Oh, snap

Our freedom to run red lights is in its last days — the city today began testing red-light cameras that snap photos of motorists as they cruise through stoplights. The cameras, each from a different vendor, are at four downtown and midtown intersections: Texas at Travis, Texas at San Jacinto, Milam at Jefferson and Travis at McGowen. The city will evaluate the cameras for 30 days and decide which brand to eventually install at 50 intersections across town. Here's how they work.

A debate has been brewing since the city started talking about installing the cameras. On one side is Mayor Bill White, who says the cameras will reduce traffic accidents and free up policemen from having to give those pesky traffic tickets. On the other side are residents who say the cameras are another way to increase ticket revenue (well, obviously) and claim the cams will actually increase accidents because people will come to a screeching halt when they see the enormous signs announcing that the intersection is monitored by camera. But Houstonist knows better — remember how good we are at running into our big, silver MetroRail trains? Warning signs and red-light cameras! Bah!

If you're caught on camera during the next month, you'll get a warning letter in the mail. Once the cameras are officially working, you'll get a $75 civil citation. An interesting thing about that: If you're caught by a cop in person, the fine will still be higher. There's a lesson here — we just have to figure out what it is.