So many of the emails spoke about personal experiences, both pro and con, of the use and misuse of radar vans and red light camera's too. We lead off by reprinting an insider's advice on the program and its flaws:
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Tickets are issued to red light runners with the emergency vehicle clearing seen in the background.
It is Legal to enter on the red light in order to yield right of way. How many people blindly just pay the "fine". Weather and vehicle type (like motorcycles) can cause the plate to be non-identifiable so a lot of infractions are missed.
If the public truly wishes to stop the use of this cash grab then do the following: go to court on any ticket.
Why?
1) The prints must be produced for the court which cost money. (not the laser printer print out they sent you at $.10 a copy) You get a copy to judge for yourself.
2) If you are guilty ask for reduction of the fine which costs the court time and reduced the revenue to the city. Imagine what would have happened if 10% of the construction zone tickets were challenged in court (6000 cases). The crown would still be dealing with them. How long would the government allow the court time to be wasted if this tactic was used?
Some points for you to consider:
1) Amber light times are inconsistent in Winnipeg (one of the pending law suits will prove it) and in cities that have standardized amber times longer (to 5 seconds or more) see their red light camera infractions go down exponentially.
2) Public safety?! CRAP The speeder (or red runner) continues at that speed down the road as no one STOPS THEM (like a patrolling police offer would) Do we have to wait until a speeder kills someone after the camera takes their picture? How can any city police officer make such an argument with a straight face? Put members on the street!
3) The camera vans must idle to function due to power requirements. Remember the school zone idle free campaign as the van sits in the zone? Good for the environment? NOT!
4) BC's photo enforcement campaign eventually imploded with everyone paid back (and helped cost a government an election) A lot of the issues coming up here in Manitoba are very similar.Please keep the pressure on this issue.
XXXX
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Marty
Did you read that article about the photo radar tickets? Talk about beating a dead horse! Doer and Chomiak just wont admit they screwed up…..
Now they are saying that because we were warned about the construction site radar the tickets were fair game…
Now does that not HIGHLIGHT that these tickets were for one reason only (to highjack money out of the citizens of Winnipeg)……certainly not to protect the workers that weren’t there to begin with!!
I almost feel sorry for Gary …..Its PATHETIC!!!!! You are wrong GARY give up!
How could a man so stupid make it so far in politics
K
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This is just more of the same with this increasingly deceptive party. If anyone in the NDP party says anything of substance, chances are it is not true. I think this is why Gary Doer says so little of substance. Look what they did with their "end to hallway medicine" promises, their balanced-budget shellgame, their labour shenanigans.
They don't even try to pretend that they are not in bed with labour organizers, and this is particularly apparent at election time when teachers and nurses unions develop and air pro-NDP ad campaigns paid for by union dues that are generated by people believing that their money is actually going to making their lives better, and not electing a party that will do and say anything to get re-elected.
Sadly, Manitobans will get the government they deserve, and my generation is going to have to pay for their lies, reckless overspending, and shortsightedness, and it will only get worse.
In twenty years, the baby boomers will be 85 years old Marty. If you think we pay a lot for healthcare now, then you havn't seen anything yet. Throw an increasing debt with decreasing capital that the NDP has generated, and we are all screwed in 20 years.
This is why i am seriously considering leaving the province in 10-15 years - there won't be anything left for the income earners.
Cheers
Z
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Hey Marty
You know this whole scam reminds me of a saying I once heard. You can shear a sheep many times but skin it only once! The Doer government has been shearing the proverbial sheep that is the citizens of Winnipeg for too long! They got too greedy and look what happened! They citizens started to revolt! Way to go Gary ..
Smells a bit like a communist government and not a socialist one!!!!
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Hey Marty,
I was listening yesterday when you said that the signage was illegally
posted in the construction zones.
What ** I ** want to know is if anyone or any company is going to be fined or charged for putting all the workers in the work zones in potential danger by not following the rules. Clearly the minister has admitted that the signage was improper at this point, the individuals and companies involved should be held to account. Maybe the province should pursue fines/compensation from them in the amount of the refunds they have to give since it was their actions (or lack therof) that led to this potentially dangerous situation in the first place.
Thanks Marty, I have been listening for about a year now and really
enjoy your take on the issues.
V
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One of your loyal listeners here!
Just a comment I would like to make in regards to photo radar. I believe 100 percent that it is a cash grab and has nothing to do with safety! I don’t think anybody has brought this up on the air but I think it needs to be said.
