority for the use of Automated Ticketing Machines. Look for our letter coming soon with confirmation of its introduction!

Posted 02/01/11 Shawn Dow FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ

You guys rock!

Posted 02/01/11 iansmith45 Redmond, WA

How would we go about starting an initiative in Redmond? They have just installed some of these cameras and the people I have talked to about them are upset.

Posted 02/01/11 trumble81 Phoenix, AZ

Keep up the good work out there Alex.

Posted 02/02/11 ProIndividual Rutland, OH

The study that came out earlier this week said it has saved , I think, 128 lives nationwide since this tyranny was incepted. 128? Of the 1.2 million killed every year in cars? Are they retarded? That's not even enough of a result to prove causality! These people who think this is good for society are morons, and the "scientists" who did this pro-statism study did nothing to qualify their results...so sad. This intellectual dishonesty just proves we are correct, and these cameras are revenue generators, not in the interests of "public safety"...whatever the hell that is.

Posted 05/15/11 dwrogers Bellevue, WA

Alex, There is a remarkable difference between the claims of the supporters and the detractors of red light cameras. Can we have some credible sources backing up these two claims: 1) Traffic cameras actually increase accidents at intersections? 2) That they routinely issue tickets for false positives to those making legal right-on-red turns? Because, without hard data to back up these claims, this seems like a waste of time and energy! Then there is the statement that the companies producing these cameras are for-profit companies... As a Libertarian, I sure hope they are! In Liberty, David Rogers

Posted 05/15/11 dwrogers Bellevue, WA

I agree with this point, even without further data: 1) "It’s a built in incentive – for both the company and the municipality – to maximize the number of tickets issued." But I do not agree with this one: 2) "They shift the burden from presumed innocence, to presumed guilt..." These points seem related to me. It is NOT A FACT that these companies are making up infractions, however, by using these companies, I agree that the various government entities have set up conditions conducive to fraud and abuse and that this can hardly be in the best interests of the community. So I think this is where we should focus our attention. If these systems are effective, the demand we should be making is for accountability and prevention of errors and misuse. I recently received a parking ticket in Seattle for parking next to a sign that stated "bus lane only, 3-7, except Saturday and Sunday." I was ticketed at 8:30 pm on a Saturday night. In order to fight this, I had to file papers and appear before a judge. How is this any different? I was ticketed by a human, but still I had to take action in order to fight the charge. I was only presumed guilty if I took no action. And I was certainly not denied due process! 3) "Traffic cameras are about revenue. Make no mistake about it, local politicians may tell you ATMs are about safety, but Automated Ticketing Machines represent considerable cash flow to municipalities..." This is one possible interpretation of the facts. Another is that these cameras "man" intersections and promote public safety a lot cheaper than putting a union scale, pensioned safety officer at that same intersection. 3) "There are a host of liberty issues: invasion of privacy, denial of due process, and financial conflicts of interest to name a few." I'm not a Constitutional lawyer, but it is pretty clear to me that there is no invasion of privacy or denial of due process involved here. If someone can point one out, I would be happy to listen. As for "conflicts of interest", they exist in any human endeavor. One possible response to that complaint is "So what!" What is wrong with this plan of action: 1) Request justification in the form of safety studies demonstrating efficacy and efficiency. 2) Point out the conflict of interest and request that it be addressed immediately. 3) Take credit for joining with the rest of the community in making our communities safer and for leading the effort to establish clear disincentives to fraud and abuse. David

Posted by Alex Rion on 01/11/11

It’s Monday, January 10th, do you know where your wallet is?

You’d better get a tight grip on it. Today was the first day of the Washington State legislative session.

Gregoire Ignoring the Will of the People?

Last week, our fearless Governor proclaimed,“I’m not gonna let 1053 stand in the way of me moving forward for what I think is right.”

Do you, like me, wonder what she means by that?

Initiative I-1053 was, as you recall, the reinstatement of the thrice-ignored voter-approved measure which states “legislative actions raising taxes must be approved by two-thirds legislative majorities or receive voter approval, and that new or increased fees require majority legislative approval.”

It appears Governor Gregoire wants to shove another bloated budget down the throats of the taxpayer, washed down with a healthy dose of bureaucratic fees – regardless of the overwhelming message sent by the voters!

Will Our Representatives Go Along With This?

Will they have the backbone to represent the over-taxed and over-regulated citizens of Washington State?

