Cedar Rapids should can the cameras

Cedar Rapids is a city that I never cared much for but now with its traffic cameras I have decided to avoid it.

It cost me $75 to drive safely like I do in Waterloo (67 mph) on the interstate with traffic flow. I have not had a moving violation, stop or accident in more than 10 years.

Please tell your money-grabbing leaders that this is one Iowan who will never again darken their doorstep, and if I do travel through, I'll do it during rush hour at 40 mph and see what happens.

Safe driving has very little to do with reasonable but “illegal” speed but it is a great way to skim millions of taxes (called civil penalties) from unwary transient drivers who must pay the tax or miss work for a chance to avoid it.

These cameras don't harm local residents who know the location and, in my opinion, get much glee from ripping off visitors.

As a note to local businesses, I will never knowingly spend a dime in your city, nor stay in any hotel there that pays taxes to the City of Cedar Rapids. Can the cams!

Richard Christie

Waterloo