Traffic cameras infringe
on privacy

Remember Clarence Shak? Back in the '70s he campaigned against traffic tickets, calling them unconstitutional. Why? Because they are summonses to appear in court, and supposedly only judges can issue subpoenas. Also, if motorists go to court -- instead of pay the fine -- they are denied a jury trial.

Shak failed, but he was on to something: Traffic laws threaten our constitutional protections. Now as motorists we suffer random roadblocks and warrantless searches, our "papers" must be in order. We must "buckle up." We are photographed by traffic cameras and can be issued tickets even when we weren't driving.

Facing no opposition, these injustices likely will become precedents for extending them to our homes and workplaces, eliminating all zones of privacy we once enjoyed. Meanwhile, we'll all be sitting in some mile-long roadblock line somewhere (like Kalanianaole Highway on Christmas night) meekly bleating, "Baaaaa!"

Mark Coleman

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