In society, we have various spheres that reign over their own jurisdictional area of influence. In the case of the family, fathers and mothers have sovereign rule over their household and children. Elders in a church maintain rule over their congregation. An individual exercises sovereign rule over his or her own affairs. The civil government has sovereign reign in respect to their role in maintaining order in society.
However, when the roles become mixed amongst the spheres, problems are known to arise. In fact, we see corruption manifested when commingling exists between civil government agencies and private enterprise. One example of this is found in the various speed and red-light camera programs that are prevalent throughout the country and in our state.
Prior to the inception of these programs, if a motorist was caught speeding, he or she was pulled over by a police officer and immediately given a citation and in many cases would receive points on his/her license. With speed cameras now in place, this is rarely the case.
However, now in most instances, speeding motorists are photographed then roughly two weeks later receive a citation which is typically less than the fine they would receive from a police officer and points are not placed on their license. The money from the fine is shared between the state and the private contractors who install and maintain the cameras and take photos of speeding motorists. In fact, in many instances, the private contractors take a percentage of each fine which poses the question of possible conflict of interest.
Despite the intent of deterring excess speed, state governments along with the mentioned private contractors have collected enormous funds showing that cameras serve more as a revenue tool than a deterrent.
Privacy is also an issue with the speed and red-light camera programs. Seeing the quick and generous revenue supply the speed and red-light cameras provide, state agencies working alongside the private contractors have found new and strategic locations for the cameras despite claiming from inception the cameras would only be placed in certain areas like school and construction zones. In fact, now along main roads such as Reisterstown and York Road in Baltimore County, both surrounded by residential and business activity, there are cameras at almost every intersection, with some having multiple cameras and what we now see are cameras mounted on long poles making motorists feel even more monitored in public by the state.
In looking at the Bill of Rights which was added to amend our original Constitution with the intention of protecting our liberties, we find good applications to the speed camera program. The founders, in their contemporary times dealt with the intrusive presence of British Soldiers in their communities which they addressed in the third amendment. As the founders dealt with far reaching state prescience, we also contend with the matter as the speed and red-light camera program grows extensively, especially with its proximity to residential neighborhoods. In dealing with the speed camera program, we also find conflict with the sixth amendment which allows for a speedy trial and the right to face one’s accuser. As mentioned earlier, it usually takes two weeks before a speeding motorist receives their photograph citation in the mail. Once again, a citation received by a police officer is given immediately, the motorist interacts with the police officer at that moment, and the motorist has the right to face that police officer in court.
Back to the police officer maintaining order in this area, this exemplifies the state operating within its jurisdictional boundary. However, in examining a private contractor who normally operates in a profit-making sphere, we see that it is out of its realm to maintain order as the civil government is intended to play this role.
With this commingled arrangement we find between the state and private contractors designed to deter excess speed, as indicated, there a few problems. First, administering justice is not meant to be a money-making operation. Furthermore, justice when properly applied comes by the state and is applied to those who do wrong. Also, we must consider our right to due process as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment. When given a citation by a police officer, unlike by a camera, the motorist sees their accuser at that moment and can face him/her in court.
Finally, God is ultimately sovereign. It is He that is all knowing and all present. No one from within any sphere should try emulating these attributes, especially the state, for this sphere has the greatest potential to do harm.
In His Image 