The City of Minneapolis is in a legal suit with the ACLU over the traffic cameras installed at 12 intersections around Minneapolis last year. The ACLU says the cameras unfairly shift the legal burden of running a red light from the driver (who rightfully is responsible) to the vehicle owner (who is also partially responsible for the things done with his car).

I see both sides of this issue. Ultimately, I would prefer that the City and the ACLU come to a mutually-satisfying agreement. If my car goes through a red light, then I should be responsible for it. If I loaned my car to someone else, then I can go back to them and say, "Hey! Pay up."

The city should ensure that traffic tickets of this nature do not enter the permanent record of the driver -- don't report it to the insurance company, for instance -- because they don't know who was driving. And the city should only nail you with one outstanding violation within a short timeframe -- so that I have time to have a chat with my child for running red lights. Don't give me 5 or 6 of these before I have a chance to do something about it.

But with those fairly reasonable limits, I'm fine with the cameras. Folks who run red lights should get caught. Even if it's me.