In case you missed it, the ongoing lawsuits about red-light cameras in North Carolina continue. They are VERY unfortunate, because the lawsuits are governments and government agencies suing other government agencies -- so the loser IS the taxpayer, no matter the outcome of the lawsuit.

This time, the courts have ruled that the government agencies have to give 90% of the fines raised from red light cameras to the local school system. This has resulted in a "judgment" against the city and for the school system to the tune of a billion dollars. So one government agency has to give another a billion dollars. And the taxpayers pay that bill and all the court fees. What a damn load.

And yes, the city will appeal the decision because they don't actually have to pay the court costs or the fines -- they just use taxpayer money to pay -- there's no way they can lose. And if they end up having to pay the fine, they win even more -- because that will be their excuse to raise taxes. Big government really, really stinks.

The reaction of governments to this ruling is telling, too. Governments are complaining that "the innocent" will have to pay for the enforcement cameras if they're not able to generate a profit for the city. Imagine that -- a city actually having to pay for law enforcement. I know to most liberal cities, that's a foreign concept.

Folks, the red light cameras were just another tax. They were a revenue stream that the cities wanted to use to get more money and that's it. They have absolutely nothing to do with safety at all.