Speed camera cash runs dry
Discussion
Speed camera cash runs dry
October 31, 2003 12:00
FUNDING for a motor accident reduction partnership has fallen short because Norfolk police have not issued enough speeding tickets.
The Norfolk Casualty Reduction Partnership, which runs the county's speed cameras, is facing a debt of £81,478 caused by a fall in the number of motorists caught speeding.
An increase in vandalism towards speed cameras, which help fund the partnership, has been blamed for the shortfall. Vandals have hit not only speeding detection levels, but also the funding of the cameras.
The issue is due to be discussed at Tuesday's scrutiny committee meeting of the Norfolk Police Authority.
Jim Wilson, chairman of the authority, said the cost of repairs to damaged cameras had contributed to the debt.
"The revenue from speeding tickets goes to the Treasury but some of that money is clawed back into running the partnership. Part of the debt is the cost of replacing speed cameras which have been vandalised."
Mr Wilson was also concerned the Police Authority would have to meet the cost.
In May, the Evening News revealed that a militant group, known as Motorists Against Detection, had claimed responsibility for a series of arson attacks on speed cameras in Norfolk. A spokesman for the group, who called himself Captain Gatso, said it was behind the vandalising of cameras in Norwich, Framingham Earl, Loddon and Thurton, causing more than £150,000 of damage.
"Everyone thinks repairs for the damage caused to speed cameras come out of the taxpayers' pocket, but really it comes from speeding fines," Captain Gatso said today.
"We applaud speed cameras where they are in the right places but we will continue our crusade against cameras strategically placed to maximise income."
Bryan Edwards, spokesman for the partnership, denied the cameras were installed to increase revenue.
"Cameras can only be placed in locations where there is a known history of speed-related accidents. This £81,000 figure was identified as being a possible debt but we believe this represents our set-up costs."
Mr Edwards said the partnership had met its costs over the financial year but could not say for sure until the accounts were released next month.
The Norfolk Casualty Reduction Partnership was formed in 2001. It is made up of organisations including Norfolk police, the Highways Agency, the health authority and the Crown Prosecution Service, and aims to reduce the number and seriousness of accidents by at least 40 per cent by 2010.
Here's the news link: www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/News/story.asp?datetime=31+Oct+2003+12%3A00&tbrand=ENOnline&tCategory=NEWS&category=News&brand=ENOnline&itemid=NOED31+Oct+2003+12%3A00%3A44%3A907 . ATB Derek
October 31, 2003 12:00
FUNDING for a motor accident reduction partnership has fallen short because Norfolk police have not issued enough speeding tickets.
The Norfolk Casualty Reduction Partnership, which runs the county's speed cameras, is facing a debt of £81,478 caused by a fall in the number of motorists caught speeding.
An increase in vandalism towards speed cameras, which help fund the partnership, has been blamed for the shortfall. Vandals have hit not only speeding detection levels, but also the funding of the cameras.
The issue is due to be discussed at Tuesday's scrutiny committee meeting of the Norfolk Police Authority.
Jim Wilson, chairman of the authority, said the cost of repairs to damaged cameras had contributed to the debt.
"The revenue from speeding tickets goes to the Treasury but some of that money is clawed back into running the partnership. Part of the debt is the cost of replacing speed cameras which have been vandalised."
Mr Wilson was also concerned the Police Authority would have to meet the cost.
In May, the Evening News revealed that a militant group, known as Motorists Against Detection, had claimed responsibility for a series of arson attacks on speed cameras in Norfolk. A spokesman for the group, who called himself Captain Gatso, said it was behind the vandalising of cameras in Norwich, Framingham Earl, Loddon and Thurton, causing more than £150,000 of damage.
"Everyone thinks repairs for the damage caused to speed cameras come out of the taxpayers' pocket, but really it comes from speeding fines," Captain Gatso said today.
"We applaud speed cameras where they are in the right places but we will continue our crusade against cameras strategically placed to maximise income."
Bryan Edwards, spokesman for the partnership, denied the cameras were installed to increase revenue.
"Cameras can only be placed in locations where there is a known history of speed-related accidents. This £81,000 figure was identified as being a possible debt but we believe this represents our set-up costs."
Mr Edwards said the partnership had met its costs over the financial year but could not say for sure until the accounts were released next month.
The Norfolk Casualty Reduction Partnership was formed in 2001. It is made up of organisations including Norfolk police, the Highways Agency, the health authority and the Crown Prosecution Service, and aims to reduce the number and seriousness of accidents by at least 40 per cent by 2010.