Did you know, according to a state legislative office, our current state budget spends almost $1300.00 more per person than the State of California? That’s absolutely unsustainable!

Our legislators are facing billions (yes, that’s billions with a big “B”) in revenue shortfalls. And, of course, we know that “revenue” is the polite political term for your hard earned tax dollars.

Even worse, those billions in shortfalls are completely separate from the billions of unfunded liabilities our representatives in the legislature have passed down over the years!

Brace Yourself for the Scare Tactics

What’s a politician to do? Make as many painful cuts in the budget as they can in an attempt to scare you, the taxpayer, into letting them off the hook with higher taxes and fees.

Here’s an example from the Office of Financial Management, on the Governor’s 2011-2013 proposed budget:

“Deep cuts are made across all areas of state government. The most significant of these include:

• Elimination of the Basic Health Plan, which now offers subsidized health insurance to 66,000 low-income individuals. This saves $230 million in state funds and $117 million in federal funds.
• Elimination of the Disability Lifeline grant for the temporarily unemployable, which serves 28,000 individuals each month, and the Disability Lifeline Medical Program, which serves 21,000 clients each year who have a temporary disability and are unable to work. This saves $327 million.
• Suspension of the Student Achievement Program under Initiative 728, which provides smaller class sizes, extended learning time for students and professional development for teachers. This saves $860 million.
• Suspension of employee salary increases under Initiative 732 for K-12 and higher education teachers and other employees. This saves $280 million.
• Elimination of K-4 class-size reduction funds provided to school districts that exceed the state’s basic education allocation. This saves $216 million.
• Reduction of 3 percent in compensation for state employees. This saves $176 million in state funds and $269 million in all funds.
• Elimination of state general fund dollars for State Parks. This saves $47 million.
• Closing McNeil Island Corrections Center by April 2011. This saves $17.6 million.”

Tune Up Your Political Polygraph

We will surely hear more in the coming weeks and months about how all of the stuff that’s easy to cut has already been pared out of the budget and now we’re “down to the tough choices”.

It’s true, for the political class, the budget binge that bought ballots in prior years, bringing us to this uncomfortable reality was surely much more pleasurable than the inevitable budget purge they face today.

It’s up to liberty activists like you to see through the ploys that legislators may use. We must recondition our legislators to understand that they can’t buy votes with a bloated budget, but they sure can spend their way out of widespread support.

Gear Up For Focused Action!

As the legislative season unfolds, we’ll be tracking some critical bills. From time to time, we may be able to stop a bad bill by contacting individual legislators . It’s interesting how differently legislators can act when they know the folks in their district are “playing along at home.”
Now’s the time to help make sure we can get critical information to you. Are you willing to:

Use this form today to raise your hand so we can let you know when your strategically timed phone call, letter, or email to your representative could help us win victories for liberty!

Posted 01/11/11 Willij4lib Monroe, WA

Well Alex the key word is “think” if she actually had a clue she would not spend all this time thinking and would do the right thing for the people of the state of Washington. If she would step down she would save Washingtonians billions. Why don't we cut all her spending, cut all her personal pet peeve projects. I am totally with you here, our Governor is Federal Governments best friend. We need a best friend to the people of Washington state to free ourselves from the Federal Governments dictatorship. We need to be a sovereign union state something Gregoire opposes adamantly. She is one of the reasons Government is bloated and when her term is up she will go running to Washington DC to be with all her crony Federal Government friends who also held this same office. The fact she uses scare tactics, picks all the things she knows people really want to cut is proof she is against Washingtonians, she is a federalist practicing the measure that will get her in the white house. They love people like her who do what ever it is that suites her and no one else. I can tell you I will be listening and writing, part the problem is I am writing politicians and not statesmen of this state because there are so few in this state. I know I have written many here and very few have any listening skills what so ever. I am focused baby, so bring it ON!

Posted by Alex Rion on 01/11/11

Don’t we have enough laws already?

The tax code is impossibly complicated. It is entirely possible to break laws unintentionally. Enforcement is inconsistent – some very important laws are ignored, while other revenue-generating laws are enforced to the letter.

Patriots believe that we should simply roll back bad legislation of prior years, or remove complicated provisions to condense and simplify the laws of the land.

But…at the state level, our friends in Olympia are already lining up dozens of new laws and additions to old laws to be considered in the upcoming legislative season – before the session has even started!

