The flashes are so when the camera takes pictures, it can capture what’s going on without blur, I would think.

I hate them, too. It makes you think a car you didn’t see is driving by or something. Same thing with some of the red light cameras in the area.

I think the purpose of the flashing lights is to draw attention to them, so theoretically criminals will keep moving to somewhere else.

Complaining about complaining. There’s irony in there somewhere.

Let’s all hold hands and sing Kumbaya
.
I agree, Walgreens should probably be asked why (and I just might). My guess is that they’re tied into some sort of alarm system (fire? theft?) and shouldn’t be flashing nearly as much as they are.
.
In looking into what’s legall allowed, it appears that all parts of the city include the following restriction (or something similar) on SIGNS: “Permitted Illumination. May be illuminated but . . . shall not flash, blink or fluctuate.” The question then becomes whether or not Walgreen’s flashing light can be defined as a “sign” or whether it’s a (required?) visual alarm? If it’s an alarm device (as it likely is), there’s little that can be done to eliminate them, but there should be some requirement that they be reset / not continually be false-alarm mode . . .

If you think that the flashing lights at Walgreens are distracting when driving, how about driving by Lumiere Place on I-70 and having an 8 story tall (exaggeration) LED screen flashing advertisements in your face. Everytime I drive past that sign I can’t help but look. God help the cars around me (but I’m guessing they are doing the same thing).

And right on SOHA Tim too!

Tim – If you read the “About” page, there’s a fairly obvious answer to your question about this site and “complaining”:
.
http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/?page_id=2858
“This site is an opportunity for me to share my thoughts on the St. Louis Region from an urban perspective. For the most part I focus on negative aspects – those areas where I believe we could & should do better with our resources. Don’t get me wrong – St. Louis is a great place with wonderful urban neighborhoods and incredible architecture. Our suburbs, like most suburbs, are depressing.”
.
If you aren’t interested in complaints about St. Louis, or making it better, stop reading this blog!

Actually, the technology requires two pictures for each offender; they must both clearly show the offender past the stop line after the light goes red. If you only see one flash, no ticket.

I am a lawyer and have never heard of a lawsuit against a store based upon the absence of a flashing light on their security cameras. The flashing light is not related to courts or lawsuits.

I also think they have the flashing light so that criminals will notice the camera and maybe not smash a car window, rob the store, etc. Bully to them for trying to protect their property (and customers), but what if everyone decided their security operation was not complete without a flashing strobe light? It would be pandamonium out there since lots if not all businesses have security cameras.

Re: god-awful Lumiere Place signage. Whenever I drive past, or am forced to view that monstrosity from many previously pleasant vantage points on the north side, I always think “where is the Women’s Christian Temperance Union when you need them?” Awful building with migraine and seizure-inducing patterns on the light display, and the huge billboard with tacky “sexy” ads flashed dangerously at drivers on a curving highway. Who signed off on all that?

There are the flashing lights at Grand & Gravois Walgreen’s, if I’m not mistaken, and also at Grand and Bates, and Broadway & Meramec, in addition to those on Kingshighway. It is incredibly distracting (and annoying). There must be some other way for them to accomplishe whatever the intended purpose is. As it’s set up now, it looks to me like some visual signal that the alarm is going off. The first time I saw it, I was afraid a robbery might be in progress.

[slp --- these strobes are 24/7.]

Is there a separate post on that awful eye-sore Lumiere place anywhere on this site?

[slp --- No. I reviewed the link but I haven't been able to look at this place long enough to review it.]

I think the Post-Dispatch had an article a while back that explained Lumiere Place was exempt from MoDoT regs on signage because it was an “on-site” sign.

By comparison, about 15 years ago Alexian Brothers Hospital was sued by MoDoT to dismantle a relatively tasteful sign with an electronic reader board on a vacant lot at Pennsylvania and Walsh that happened to be ideally situated for high visibility from Northbound I-55. The sign had been permitted by the city under a zoning variance. The official blue “Hospital” sign is located adjacent to where that sign used to be. I think the hospital’s current ownership even still owns that narrow vacant strip of grass. But the big sign is long gone.

The relevant citation from the Revised Statutes of Missouri footnotes is (1993) State ex rel. Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission v. Alexian Brothers of St. Louis, Inc., 848 S.W.2d 472 (Mo. en banc).

If the only purpose of the flashing lights is to point out that there are security cameras, it’s a pretty lame solution, much like motion detectors on yard lights. Criminals, while not generally the brightest group, usually apparently could care less that there are security cameras, pretty much everywhere, these days. Stores would be much better off investing in higher-resolution equipment so that suspects could actually be positively identified. Most of the pictures that get put on the news are way too blurry and grainy to be of much use, and if criminals actually care about getting caught, they hide their faces before they do the crime – duh!

We'r ed hardy outlet one of the most profession
of the coolest and latest ed hardy apparel, such as
ed hardy tee ,ed hardy bags,
ed hardy bathing suits, ed hardy shoes,
ed hardy board shorts ， don ed hardyt,ed hardy tank tops, ed hardy for women,
ed hardy swimwearand more,
ed hardy clothing. We offers a wide selection of fashion
cheap ed hardyproducts. Welcome to our shop or just enjoy browsing through our stunning collection available wholesale ed hardy in our shop.

our goal is to delight you with our distinctive collection of mindful ed hardy products while providing value and excellent service. Our goal is 100% customer satisfaction and we offer only 100% satisfacted service and ed hardy products. Please feel free to contact us at any time; we are committed to your 100% customer satisfaction. If you're looking for the best service and best selection, stay right where you are and continue shopping at here is your best online choice for the reasonable prices. So why not buy your ed hardy now, I am sure they we won’t let you down.