Here's the news link: www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/News/story.asp?datetime=31+Oct+2003+12%3A00&tbrand=ENOnline&tCategory=NEWS&category=News&brand=ENOnline&itemid=NOED31+Oct+2003+12%3A00%3A44%3A907 . ATB Derek
Winnebago Nut said:
Speed camera cash runs dry
October 31, 2003 12:00
The Norfolk Casualty Reduction Partnership was formed in 2001. It is made up of organisations including Norfolk police, the Highways Agency, the health authority and the Crown Prosecution Service, and aims to reduce the number and seriousness of accidents by at least 40 per cent by 2010.
Here's the news link: www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/News/story.asp?datetime=31+Oct+2003+12%3A00&tbrand=ENOnline&tCategory=NEWS&category=News&brand=ENOnline&itemid=NOED31+Oct+2003+12%3A00%3A44%3A907 . ATB Derek
So the aim in nine years was to get a 40% reduction in a figure that had been naturally falling by 4% per year. Bet they still miss the target.
318ti said:
How can you all support acts of criminal damage? IT's still criminal damage at the end of the day.
If someone damaged your car you would want them hanged. If they damage a camera, you cheer.
Double standards.
Last time I checked my car did not fine and ban people for making minor mistakes....
That's different. Some people here are telling others to slaughter a scamera. That's more to do with and intent. You said if someone accidently tripped you. Cameras being set alight are apparently funny to some. They are not set alight by accident.
Breaking into cars is funny for others.
>> Edited by 318ti on Monday 3rd November 18:29
Breaking into cars is funny for others.
>> Edited by 318ti on Monday 3rd November 18:29
Im talking about being accidently over the limit and being caught.
I am not condoning the damage to cameras (although on a personal level I do find it very amusing)
So, if someone trips over my foot for example and accidently bruises it, I should take the example from the scamera partnerships and take them directly to court to get them fined for assult. It may affect their job propects in the future and ruin their life but that doesnt matter because I made a small amount of money from a simple mistake that could have but didnt really affect anyone that much.
Of course I could just say "look where you are going you silly
" and then they maybe would in future but if they didnt want the time, they shouldnt have done the crime.....
The damage to cameras is simply a reflection of the publics frustration and its a problem that shouldnt exist but has been created by the over-zealous government and scamera partnerships.
I am not condoning the damage to cameras (although on a personal level I do find it very amusing)
So, if someone trips over my foot for example and accidently bruises it, I should take the example from the scamera partnerships and take them directly to court to get them fined for assult. It may affect their job propects in the future and ruin their life but that doesnt matter because I made a small amount of money from a simple mistake that could have but didnt really affect anyone that much.
Of course I could just say "look where you are going you silly
" and then they maybe would in future but if they didnt want the time, they shouldnt have done the crime..... The damage to cameras is simply a reflection of the publics frustration and its a problem that shouldnt exist but has been created by the over-zealous government and scamera partnerships.
318ti said:
How can you all support acts of criminal damage? IT's still criminal damage at the end of the day.
If someone damaged your car you would want them hanged. If they damage a camera, you cheer.
Double standards.
If you want double standards you imbecile why not look at your own views on speeding and your "i never speed" viewpoint" and then on the BMW forum you ask how to get more performance from your own 130mph car?!
Mensa? more like Mencap.
i only wondered about the increased performance for when i hit the country roads. Just for a bit of fun. You don't have to speed but the quicker acceleration is nice after coming out of a nice set of tight bends. I didn't say what i was going to do with the increased performance.
as for the mencap reference. nice and childish....... where is that report abuse button.
>> Edited by 318ti on Monday 3rd November 19:02
as for the mencap reference. nice and childish....... where is that report abuse button.
>> Edited by 318ti on Monday 3rd November 19:02
Whats wrong with killing scameras then?
Is there some sort of moral problem that should be being considered here?
Nope. Its a group of ordinary people (growing daily) who are sick to the back teeth with speed kills, scameras are good for headaches and the shits etc.
318, i dont know what you expect people to do, when those in power wont listen. What would it take to make you break a law or two?
How far would you have to be pushed?
Eventually youd snap and have to do the deed (whatever it may be), and then youd be in the same boat as the rest of us.
Deltaf<<<<criminal speeder....<<clean license since day1<<<<<no criminal record<<<<no accidents<<<,no convictions<<<<<**CRIMINAL** isnt it, what the law will do to a person?
Is there some sort of moral problem that should be being considered here?
Nope. Its a group of ordinary people (growing daily) who are sick to the back teeth with speed kills, scameras are good for headaches and the shits etc.
318, i dont know what you expect people to do, when those in power wont listen. What would it take to make you break a law or two?
How far would you have to be pushed?
Eventually youd snap and have to do the deed (whatever it may be), and then youd be in the same boat as the rest of us.
Deltaf<<<<criminal speeder....<<clean license since day1<<<<<no criminal record<<<<no accidents<<<,no convictions<<<<<**CRIMINAL** isnt it, what the law will do to a person?
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