Write to Tony!!
Discussion
We''re all getting pretty pissed off, with all this persecution of us motorists, agreed? Like virtually all of us, I am a law-abiding co-operative citizen, but I feel like a criminal when I get in my car. I don''t care if this is the intended effect, because I won''t be forced by do-gooder liberal leftie wishy washy thinking into living my life in a hippie socialist commune. So, why don''t we all write an intelligent, structured letter to Darling President Tony, perhaps explaining why persecuting a section of society by reason of their enjoyment of fast cars, is unreasonable and anti-democratic - or whatever you can think of as a good argument - perhaps catching real criminals - thoughts, anyone?
I think first point to make is that councils are not doing this responsibly, and are as we know hiding cameras to maximise revenue.
This is a fair argument and there is no good response to this. Lives are more important than revenue is not something you can deny as a politician.
As a result, revenue is low as cameras are highly visible ( then you have a situation where people will behave properly in the accident blackspots where the few cameras are.
And we can all get on and enjoy ourselves on the long straight roads where they are not...
or maybe I'm just being idealistic...
Are you sure its the councils that site them ???
The reason I ask is a few weeks ago I watched the "birth of a GATSO" over a week or so on a route that I do several times a day. First off the lines appeared (didn't see them painted but assume the fairies did it in the dead of night) then I caught the guilty at the site i.e. two traffic cops, a suit in dayglo jacket and hard hat (possible council) and a jeans and boots contractor. This leads me to believe that the actual siting of these things is a joint effort but the only ones definetly involved are the old bill......sorry lads but thats the perks of a uniform..
oh yes one other thing the little basterd concerned is hidden behind a sign and a pure money grabber
Edited by mel on Tuesday 7th August 17:56
I have been observing them being set up and moved for the last 18 months at the Stansted junction of the M11, it is done very quickly and efficiently which makes me wonder....why are schools not protected by these, the motorway maintenance crews must be the most camera protected members in society. BTW as posted previously they do bugger all when it comes to preventing accidents they actually contribute to them, cars speeds creep up in long stretches between cameras then someone sees one, jumps on the brakes and causes a multiple pile up. I see it over and over and always by a camera. Unfortunately these roadworks are here for another 18 months......sigh
I am almost sure in our area they are sited by the council. its a 50/50 mix though. Some are sited close to schools and they are quite visible and have a good effect the others are on the towns ring road dual carridgeway which would be revenue earners... but they hardly ever have cams in them... (i havent seen a live one for months now)...
Mel - If you'd had time, would you have considered stopping and asking the gents directly about the positioning of the camera?
On a general point - do local authorities have to publish information re camera siting in advance of the work being done? I do occasionally look at the planning applications etc in the back of our local paper but do not recall ever having seen anything relating to speed cameras. Hence no chance to protest in advance of them appearing.
Thub, Had it not been the A2 and the hardshoulder coned off yes I would. A few years ago while on a bike I came under a bridge with plod on and laser so being a noisy sod and a sunday I turned round and came back for a chat...Good bloke who applied discretion as to who he pulled the trigger on before printing the piccy (thermal printer in back of car) he also said that if I'd blasted through giving him the bird with no plate on the front he'd have legged it over the bridge and gone for a pic from behind.
And on the planning aps thing I think they must if in residential areas se my old post on "not in my front yard"
It is the council that site the cammeras but the police along with the company who make/install them have to 'commision' them ie do all the checks and make sure they work etc (drive a cop car through it with a calibrated speedo)While I'm on I do think that this sudden abundance of cameras is getting the Police a bad name with the general public, OK I'm all for road safety but I do believe it should be by officers aided by technology not technology with a few cops thrown in to apease the public. But looking at what our new home secretary is suggesting ( if the press is to be believed) the thin blue line is going to be a pi**ed off blue line. I do appreciate some of his points about sickness/medical retirement, some cops are taking the pi** but to start putting cops back walking the streets instead of targeting criminals ????!!!! he seriously needs to speak to the men who are in touch with reality and out there doing the job. Whinge mode off
Edited by john robson on Thursday 9th August 11:07
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