Friday 23rd June 2006

Cameras to watch the cameras?

Burnt Gatso prompts camera escalation

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Could the proliferation of cameras on our roads be about to become absurd?

The group known as Motorists Against Detection (MAD) claimed to have burnt out a speed camera on the A217 in Burgh Heath, Surrey last weekend. The group reportedly said: "We are taking no prisoners this summer as we have had enough of Joe Public having to line the pockets of people in offices."

The predictable response of the authorities has been to complain about the amount of public money being spent replacing cameras that have been trashed and saying that scameras save lives.

However Duncan Knox, head of the local speed camera partnership, also refused to rule out the possibility that the organisation would install CCTV to watch the camera sites.

Cameras to watch the cameras. And next...?

• Original story: Motorists' group: blame us for destruction of speed camera

^{Image courtesy of www.speedcam.co.uk}

[Mr Whippy]

And next?

Wear a balaclava? Smash the CCTV camera first, then the scamera. Total cost = replacement of 2 camera's...

Dave

[martaay]

lol then there will be cameras to watch the cameras that are watching the scameras! = 3 cameras destroyed. Solution... dont waste money putting them up, spend the money educating drivers

[Timberwolf]

Motorists Against Detection?

To start with, we'll have CCTV watching the Gatso. Then there will be CCTV to watch the CCTV watching the Gatso. Then CCTV watching the CCTV...

Eventually, the only solution will be for the police to sit at the camera site in a car, to catch people setting fire to the whole setup. The police officers sitting at every prominent Gatso site will need to be profitable, so as a result they will be forced to stop and fine drivers for traffic offences, vehicle condition and general bad driving.

One can but hope...

[dhampton]

Ahh the sight of a burnt out gatso! Gives me that warm fuzzy feeling!

[MilnerR]

Camera protection officers! That should cut the unemployment totals and provide a vital service to the country

[Yex]

dhampton said:

Ahh the sight of a burnt out gatso! Gives me that warm fuzzy feeling!

Yep, seen two so far in Essex. One on old A13 in Grays and one on road between Brentwood and Ongar - both made me smile

Yex

[splatspeed]

that is so naughty

send them to bed with no tea!!!!!

[jasandjules]

Wonder how long it will be before someone sets light to the copper manning the radar gun... I was pleased to see the A130 bypass had a "safety operator" Wednesday afternoon.. Nice straight bit of dual carriageway, no idea why they would operate a camera there....

[thx1138]

I was in the Preston Road travelodge in Brighton, earlier this year, and the scamera there was burnt out. Someone had lobbed a load of tyres over it, and then set them alight.

[ubergreg]

MAD said:

"This was part of the group's summer of MADness."

Then God speed you, my friends...

[buckshee]

Timberwolf said:

Motorists Against Detection?

To start with, we'll have CCTV watching the Gatso. Then there will be CCTV to watch the CCTV watching the Gatso. Then CCTV watching the CCTV...

Eventually, the only solution will be for the police to sit at the camera site in a car, to catch people setting fire to the whole setup. The police officers sitting at every prominent Gatso site will need to be profitable, so as a result they will be forced to stop and fine drivers for traffic offences, vehicle condition and general bad driving.

One can but hope...

Since the real purpose of the Scameras is to generate revenue, the scenario you describe will ultimately lead to ......
.......
....... toll roads!

[thx1138]

Whenever I go anywhere on my bike, I take back roads nearly every time. Toll roads, would really spoil my fun, it would be chocca block with cars and vans trying to avoid tolls.

[BigGriff]

Maybe we should have a collection to help them with the cost of matches and fuel bills?

God speed your angels of mercy!

[havoc]

thx1138 said:

Whenever I go anywhere on my bike, I take back roads nearly every time. Toll roads, would really spoil my fun, it would be chocca block with cars and vans trying to avoid tolls.

And the government would nail two objectives at once - more revenue AND making the roads less pleasant to drive on!!!

[mybrainhurts]

Burning cameras...?

Disgraceful....

Haven't they got better things to do with their time...?

....................

[mjdriver]

It is summer and i love a barbiecue..imagine the satisfying taste over burger cooked on a Gatso

[julianhj]

thx1138 said:

I was in the Preston Road travelodge in Brighton, earlier this year, and the scamera there was burnt out. Someone had lobbed a load of tyres over it, and then set them alight.

Oh, I missed that one.

The thing is, if they keep getting torched then we'll get lumbered with more mobile scamera units. At least with a fixed Gatso you have the knowledge it's there, and can therefore slow down for it.

[ubergreg]

julianhj said:

The thing is, if they keep getting torched then we'll get lumbered with more mobile scamera units. At least with a fixed Gatso you have the knowledge it's there, and can therefore slow down for it.

Fair point. All right then; instead, why don't we just burn the taliva...

Mayhaps I shouldn't finish that last bit.

[Stubby Pete]

Summer's here and its time for barbeques, just think if there was a Gatso relief organisation.

"We're not asking anyone to burn all the cameras and mobile vans, just do one each!!!!"

The problem is that it will ultimately lead to more mobile vans which are easier to get caught by. I suppose the option would be to slow down to within the speed limit but its more the principal me thinks.

[Fire99]

I think its totally outrageous behaviour!!!..............Not telling me first so i can bring the marshmallows!!