Beginning in December prior to a new session, legislators are allowed to “prefile” legislation for consideration during the upcoming session.

Do these prefiled bills sound worthwhile to you?

• “Concerning beer and wine tasting at farmers markets”
• “Establishing energy efficiency standards for consumer products”
• “Creating a Washington state ferries commission”
• “Adding to the scenic and recreational highway system”
• “Protecting consumers by assuring persons using the title of social worker have graduated with a degree in social work from an educational program accredited by the council on social work education”

Sausage and Legislation

Is the punchline to the old joke, “What are two things you don’t want to watch being made?”

And yet, watching is exactly what must be done! If the citizens do not pay attention to what our legislators are doing, politicians are free to propose and pass all manner of laws – from the harmful and liberty-encroaching, to the downright silly and time-wasting.

Washington State Campaign for Liberty urges you to join us in holding politicians accountable. With your support, we can keep an eye out for legislative shenanigans.

When we find liberty-encroaching legislation, we’ll need your help to put the politicians on notice!
I know we can count on you, the patriots of Washington State.

A Question of Legislative Philosophy

It seems that today’s political class is more concerned with “getting things done” so they can get re-elected rather than getting things done RIGHT.

Far too many politicians are willing to “reach across the aisle” and attempt to make a bad law “less bad” than to do the right thing and repeal the bad law.

Click here to take the poll.

Posted 01/12/11 Willij4lib Monroe, WA

Actually these sound like the same bills we always see, people who are clueless want to regulate those who produce something of value. We do need Energy Efficiency standards but not for consumer products. We need Energy Efficiency Standards for Government decision making. Making is very difficult for them to decide without constitutional principals. We do need a Washington State Ferries commission to be totally private without Government intervention based on performance of services verse increases for BAD management practices. Getting Government grips off of the scenic and recreational highway system could make it a very enjoyable experience. I think we should stop the socialistic programs to condition people to be anything Government wants especially on social work education. Stop the conditioning process please. These will also save the state humungous amounts of worthless spending sprees. And lastly I think a few of them need some beer and wine tasting to bring up their level of living in the present rather than living like the idiots that trained them to be so incompetent. Washington states over baring example of poor management skills, humungous spending sprees. Out and out right stealing (yes I am talking about the Nova funds), the total disrespect to the producing class in this state has been a very poor example indeed and they need to be embarrassed for performing so very badly. It is an embarrassment to Washingtonians, it is a terrible example to pass on to our children and if we keep it up will be the end of Washington state as we know it. Because if we allow Federal Government to take total control they will ruin everything that has been accomplished by the producing in this state. Government did not make the State of Washington, it was the people who made it a state and we would be good to recognize this and take our state back from a poor example and lead with great examples of a state that produces products others need and want, here, in other states and abroad. When we do this well we will sustain, we will have performed and we will have shown our children a great importance. That Government does not decide anything, the people do and this is what needs to take place.

Posted by Alex Rion on 12/14/10
Last updated 12/14/10

A golden opportunity is within your reach to show the establishment that you choose liberty over statism! It’s called the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC.

Every year organizations rally at CPAC to share ideas, tune in to issues-based information, and spectate as potential leaders jockey for position.

Liberty needs good lobbyists. That’s where you come in. By sending a strong contingent from the Campaign for Liberty, we shake up the whole conference.

The part of the event that often makes headlines is the presidential straw poll. As you may remember, Ron Paul won the day at the last CPAC gathering.

Campaign for Liberty has purchased a group of tickets at a discount. By using our special state authorization code (WA), you can score tickets and lodging at a significantly reduced rate.

WHAT: CPAC Conference

WHEN: February 10-12, 2011

WHERE: Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.

BOOK TICKETS HERE: Dig into the details and book tickets directly at the national Campaign for Liberty website, use this link to go directly to the CPAC section of the site. A limited number of tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis.

IMPORTANT CODE: In order to take advantage of the discounted rate, use the code WA in the promotional code field. Not only does that secure your reduced ticket, if enough Washington State liberty activists attend, we earn a contribution to our state organization!

DEADLINE: This rate is only good for a limited time. You must sign up before supplies run out. Book your spot today so you don’t miss out!

If you do not go, who will represent liberty? You can make a difference by attending. Send a clear message that you support principled policy and action oriented groups like Campaign for Liberty.

Sign up for CPAC today!