In my opinion the key element that has gone missing in the law today is DISCRETION! Obviously a machine can’t make a judgment call so you tell me what’s going on here. (most cops have no idea how to make a call either)
I retired cop once told me that an office has a CHOICE to write a ticket! He doesn’t have to!
Somewhere in the process this concept of making a decision was lost. I wonder why that is…..hmmm MONEY maybe.
In fact I would bet that these cameras have caused more accidents that they have prevented. I know I personally get distracted when I drive though an intersection with a camera. How is that safe? I would love to hear stats on that if somebody can dig them up!
That’s my rant for the day!
I look forward to hearing you at 4:30 today!
Keep up the great work Marty!
Kind Regards,
T
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Hi Marty
Just a quick comment/question here.
There used to be a camera at the intersection of St.Annes and Warde in south st vital…
It seems kind of fishy that as soon as the development of Van Hull Estates was under way the city removed that camera..
Too many complaints maybe, or did the city think it was bad for business having a camera light in the entrance of a new community..
You be the judge, it just seems a bit “fishy” to me!
As always keep up the great work!
O
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Just to let you know, my mom was in town from vancouver and got hit 3 TIMES on Bishop Grandin to the tune of $800!!!
Yeah, welcome to winnipeg. It sure leaves a bad taste in your mouth when you've already spent money on a car rental, stayed at a hotel, and ate at resturaunts, etc., etc., and then get hit with this.
You have to have to wonder if ticketing visitors like this is good for tourism? Maybe Sam Katz has an answer?
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Marty
Enjoyed your spirited discussion on this easy today.
My question is: What constitutes a construction zone as far as enforcement to protect the safety of workers?
Two cases in point:
1) The much talked about Bishop Grandin BLVD. Am I not correct that most of the time (if not all the time), the workers are actually located on the bridge span that is closed to traffic? For vehicles to be a risk to workers' safety, they'd have to hope the railing, fly over the red river and land on the opposite span.
2) The stretch of Waverly between Bison Dr and the Perimeter. It used to be 80KPH. They changed it from a straight roadway to some inexplicable curved detour, yet there are absolutely no workers present. They had the photo van there almost 24 hours per day. No workers present. Who's safety are they trying to protect?
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Hi Marty
I have never received a construction zone speeding ticket (knock on wood) but something has had me thinking that I haven’t heard addressed, for the construction zone on Bishop Grandin did the reduced speed sign say “when passing workers”?
If it did then in my opinion every ticket issued for vehicles going 80 or less should be refunded, because the few times I went through that construction zone the photo radar van was parked just after the Construction zone beginning sign. This sign was probably a good half mile before the actual construction area giving ample time to slow down before passing any workers unless of course the person inside the photo radar van is considered a worker?
I was always under the impression that the reason construction zones started so far before the actual construction area was so that drivers had time to slow down since most construction zones (none that I have seen) don’t have any warning as to what the new speed will be until the speed actually changes. If this was really for safety the van would be parked right before or right after the actual construction area, to catch people that are speeding past workers.
I would also like to point out to all your listeners that regardless of the time of day, day of the week or if construction has started or not workers may be present. Survey crews will always work prior to construction starting and usually work at irregular times, so don’t assume no one is working and please slow down.
P.S. I would gladly receive and pay one of these tickets if it meant the city was actually repairing the streets near my home rather then just filing the pot holes which needs to be done … again.
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Hi Marty,
I am a Red River graduate who listens to your program daily on my way home from work (at least until my car’s poor reception is out of range). I have been listening to the photo radar debate for quite sometime now and didn’t feel the need to contact you until Friday, when Kenny asked if you have heard the point of view of a construction worker.
I think it might be difficult to get a construction worker on the radio at 4 PM to discuss this matter. But as someone who has street construction experience (three seasons while attending post secondary) I will give you my view on the situation.
I am a huge proponent of photo radar. Anytime I enter an area that has an orange sign with a man wielding a shovel, I prepare to slowdown; REGARDLESS of the day or time. I do this not only for the protection of workers but for myself. Now I have listened to opponents of photo radar who call in calling it a scam with their reasons to why they feel that way. So I will try to respond. I may not touch on all the reasons, but I will try as best as I remember.
Signage. People have made claims that construction zones don’t contain enough signage directing them what to do. Now there will probably be differing views on what "enough" signage would be, but every construction zone I have driven through has a sign letting you know construction is ahead.
