They're making a killing

I thought it was some kind of optical illusion or delusion, but no, the yellow lights are definitely shorter here.  You simply can't get through before they turn red -- hence the windfall Calgary makes in tickets, thanks to cameras at every intersection.  This was confirmed in an editorial here today.  That cute little trick, plus speed cameras every few inches along every road, make for easy pickin's for the city fathers.  I have ceased going through yellow lights.  I now slam the brakes dangerously hard and instead screech to a hazardous and abrupt stop.   

All contributes to road rage here.  Just to make sure you are snared, the speed limits go from 100 to 80 to 70 to 60 to 50, then back to 80 -- all in the space of a kilometre!  You have no idea you are speeding or running a light until you get a charming love letter from the Calgary police service containing your fine.  "Dear Sir, please fork over $150 or $250, as per the photo below."  And there you are, licence plate undeniable, clocked, shot, fined and toasted.  Bang.  (I won't dare divulge what B (not I...yet) has racked up in fines, too depressing.)

The US National Motorists Association Foundation has launched a campaign to stop short yellow lights.  "Red-light cameras can only remain profitable at poorly-engineered intersections," says the group.  "Once an intersection is fixed, the money dries up quickly."  So, it's on-purpose and basically illegal.  Great.   

It is so annoying.  The May 24th weekend nabbed more than 6,000 violators on the Crowchild Trail alone!  Do the math.  And they don't even need uniformed bodies in cars to do the work.  Those teensy, hidden, wily, crafty cameras do it all.

Be forewarned:  never speed or run lights in Calgary.