The hatred which speed cameras in Europe have engendered in the drivers they're watching has bubbled up and over to the point where vandalism is a common occurrence. In Scotland, for example, there have been seven camera attacks in three years. The attacks range from cameras simply being damaged so they're inoperable to setting the devices on fire. The same local governments who were smart enough to begin using speed cameras in the first place have a solution: more cameras! The Scottish authorities are considering installing closed-circuit TV cameras to watch certain speed cameras in locations that have attracted attacks in the past. Thus, you would have cameras watching cameras... brilliant! (That should read as being laced with sarcasm.)If I'm in such a state of mind that taking a bat (cricket bat?) to a speed camera seems like a good idea, I'm probably just as likely to welcome the idea of taking out a CCTV camera, as well. Sure, it's a little more risky since the CCTV cameras are constantly recording and being monitored, but their field of view can't be more than 180 degrees, probably less. And if spy movies have taught us anything, it's that CCTVs are the easiest cameras to trick with a well placed picture or hacked video feed.
[Source: BBB.uk via Engadget]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
epp_b @ Jan 25th 2007 8:19PM
Time to get some snipers. That'll keep "we the people" a step above ;)
Eric @ Jan 25th 2007 8:37PM
In the immortal words of Homer Simpson:
"I dunno, the coast guard?"
naggs @ Jan 25th 2007 9:16PM
if i lived in the UK, i would make it my passtime to destroy as many fin cameras as possible.
they would never work in the US because people would just shoot them, good luck finding out whos shotgun blast finally did the damn thing in.
curtisinasia @ Jan 25th 2007 10:39PM
Epp_b and Naggs are you guys for real? On average a UK citizen is captured on camera 219 per day, you would both end up in jail before you could reload.
MikeW @ Jan 26th 2007 12:06AM
Alex, I will take police state for $1000
Time to throw the queen into the english channel?
epp_b @ Jan 26th 2007 12:29AM
["Epp_b and Naggs are you guys for real? On average a UK citizen is captured on camera 219 per day, you would both end up in jail before you could reload."]
Hence the sniper which would shoot from a distance. Also notice the emoticon which indicates humour or sarcasm.
hank @ Jan 26th 2007 3:36AM
Nothing an Accuracy International AWM .338 Lapua couldn't take care of... from 1400 meters out.
Panda @ Jan 26th 2007 7:17AM
Ok, so someone has time to shoot out the cameras...whens the idiot gonna get into his car and drive, rather than waste his day being clever and takign all his time to end cameras...
Gardiner Westbound @ Jan 26th 2007 7:25AM
Speed cameras are most frequently attacked in locations where authorities have set the speed limit significantly lower then the natural speed of the road, the speed at which 80-percent of drivers feel comfortable. This is motivated by revenue considerations, not road safety. That, in my view, makes them legitimate targets.
irloyal @ Jan 26th 2007 9:53AM
Reflective paint on the plates. Cheap and Effective.
jrockthamic @ Jan 26th 2007 11:20AM
People accept more and more of the reality that's presented to them. Today cameras on roadways, then cameras everywhere, then laws and regulations passed that slowly take away civil liberties and the means for the common people to show civil disobedience. Police state and dictatorship. This is just a beginning and I'm no extremist. Rock the mic!
John B @ Jan 26th 2007 12:18PM
Somewhere I saw a website devoted to showing photos of destroyed Gatsos (speed cameras). I would never use the term vandalism - vandalism has no purpose whereas this does. I'm thinking paint (spray or paintballs) on the lens should be cheap, effective and send a message.
9. Gardiner Westbound is correct and is probably drawing from the Ontario experience with speed cameras which were revenue based. The incoming Conservative government got rid of them with a week of taking office.
mike @ Jan 26th 2007 1:06PM
Nothing a carefully placed lump of nitroglycerine wouldn't take care of. And before you comment you'd better Google we Maltese's passion for fireworks. Kaboom ;)
Josh Reiter @ Jan 31st 2007 3:01AM
Your id's have been logged and reported to thought police for detention and cleansing. Thank you for your cooperation.
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