Speed cameras are NOT for safety but make LOTS of money, admit police.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/61720 ... lice-admit"SPEED cameras on the Britain’s motorways may be permanently switched-on in an unashamed police bid to fleece motorists and patch-up swingeing Government cuts to force budgets.
The move, which would cost Britain’s motorists MILLIONS, would basically be a tax on speeding. But some senior police officers say their hands are being forced by unprecedented cuts which have left many forces unfit for purpose.
Motoring organisations also feared the plans could mean that a motorist doing 71mph in a 70 zone would be fined £100 with no discretion.
But Olly Martins, the police and crime commissioner for Bedfordshire has said that he is considering permanently switching on speed cameras on the M1 motorway in order to fund the local force.
He told parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee that the Bedfordshire constabulary’s “desperate financial plight” left him with “no option”.
He said the county's force was only able to deploy 169 officers per 100,000 members of the population compared to the national average of 232 (or 388 in London).
At the same time, the county has some serious crime worries, with the UK’s fourth highest level of gun crime, the fifth highest level of burglary, robbery and vehicle crime, the seventh highest level of knife crime, plus a high terror threat.
In response, he is thinking of using his powers to permanently turn on the cameras between junctions 10 (the turn-off for Luton Airport) and 13 (Milton Keynes South and Bedford), which is one of the busiest stretches of the motorway.
The speed cameras in that area are linked to variable speed limits, which can reduced to below 70mph at times of heavy congestion, in the wake of a crash or during bad weather.
The majority of speed fine revenue goes to the government, but Martin's office said a proportion goes to the local force.
“Strict enforcement of the speed limit could raise £1m and to me that's better than losing 25 more police officers,” Martins said.
Other police forces across the country are also investigating the possibility of using speed cameras as revenue generators rather than road safety measures.
The proposed move has angered pro-driving lobby groups, with Hugh Bladon, from the Alliance of British Drivers, attacking the idea of making money from speed cameras.
These cameras are alleged to make roads safer. They are not to make money for the police, or government, or anyone and to suggest that it is... I'm lost for words,” he said.
“It is completely contrary to anything to do with road safety and utterly obnoxious.”
Speed Safe founder Claire Armstrong said: "We are appalled by it, it ruins the tolerance and the proportion of the enforcement, therefore increasing the rift between the police and the public
"The normally careful and competent actions of a reasonable individual should be considered legal.
"I can think I'm driving at 70 and may nudge momentarily to 71, you will naturally drive occasionally over the speed limit for safety reasons, not to zoom off at 130mph, but to manoeuvre to avoid something dangerous on the road.
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
Members
