PHOTOS: Local group joins statewide protest of red-light cameras
By www.naplesnews.com
Naples Daily News
Posted April 12, 2011 at 9:07 p.m.
NAPLES — With signs saying “Smile you’re on scamera” and honks of support from drivers at the intersection of Pine Ridge Road and U.S. 41, more than 10 Southwest Florida residents took to the streets Tuesday to protest against red-light cameras in Collier County.
“Where is the freedom?” asked 23-year-Collier resident Zika Malo. “Where do we stop?”
Malo, 44, said safe driving comes down to common sense -- not cameras on the road.
The protest was one of many across the state, put together by a coalition of nonprofits and political groups including the Florida Civil Rights Association, the National Motorists Association, the Libertarian Party of Florida, Campaign for Liberty, banthecams.org and others.
The groups are advocating legislation in Tallahassee to stop the use red light cameras.
“I think that once we begin to inform people as to the violation of civil rights, on the Fourth and Fifth Amendment, people will begin to be more concerned about it,” said North Naples resident William R. Tolp, 41, who put the Collier event together.
For Jared Grifoni, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Collier County, red-light cameras are just plain illegal.
“We feel the cameras are a violation under the constitution,” said Grifoni, 28, who attended the protest with his wife Kara, 29. “In the Fifth Amendment you are innocent until proven guilty, and with these cameras you are guilty until prove innocent.”
Grifoni added that even if a person takes a camera issued citation to court they can’t confront the camera.
Although Collier County officials says that the cameras are for safety, Grifoni said he believes that they’re a cash grab for the county.
“The bottom line is that these cameras cause far more accidents than they prevent,” he said.
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