It's finally made the news...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/8454367.stmBBC report wrote:
Vandals cut down speed camera in Kirkby Lonsdale
Vandals using a grinder are being blamed for cutting down a roadside speed camera in Cumbria.
Police say damage to the camera on the eastbound carriageway of the A65 at Devil's Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale, is estimated at more than £30,000.
The incident happened early on Sunday and detectives are now examining images of speeding incidents in an effort to trace those responsible.
The Cumbria Safety Camera Scheme said the attack put people's lives at risk.
'Steady reduction'
Scheme manager Kevin Tea described the vandalism as "anti-social" and "highly irresponsible".
"Since the safety cameras started operating in 2003 there has been a steady reduction in the number of people being killed or seriously injured on the county's roads," he said.
"What the individual who committed this act does not realise is that speeding offences captured on the camera are transmitted immediately to our back office system.
"Removing the camera does not remove the offence so the police will be seeing who has been through at excessive speed and checking out those drivers who have been caught."
Kevin Tea wrote:
"What the individual who committed this act does not realise is that speeding offences captured on the camera are transmitted immediately to our back office system.
He must already know who did it, unless he is making bold assumptions - even I knew that the pictures were beamed back, and so must a lot of other motorists.
It just goes to show that the "Safety" Camera Partnership personnel think that ALL motorists are stupid!
I also see that they are being referred in the press reports as a SCHEME now, instead of a PARTNERSHIP.
I wonder if that was a slip of the reporters pen, or a Freudian slip?
Strangely, the original CSCP partners did not include the NHS or the Fire Brigade, as was usual in other "Safety" Camera Partnerships.
A quick glance at their website's "News" page, shows this latest hiccup in their operations has not been recorded.
In fact, NOTHING has been posted since 25th July 2007!
They really are getting paid to do nothing!
Also, Kevin Tea is quoted as saying:
CSCP mouthpiece wrote:
“Since the safety cameras started operating in 2003 there has been a steady reduction in the number of people being killed or seriously injured on the county's roads.
In fact he misrepresents the truth - the decline was NOT steady, the first few years saw a RISE in deaths, with a near record number in 2006!
Their Speed Camera Crystal ball even saw a claim that a proposed speed camera at Plumpton on the A6 (which was blocked), could have saved 6 deaths in a single accident - this despite the vehicles were NOT exceeding the posted limit!
Their chief
schemer has left, and now works for RSS as an "expert" witness.
Yes, as an expert
mountebank, weaving his tales to the partners on the bench!!!!
Don't worry about the £30,000 - that's just 500 FPNs and the authorities will be back in pocket. Anyone care to guess how many FPNs the CSCP issue in a year?