Silliness around speed cameras

If there is an absolutely silly debate going on at the state capital it is the total waste of time arguing about speed cameras. The argument goes that the cameras are, as the new Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said "a tax on all Arizonans." Others have called it a gimmick to raise money for the government.

A "tax on all Arizonans?" Am I missing something? The only way you pay is if you get caught speeding, which a violation of the law. If you don't speed, you don't pay. Sounds like a simple fine to me. I know. I paid one.

Republican Rep. Sam Crump of Anthem, said speed cameras are annoying, unfair, intrusive and even dangerous because of backups as motorists abruptly slow down near cameras. Unfair? To whom? If you're obeying the speed laws, they're not unfair to you. Intrusive? In what way? And dangerous? Maybe if they weren't speeding, they wouldn't have to "abruptly slow down."

What's funny about this is the people who are making the biggest stink are the "law and order" crowd. You know, the same folks that keep asking "what is it about illegal you don't understand?" Exactly. What is it about "don't speed" that they don't understand?

If the state, counties and municipalities make money off of the cameras off of people who are "breaking the law," why should anyone who isn't breaking speeding laws care? Don't want to give money to government, then don't drive more than 11 miles over the speed limit.

After all, if you're all for "law and order," that concept should be pretty easy to do.