[Ludi]

The so-called "security lights" that people have at their rural properties seem more like a sign for burglars - "Stop here." You generally don't even know a rural dwelling is there except for these "security lights." Fortunately, most of our neighbors don't have them. We don't have any outdoor lighting either.

[anador]

Well if anything, I think the orange glow of sodium arc lamps on surface streets do entice criminals. Its kind of like broken window theory, places bathed in that netherworldly orange glow feel like unsafe parking lots and alleys, it is hence more likely for crime to occur there than a place with streetlights more naturally hued.


I really dont see why some kind of motion detector system couldnt be used in cities after dark. If the purpose of the surface street lamps are to light roads for security purposes, why do they have to be on all night when theres no one around, causing light pollution and wasting money.

If they had a way for lights to be switched off, at a certain time, then switched on in a zone by zone manner if a pedestrian is detected, it would save money and allow us to see the stars!

[Jotapay]

I know it's not saving any electricity (obviously), but I have security lights on my house. They are sodium (yellow). It's true they aren't "energy savers"; I think total they use about 290 watts and turn on/off using a photocell. They light up my yard and 5 neighbors' houses.

I installed them after the neighbor across the street had someone try and break into her house while she was home. He continued to try and break in while she was inside screaming and calling the police. Only when the police showed up in a few minutes did he flee.

The middle of my block is very dark and the neighbors thanked me for putting up those lights. In the city, light is definitely a deterrent to mischievousness. The policeman who lives on my block said that they always recommend lights first to reduce crime in an area. Nothing has happened on my block since I installed the lights.

[Arsenal]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jotapay', '
')I installed them after the neighbor across the street had someone try and break into her house while she was home. He continued to try and break in while she was inside screaming and calling the police. Only when the police showed up in a few minutes did he flee.

[Jotapay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Arsenal', 'I')t takes balls to break into a house in Texas.... I am surprised the guy is still alive.

[MarkJ]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') really dont see why some kind of motion detector system couldnt be used in cities after dark. If the purpose of the surface street lamps are to light roads for security purposes, why do they have to be on all night when theres no one around, causing light pollution and wasting money.

If they had a way for lights to be switched off, at a certain time, then switched on in a zone by zone manner if a pedestrian is detected, it would save money and allow us to see the stars!

[the48thronin]

I have 7 of them on a 2O acre plot of land. 5 houses are well lit by them.

They illuminate the fixed range plants and decorations well, in fact two of the lights are at 500m exactly from my front door, another is at 800m..

Because I live in the last land on the dirt road, before the paved highway, I also have a security camera watching the dirt road 24/7 and two of the lights are positioned to give best views of all traffic on the dirt road.

As long as there is supposed to be a court and sheriff for some types of problems, I will pay to keep the lights on. I installed them when we were parking as many as 8 trucks in the yard for security. We no longer have them, and the maximum number of trucks parked there for holidays is now 4. The year before I installed them someone from the city 80 miles away robbed and killed an old couple 2 miles away on another dirt road that had no lights. it was a crime unsolved for 2 years until the criminal confessed after being arrested 3 states away in possession of a handgun stolen in the crime.

When giving directions to the coroner for coming to pick up buglers, the directions start "come down the hi way past XXXX grocery stop 1 mile turn left at the dirt road under all the street lights where the sign reads Neighborhood Watch, beware of dogs owners."

[frankthetank]

I once saw an old broad backing down an interstate off ramp in a big old Buick...never did find out what happened.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('the48thronin', 'I') have 7 of them on a 2O acre plot of land. 5 houses are well lit by them.