What 'Mad Dad' said about I380 speed cameras

I got a call last week from John Johnson -- the guy whose Jan. 5 letter to the editor ("I-380 speeding tickets hurting C.R. merchants") drew howls of protest from readers, not because of his opposition to Cedar Rapids speed cameras, but because he paid his daughter's fine. He and I disagree about whether traffic enforcement cameras are a good idea, but we both were surprised by how his points about their use were buried under an avalanche of parenting advice.

I thought it was odd that readers seized on what they saw as Johnson's parenting flaws and all but ignored his argument about the cameras. Writer after writer has bemoaned the poor example they felt Johnson set by telling his daughter he'd pay her ticket if she promised to shop in Coralville, instead of driving the monitored roadways from Kirkwood (where she's going to school) and Cedar Rapids stores. The letters still are coming.

Johnson told me he's been getting calls and letters at home, too. One handwritten note he showed me suggested he "apologize to the people of Cedar Rapids."

Those writers missed the point, Johnson told me (incidentally, he says his daughter is a fantastic and responsible young woman) see the note he wrote to me below.

Johnson thinks its the civil fines that don't teach drivers anything. He had a very specific lesson in mind: He wanted his daughter, who is 20, to pay attention to how government's got its finger in everything.

“The schools can't teach everything to a kid, and that's where a parent steps in, he said. I brought her something to the table to show her it wasn't right."

Johnson, a professonal driver, said he doesn't buy the argument that speed cameras are about safety. He thinks it's another example of government meddling.

I asked Johnson if he considered himself politically conservative. "Oh, yeah," he answered. The family is very active in political issues.

And he's taught his daughter not to back away from an argument; to stand up for what she thinks is right.

But would he still pay her fine if he had it all to do over? Absolutely, he said.

“I did more than the right thing," he told me. "I'm so glad I did it this way.”

Here's a statement he sent me to share with all the folks who have read his letter and wagged their finger over his decision:

"I'd like to thank all you fine people who have taken the time to reply to my letter about your speed cameras, especially the ones offering up parenting tips. I just don't know how I was able to raise a daughter who helps her mother decorate the home and her dad bust down truck tires. A daughter who was class president, National Honor Society, did volunteer work at the nursing home, clerked at Kum and Go, raised money and organized a teen dance at Hobo Day, County Fair Queen, had several craft items go to State Fair via 4H program, is on the Kirkwood Dean's list and a Kirkwood Student Advisor. If only I had taken away the keys and grounded her to teach her a lesson.

"While I hoped to teach her a lesson about how speed cameras infringe on our Constitutional rights you fine people have taught her how some are willing to give up liberty for perceived safety, let alone try and run other people's lives. Sure your cameras may have lowered the speed, but how far are you willing to let a government trample your rights? And if it was all about safety she would have had points on her driver's license and increased insurance rate as if an officer had stopped her in person. But no, half the money went to the police pension and the other to the owners of the camera. Do you really want to go down a road where you have a PD working on a for profit basis? I know it has done wonders for our political system.

"In my truck I own, the technology exists the lets the company I am leased to know if the headlights are on, seatbelt use, fuel level, idle time, average speed, top speed, braking force, air temp and thanks to GPS tracking my exact location every minute of the day. And even on days off, with nothing to do with the truck, I still have to account for and report to the company what I was doing, all per Federal law. So how much liberty are you willing to give up for safety? What if Cedar Rapids leaders passed a law if you have an auto licensed in CR it must be equipped with a system like I have that can issue a “ticket” because you did not come to a complete stop at the Wal-Mart parking lot exit 12/29/2011 at 15:45 eastbound onto Walker Street. Before you say that will never happen, 2 things come to mind. The ban on smoking was only going to be on flights of 4 hours or more and casinos would only be on rivers.

"Both she and I have learned many things from this and not to speed in CR is way down on the list. First and foremost is just how far people are willing to try and run other people lives and the extreme way they are willing to do it. We at the Johnson home really have enjoy the hand written notes demanding I apologize to the people of Cedar Rapids and questioning my parenting skills, all unsigned.

"One lesson I didn't have to teach my daughter. If you have something to say, have the courage to sign your name.

"PS. Windsor Heights want to put a speed camera on I 235 for “safety”. All 8/10s of a mile that 235 goes thru the city. Tell me again how it is not for the money."