Letter: One sure way to stop illegal light switching

Thursday, May 17, 2007 | 7:08 a.m.

Regarding the Las Vegas Sun's May 14 story "Behind the wheel, someone messing with stoplights":

Why spend tens of thousands of dollars to encrypt traffic lights? Although remote cameras cannot legally be used to enforce traffic violations, possession of the traffic signal switching devices is clearly illegal.

Why not go after the taxicab companies to crack down on their drivers? How? By setting up a system similar to Crimestoppers. If the Regional Transportation Commission were to pay citizens $250 to $1,000 each time they digitally videotape taxis driving through intersections using these devices, RTC then could go after the taxi companies by sharing the information with Metro Police. Have the Metro traffic unit conduct occasional sweeps of the taxi companies looking for these devices. (Why aren't they already?)

The important difference is that the conviction would be based on the illegal possession law and not a traffic violation - an important legal distinction. The taxi company would have their cabs impounded and have to pay the $10,000 fine. Implement this program and raise the fine to $100,000 and watch your problem disappear overnight.

Andy Spurlock, Las Vegas