If you go check the Class 5 Driver’s Handbook (that people should have at least skimmed through to get there learners license) and look under "Construction and Maintenance Signs", the quote they give you is "These signs warn you of road construction and maintenance areas ahead. Slow down to a safe speed. At some locations maximum speed limits are posted." But as far as I have seen, there is always a set of signs telling you what the reduced speed will be & then a sign telling you what the new maximum speed is. This has nothing to do with when workers are "present"; this is the max speed within the construction zone.
A sign letting you know where the construction zone ends. This is a silly complaint! When you don’t see any barricades any more, you’re out of the construction zone.
(ed. note- that was exactly the complaint of many people, that they got tickets because they sped up and the zone hadn't "ended" because the signs were not up -- which since they were required by law, is the excuse devised by Chomiak for dropping 870 outstanding tags and the appeal of the 9 tossed out by JP Sundstrom)
But the reason this complaint is silly, is that the radar vans are set up when you enter the zone. Sometimes maybe within the zone, but I have never seen one at the end.
After construction hours. Do people know what typical construction hours are? I worked daily from 7 AM to 7 PM, but there were days I could be there till 10 PM. There were times I was on a site by myself watching the concrete dry to ensure if was not messed with. How do people know I was there? The amount of times I caught people writing their names in it would tell me that people didn’t know I was there.
But once again this is not about workers safety in my opinion; it is about the driver’s safety too. I spent many mornings walking construction site putting barricades back up. Why was this? Because someone would have been driving through the construction zone not paying attention to their surroundings and would drive into them. If people can’t watch out for barricades, why do I feel any safer about them watching for workers?
Workers present. My story of barricades being knocked over is a good story for this concern. People should be focused on the road & what is within the construction zone; not looking to see whether there are people working. Just drive through the zone assuming that people are there. But the way I look at it, if people can’t see the obvious photo radar vehicle ticketing them as they speed by, what assurance would I have that they are going to see a worker?
Poor drivers. In general, there are just a lot of poor, inattentive drivers on the streets. I remember one day back in 2003 working on Fermor & being near two accidents in the span of an hour. First one was a lady (WHO WAS CLEARLY NOT PAYING ATTENTION) drove into a front end loader. This by the way had a flag man on the street letting people know they should slow down. About an hour later, people who were frustrated with the bumper to bumper traffic decided to drive down the shoulder of the road & crash into each other.
People need to pay attention. If you have to drive through a construction zone for most of the summer, you need to plan accordingly. Just slow down, you don’t lose all that much time on where you’re going and you will keep your money in your pocket.
I understand that the tickets went from 3,000 one year to 60,000 the next. But people were told that enforcement was to be increased. Think of how many tickets were for repeat offenders. Think of how many tickets were for legitimate speeders, regardless of the posted limit. I would like to think for a City of almost 700,000, there are a lot of people following the rules. People who still get caught…. Well, it’s an "idiot tax".
I for one am glad to see photo radar still on the street regardless of the time or day. Pay attention to the signs, slow down & you should be fine.
M
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and now for something slightly different, Cruise Night
Good afternoon Marty
It was an interesting show yesterday about photo radar and the caller who mentioned cruise night. I try not to miss your show. I have to say that I agree with the caller and I wasn't surprised when there was immediete reaction that was probably from the people who drive around on cruise night.
I have to say I hate it. I can't stand anything about it. I really like cars and I drove a convertible Cutlass 442 in my day and I loved everything about it. It's not about whether or not the people can afford their own gas or pay taxes to use the street. Those reasons are comical and dumb. It's about many other things.
Last Sunday I was forced to sit at the lights at Portage and Sherbern for almost 3 full lights. I had to listen to loud engines and a few nuts doing brake stands at the lights, and that annoying subwoofer pounding sound and girls screaming. I finally was able to turn off of Portage and go to St Matthews like the 5 cars in front of me also did. It's a joke. I'm sure I'm leaving out a bunch of places but I saw parking lots full of cars at the old burger factory, at the Dominoe's Pizza, Dairy Queen, Shopper's Drug mart, Esso station and burger King. I'm sure that if these businesses wouldn't dare kick people out of their lot because car enthusiats aren't like they used to be. No one wants to have gangsta retribution come back at them. Polo park now has security and chains every sunday because it got so out of hand. No one can get into that massive parking lot now. They got smart. Polo Park doesn't want that BS on their property.
It's a ridiculous event. It makes Winnipeg look like a hick town, with all the loitering and the squealing and speeding and racing and yelling ect ect. You talk about Cobb County when it comes to photo radar. This is even worse. People on lawn chairs with coolers to cheer from Portage ave like it's the santa clause parade! But that's not even why I think it should stop.
