Thursday 3rd February 2005

Gatsos generate £20 million 'stealth tax'

Cash cow cameras raise seven-fold revenue increase

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New figures show that speed cameras are generating £20 million of extra revenue for the government's coffers as the number of fixed penalty fines issued in England and Wales has rocketed from some 260,000 in 2000-2001 to 1.8 million in 2003-2004 -- a seven-fold increase.

A report in the Telegraph suggests that the increase in cameras, up to 6,000 of which 2,500 are mobile units, is the direct result of a government decision that allows local councils to retain any revenues generated by the devices. However, if the councils don't spend the money, the cash goes directly into central government's war-chest.

Only two counties remain free of "safety camera partnerships", consisting of local councils and police and which manage Gatso installations, according to the report: N Yorks and Co. Durham.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said the most cameras had brought "real benefits in safety and prove that they are justified", while the Conservatives have renewed their call for a review of what they called "a stealth tax" on motorists.

More: www.telegraph.co.uk/

[Mudflap]

This is getting a lot of press coverage. Even had a large spot with debate on Richard and Judy yesterday. Never know all this attention might prove to be a thorn in the side of the highway robbers and their scameras. Lets hope.

>>> Edited by Mudflap on Thursday 3rd February 12:35

[Mudflap]

As was said on the television the other evening 'It's fine not crime' that's important with these scameras.

[Mudflap]

I do think the point here is not the use of speed limits but the use of speed traps. The majority (I do believe) of these scameras have nothing to do with safety but are there to raise vast sums of money. Motorists are not stupid and are getting pretty fed up with this very sneaky practice of trapping people just to raise revenue. We really need to see more police patrols on our roads metering punishment to cut out crime not these 'Big Brother' tactics of letting the really guilty criminal get away with real crime and just targeting the soft option. Scameras do not catch drivers without tax or insurance in unsafe vehicles. Bloody yellow vermin on poles they are.

[Mudflap]

The government just cant suddenly admit to fleecing the public and say 'ok we'll get rid of them'(scameras). If they keep getting this bad press thay will have to think again about installing more new ones and think of reasons why existing ones should be removed/reduced. I am sure all this bad press is a very good thing for the motorists. There could be a few surprises at election time and a re-think by the government may be forced on them, allbeit slowly. We can live in hope.