Stunning Invasion of Privacy...or...

[Don]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/3731211.stm

bbc web site said:

Volunteers catch speeding drivers Motorists who drive too fast in some Kent villages are being caught by teams of volunteers operating speed guns. The scheme, which sees pairs of volunteers zapping vehicles at local speed hotspots, is due to be set up in every parish in the county. Hand-held devices with lasers are used to check the speed of approaching cars and letters are then sent to offenders. It is designed to raise awareness of speeding although persistent offenders may face fixed penalties from police. Volunteers, who are trained and authorised, record the registration numbers of speeding vehicles. The information is then passed to the area traffic management officer from Kent Police and letters are sent out. Parish councils pay for the £160 hand-held speed indicators, and fluorescent jackets. Pc Richard Gisbee, said: "As long as the enthusiasm is there from the parish councillors and the volunteers that are running it, it will last. "If they want to keep doing it to make their villages safer than it will last for a long time."

So how are they "authorised"? If I found some civvie pointing a laser at my car I'd be very, very tempted to get out and give them the benfit of my point of view on the matter in no uncertain terms.

[Don]

streaky said:

How is this an "invasion of privacy"? - Streaky

I view it in the same way I would someone staring at me with a telescope or taking pictures of me without asking permission first...coppers are entitled to do this in pursuance of their duty..but Joe Public? I think not...its...rude.

Its entirely possible I am just being overly sensitive - but I don't like the idea one bit.

[Don]

CarZee said:

Might be an upside... I bet the old biddies reckon that a TVR doing 25mph gthrough their village is speeding because the car is loud and they have lousy speed perception. Once they see what the laser's telling them, they might realise that sports car drivers are not all lunatics, just because they don't drive a Hyundai Atoz.

Interesting observation. It'd be nice to think so wouldn't it.

[Don]

dazren said:

Just to put the fox amongst the chickens, would we motoring enthusiasts be so up in arms if these people joined neighbourhood watch and were invading the privacy of burgulars....... DAZ

Probably not. But there's a difference between the neighbourhood watch and a lynch mob.