We are supposed to be about green now. Everything is green. They even want you to unplug your cell phone chargers when you aren't charging your phones because it uses energy! So how much exhaust and greenhouse gasses are being added to the exhaust from weekday commutes when on Sunday night there is just like that guy said, rush hour traffic in both directions for way longer than a normal rush hour!
You can't believe it til you see it. I thought we were supposed to be environmentally conscience! And the cops can't be everywhere so a lot of things go uncaught. Racing happens and speeding happens and other illegal stuff. You can't go down Portage on a Sunday without seeing police cars with their lights flashing constantly. It looks like theres a riot going on half the time. People constantly being stopped.
The other guy was right when he said that it goes down Main Street too. I got into a email exchange with Tom Broadbeck who said that this thing only happens between certain streets in the west end. I don't know what he was smoking because for years everyone knows that it starts at least at Logan and Main and goes to at least Polo Park. If not, then why all the reving engines and souped up cars in those areas on a Sunday night driving that route? I've seen it with my own eyes. If not, why did Polo Park chain up their parking lot on Sundays?
I'm rambling but here's the deal.
If you don't want to go to things like the Red River Ex, then you don't go to the Ex grounds.
And if you don't want to watch football, you don't go to the Stadium.
But people do not have a choice about this cruise night garbage.
It's forced on the city that the main drag is tied up with excessive traffic and people loitering and thumping out their music. I sound like I'm old but I'm not. I have talked to so many people who feel the same way. They've all got their own stories about how much they hate it. The only people who like it are the ones participating.
From an environment standpoint this is wrong and outdated. Plus it's forced upon us. It doesn't have to do with rights to use the streets and only being for four months. It's about irresponsible leadership in this city and this province.
I actually think that Sam Katz and Gary Doer are scared to say anything about it. The Free Press gets involved and advertises cruising downtown and people like Laurie Mustard write about it in the Sun like it's American graffiti out there. It isn't about which side is louder or how many more people phone you about why its good vs why its bad. This isn't grade 3. The only people who like it are the ones doing it. That doesn't mean it should be allowed to happen
Thanks
J
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And finally, from a supporter of the Doer government , who considers grammer and punctutation secondary when defending the status quo and the untouchables from the lesser media:
mr. gold i'm tired of your show and the winnipeg sun talking about the photo radar scandal and about the constant criticism of the ndp, theses people who got the tickets desevered it. the tories will never be elected to government in manitoba. And what is your issue with the winnipeg free press they wouldn't hire you to deliver papers door to door and there reportors such as gordon sinclair, colleen simard and lindor reynolds are better journalists than you. as for the canadain human rights museum and upper fort garry they are worth spending the tax dollars on.
Michael W.
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This week's scheduled guests: Monday: We'll be joined by Mayor Sam Katz in studio, with questions about Radargate and the letter sent by Coun. Steeves to the Manitoba government, Cruise Night Sundays, the undue influence of the bike path lobby, plus Frank the Italian Barber gloats about the Red Wings going up by 2 wins over the Penguins.
Tuesday: More follow up on the Winnipeg Parking Authority forcing the layoff of union organizers by the contractor charged with enforcing the parking bylaws; plus Macdonald Youth Services - contact us talk@kick.fm to find out how to support their June 23 Golf Tournament.
Wednesday: CTV's Kelly Dehn's weekly Crimewatch report at it's new time of 5.10 PM.
Thursday: Find out all about the local owners of the Curb-Ease franchise- their patented property enhancement products are all the rage among homeowners looking to cut the effort of maintaining their lawn, gardens and cement walks and spend more time enjoying the summer.
Friday: His schedule permitting, an interview with former AWA Heavyweight Wrestling Champion and WWF superstar Rick "the Model" Martel , plus Jon Waldman of Slam!Sports.
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Rest in Peace John Tolos.
The Golden Greek passed away last week at the age of 78 after a lengthy battle with cancer. The tanned, dapper Hamiltonian was one of the biggest stars in the history of both Vancouver All Star Wrestling (seen across Canada) and in Los Angeles. His tag team partners in Vancouver in the 70's included Steve Bolus, Duncan Mactavish, Dean Higuchi, Mark Lewin and CFL legend Angelo Mosca. {Career record link}
Branching off from his legendary tag team with his quieter brother Chris(they held the WWWF tag titles for Vince McMahon Sr. in 1964), a ranting maniacal interview helped compensate for a wrestling style that was basically punch and stomp. Former partner-turned-foe Dutch Savage told me Tolos was "a meat chopper", and Tolos was a recipient of the tongue -in-cheek Golden Potato Award from the fraternity benevolent organization, the Cauliflower Alley Club.
