[denverpete]

Actually, the speed trap Rail26 got caught in doesn't even use radar. Apparently Arizona is a testing bed for a company which uses wires embedded in the road. The Arizona legislature stated that their two sites are just "tests" - but when has anything like that ever gone away after testing? I don't know about California, but one of the reasons they are doing this is that there is no money out of pocket. The company pays for everything and the city or state gets a cut of the revenue. According to many in the "know" these companies are the next "big thing" to invest in.

In Colorado, the whole revenue thing is also in play. Now what's really interesting is that photo radar in Colorado is in a bit of a grey area. The courts ruled that in order for a ticket to be valid, it must be served (you have the right to face your accuser). Photo radar tickets in Colorado carry no points and don't go on your driving record. Photo radar sites must be posted (although it can be for a general area - not right at the site) and there are limitations on where they can be set up (I believe around school zones only).

There's actually some debate in Colorado as to whether you even need to pay them. If you don't pay, they double the fine. If you still don't pay - nothing! The only way they can FORCE you to pay (in Colorado) is to actually find you and serve you the ticket. Everyone has heard of the guy who got a photo radar ticket and mailed in a picture of money - then received back a picture of handcuffs? That was Colorado....