While Nanny State jurisdictions like Maryland can't get enough speed cameras in place fast enough, other jurisdictions are having second thoughts about the devices that make a mockery of the presumption of innocence.

Jalopnik reports that Arizona officials, who were among the first to use speed cameras, are now beginning to turn them off for fear of crossing privacy lines and, almost certainly the vastly more important reason, because they just aren't producing as much revenue as expected.

That tells us two things: First, speed cameras are inherently flawed as tools for reducing average speeds because over time drivers become familiar with locations and adjust their pace accordingly. The result is the speed cameras cut speed for a small distance, but then drivers resume their normal pace.

Second, if the cameras aren't producing revenues - because drivers are learning to avoid them - why would the lowered revenue making any difference if the primary purpose of the devices is supposed to be traffic safety? Obviously, officials view speed cameras primarily as revenue generators and all that talk about traffic safety is just so much hypocritical hooey.