His August 27, 1971 grudge match against Freddie Blassie filled the Colossium beyond the 26,000 announced ticket-buyers and $142,000 gate as promoters shaved the numbers to rip off the State Athletic Commission (and the wrestlers, Blassie claimed). The newstand magazines were full of stories and pictures of the feud and blow-off encounter, and Tolos was considered one of the top heels in the era of The Shiek, Mad Dog Vachon and Gene Kiniski, and sports superstar in Los Angeles in the era of Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Roman Gabriel.
And my mom thought he was very handsome.
The Los Angeles Times obituary is here.
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I was quite taken aback when Jon Waldman mentioned the death of Tolos at the end of our weekly sports recap on Friday.
When I worked in Los Angeles a few eyars ago, I had the opportunity to do a lot of wrestling writing, mostly about the old school era. The automotive industry was chock-full of fans of 60's/70's Channel 13 Olympic Auditorium wrestling with Dick Lane (the voice of the Roller Games T-Birds team). I learned so much more from them about the Hispanic wrestlers like Black Gordman and Goliath, Mil Mascaras, Raul Mata, and their place in local culture.
In August of 2001 I realized it was the 30th anniversary of the Blassie feud, and I sought out Tolos for a feature retrospective. I heard he lived in Northridge but couldn't figure out how to find him. A mutual friend told me that he and his son Chris were around but that John had gone back to Canada for awhile - I think this was when his mother was terminal or right after she died. His brother Chris had cared for her for years. I was also told he was insanely private and would not be likely to agree to an interview. But I didn't give up easily, and as a result I contacted and became friends with my adoptive 'Grampa', Dutch Savage.
Tolos was memorable to me, 30 years later, because he was very creative in advancing feuds with crazy gimmicks.
As a babyface on BCTV he would start out calm, a swarthy athlete all tanned, white teeth, sports-coat; by the time he was done gesturing and imitating his plans to brutalize his opponent, his jacket would be flung to the floor, he'd be sweating and screaming "If I wanna slam him, I'll slam him! If I wanna kick him when he's down, I'll kick him!", and thank Morrier politely for his time and say "remember Ron, there's only one way to spell wrestling - and that's T-O-L-O-S."
In January of 1966 John came back to Vancouver and was a regular for the next 4 or so years, seen across Canada on the syndicated All Star Wrestling show -- which is where via CJAY-TV I saw him form teams with Tony Borne, his brother Chris, and Dutch Savage to reign as Tag Team champions.
Tolos was famous for his corkscrew finisher - a sort of noogie to the right temple that we were BANNED from using when play-wrestling as kids. (I just told that story to Outlaw Adam Knight a week ago.)
On BCTV, to counter Savage's thumb to the throat, he promised Ron Morrier that the fans at the PNE gardens Monday night would see "the block", which he would helpfully spell- B-L-O-C-K.
It was a dog collar that essentially broke Savage's thumb when he tried his finisher. Brilliant.
That was just before he moved to L.A. and began his feud with Blassie. It was set up and executed so realistically, the fans actually thought Blassie has indeed been blinded by Tolos. Stealing Monsel's Powder (a boxing cut clotting concoction), from the ring doctor's bag, Tolos flug it into Freddie's face in a jealous rage over Blassie winning the Wrestler of the Year Award. The issue was drawn out perfectly, until the revenge match drew more money than anyone had imagined possible.
Another time in Los Angeles, after the Blassie deal, I don't remember offhand against who but it might have been against The Shiek (Detroit's Ed Farhat), Tolos finagled a handicap match and promised a secret partner.
He came out not only wearing the block -- but his partner was a poisonous rattlesnake! A famous magazine picture showed him shaking the snake to get it angry, before chucking it at his opponent into the middle of the ring to start the match. It semed logical since why would the snake have to tag ? One bite and the match would be over!
Tolos loved to enjoy life, and his lifestyle included running, tanning, and eating well. He entertained millions across the continent. He loved his brother and their devotion to their mother was admirable.
John Tolos lived a good life. A wrestler's life. Thanks for the memories, "Golden Greek".
Our friend Greg Oliver has great stories about Tolos' escapades on Slam!Wrestling.
And here's a link to a MUST-HEAR podcast about Tolos's legend in California and US wrestling lore with lawyer Bob Barnett, Socal trainer Jesse Hernandez and historian Dan Farren - this is a great history of him: http://www.angrymarks.com/news/View.php?ArticleID=7266 )
