The BC experience with photo radar lasted from 1995 to 2001.

In those years innocuous minivans with special equipment lurked in various odd places and took snapshots of vehicles violating the speed limit. It was a lot of fun and I remember it fondly because at that time I was a network planner in the local phone company. I wasnt on the road much myself, compared to employees with honest jobs such as the engineers in the other cubicles (think of the cartoon character Dilbert) and so I just always looked forward the next tale of outrage (think of me as Dilberts partner Wally). The stories that grew out of the photo radar program were wonderful and someone ought to record them in a book of short humor. I did get out of the office a bit, though, and my own experience with photo radar is probably a good illustration of its weaknesses. Since I was the only person who could be relied upon to be not busy with customers or other concerns I was usually nominated for bagel runs. This involved a quick trip to Dominion Bagels, a distance of about five km. Kilometers, that is, because this action took place right here in Canuckistan. The trip was mostly through 50 km/h speed zones with a short section allowing 70 but everyone knows that drivers are allowed to cheat by as much as ten km/h without being molested. The bagels were obtained fresh from the oven and were to be delivered still warm for morning coffee break and, when successful, this could ameliorate the resentment that the planning function incurred. Planning, after all, determined when and for what the engineering techs would get funding for their projects and you cannot make all the people happy all the time. So it was best if the bagels appeared reliably and warm, with cream cheese on the side. Well, you already know what happened and when the speeding ticket arrived showing the planning vehicle in full flight everyone was delighted. It joined a long list of installation/repair vans in school zones and construction trucks on the highway. Worse, it was recorded in our very same 70 km/h zone just before coffee time on a Wednesday, doing over 80. My boss tried to pin it on me, of course, sending the ticket to me with instructions to pay the $100 fine, and so I came into an extraordinary chance to practice rhetorical composing. My ensuing letter was addressed to the Speaker of the BC legislature, Dale Lovick (1996-1998). I explained what he already knew so wellthat corporate vehicles might be driven by just about any employeebut I put my very best effort into that letter to protest this unjust law. A copy was sent to corporate HQ to let them know how I felt. In my own defense I ought to point out that I did not know who the driver was. Indeed, when it was not fetching bagels, everyone who knew the ropes constantly asked to borrow my company car. The bagel-run timing was completely circumstantial evidence as others who were visiting the area sometimes picked up bagels in my place. The ticket was dated more than two months prior and the driver could not be identified due to the elevated headrest. What would you do? Well, maybe you wouldnt work for the phone company at all and if so I salute you. My youthful education was in electronics, though, so it was actually not a bad fit for me. At the time I was slowly working towards a BA (General Studies) through Open Learning DE and my instructors often commented that I was a strong writer after reading my essays. The greatest motivation I ever received, however, was when Dale Lovick, on the Speakers legislative letterhead, replied to my protests. Seriously, he did and he agreed with my position! He also provided a copy of his reply to corporate HQ. About that time I decided that I should pay the fineits all fun and games until someone loses an eye and I wasnt exactly invulnerable even if I was in the union. The very day after I coughed up my hundred bucks I received a courtesy copy of an email from corporate HQ (Human Resources) to my boss in Victoria. They reprimanded him lightly and told him to pay the fine immediately from his operating budget. Of course I never heard anything more and I was far to wise by this time of life to ask any embarrassing questions. Maybe BC scored a free hundred bucks or maybe not, but the official response from on high was all I needed to feel like the strategic winner; some things are just more important than money.

Its not over till its over (Starshipthe entire song applies perfectly to this story) though, and many readers may feel satisfaction to learn that, just months after BC repealed the photo radar law, the phone company closed our tiny engineering office, centralizing our work to Edmonton. It really is fun until somebody loses an eye. 0 flag