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Is one man waging a war on speed cameras?


6/ 4/2005

A DISGRUNTLED motorist is thought to be waging a personal vendetta against speed traps on two of the borough's busiest roads.

The offender has so far evaded capture whilst daubing paint over the lenses of the cameras to prevent them snapping speeding drivers.

And as soon as the damage has been fixed by the camera maintenance team, the mystery attacker has struck again and again, rendering the cameras useless.

A camera in Featherstall Road, Chadderton was first targeted in October last year, and last month the spraycan wielding vandal struck again in Manchester Road, Werneth.

Both cameras have been repeatedly targeted. In each case the same method of attack has been used ' silver paint sprayed over the lens of the '20,000 cameras, blocking their view of the road ' suggesting the same person is responsible.

Officials believe the culprit is likely to be a disgruntled motorist who has been photographed by the cameras and fined.

Maintained

Speed cameras in Greater Manchester are operated by Drivesafe, which spent nearly '265,000 maintaining and installing them last year.

Spokesman Emma Reynolds said: 'It seems those two cameras are regularly attacked by the spraying of paint on the lens.

'It appears that as soon as the paint is removed it is re-sprayed. I appreciate the local community concern over this. We are going to be taking action to try and redeem the issue at the two camera sites and will be keeping a close eye on it.

'I am not able to provide more details of our action as to do so would have a direct impact on its effect.'

Driver Neil Andrews, of Blackley, who uses Manchester Road every day to get to work in Oldham, said: 'I think it's a daft place for a camera anyway. I can understand people's frustration.'

Cameras are only ever installed for public safety reasons at sites which have a history of fatal accidents or serious injuries over the previous three years, along with documented evidence of speeding.

The cameras get photographic evidence of vehicles breaking the law, which results in a fine of at least '60 and three penalty points on a drivers' license.

More points and a higher fine are imposed if the speed limit is broken by more than 25 miles per hour.

The forward-facing cameras work by infra-red so don't flash when they take a picture, and they are able to photograph the driver's face as well as the car to help prosecution.

The average camera in Greater Manchester caught 207 drivers breaking the law last year.


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(51)


Most recent 2 of 51 user comments

   Was caught up behind a milk delivery lorry for miles, no way to overtake - it was doing around 15- 35 mph. Had aplane to catch so when the road finally became a dual carriage way I decided to overtake in case this snail turned off and delayed me futher, well one can guess the rest - flash of a camara! - had a quick look at the speedo, doing around 60 in a 50 zone....05:10 in the morning no houses, no people, no other vehicles what so ever, no danger - and only did this speed for 200yds approx to overtake........I was livid! felt like doing what the 'disgruntled motorist' is doing(still bitter!!). ¿¿60 & 3 points and bang went a clean licence of about 25 years. Could not a warning letter have sufficed?!!!
pete, Bath
28/11/2006 at 17:46

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   i think these cameras are just a money making venture the way to cure accidents and speeding is for police to do the job they r paid to do not cameras hidden in places like we have in our area that doesnt prevent speeding as they r not a visible diterant just a cash point
craig, mossley tameside
21/04/2005 at 22:21

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