The Waterloo City Council recently voted to allow "red light" enforcement cameras in their city, with the revenue going a private company and to the police department's budget. While I appreciate that these cameras may have a deterrent effect on drivers, I oppose them on principle -- they're too tempting as a revenue generator (and it looks like the City of Waterloo is already boasting about the money to be made), when I believe the focus should be solely on public safety.
And I just don't trust the cameras. Last year while on a research trip in Baton Rouge, I got a $150 ticket for running a red light at really big intersection. I was mailed a citation a week after I got back, with a picture of my rear license plate at the other end of the intersection. I couldn't prove that the light was yellow when I crossed through it, and sure wasn't going back down to Louisiana to contest it, so I paid the stupid ticket. So that's why I don't trust those cameras, and believe the system is rigged to issue more citations than are warranted, as a revenue stream.
For those reasons, as your At-Large representative, I'll vote against speed enforcement and red light enforcement cameras if it comes before our city council. That's what police officers (and appropriately designed streets) are for.