Criminal Damage to Speed Cameras

yesterday as part of my work for the highways authority i was asked to go take photographs of 3 speed cameras that had been vandalised near wetherby.

along a 2 mile stretch of rural road, national speed limit, no schools, ped crossings or traffic signals, not much of anything except hedges and fields

2 Gatso's, and 1 Truvello camera have been pushed over and totally uprooted from the ground, and then run over, possibly by a jcb or similar, there is yellow paint on the camera poles, similar to that used on a lot of plant.

this is criminal damage which will cost in the region of 30 grand to repair, and have no fear ....it will come out of our pockets.


however, having personally had my portrait taken on several occasions in the last few years, and generally being against the use of greed cameras, but very much in favour or being busted by a real life police officer,

i have to admire the spirit.

well done boys....or girls.....

If the vast sums of money GATSOs brought in were used to pay for more police to actualy make the roads safer I don't think people would be so anoyed. As it is, the fines just pay for new cameras, and the ********s who operate them so I can't say I'm too upset to read about this

Good work

I heard one constabulary had problems with one particular camera being destroyed and it happened so often they stationed a police officer to guard it! Idea: Why not just put the policeman there to catch speeders, instead of the camera?

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

Why not just put the policeman there to catch speeders, instead of the camera?

Far too logical a solution and, because of the visible deterrent, wouldn't raise so much money.

that must have took some balls, it was done some time over the weekend, must have been done in the dark, although the road only goes to Thorpe arch trading estate (about 4000 staff, 24 hour operation) and a few small villages, it must have taken about 10-15 mins to knock em down and drive between them, 1 is right out side a cottage, in the dead of anight a jcb makes some noise , especially when breaking steel and concrete !!!!. Must have been seen by someone, i cant believe that no vehicles went down that road in 15 mins and didnt wonder what a jcb was doing in the middle of the night......

Originally Posted by Captain Nemo

that must have took some balls, it was done some time over the weekend, must have been done in the dark, although the road only goes to Thorpe arch trading estate (about 4000 staff, 24 hour operation) and a few small villages, it must have taken about 10-15 mins to knock em down and drive between them, 1 is right out side a cottage, in the dead of anight a jcb makes some noise , especially when breaking steel and concrete !!!!. Must have been seen by someone, i cant believe that no vehicles went down that road in 15 mins and didnt wonder what a jcb was doing in the middle of the night......

but accordign to ur signature "you didnt do anything..it was like that when YOU got here"

are u trying to tell us sommat as u seem to know a lot about the times it might take

There were probably lots of witnesses, but they were probably cheering. i know if i saw that i would be hard pushed to come forward. You would think a "safety camera" would be able to notice something as unsafe as a rampaging JCB, and would have aprehended it imediatly. must haev been over powerd

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Originally Posted by Ceri JC

I heard one constabulary had problems with one particular camera being destroyed and it happened so often they stationed a police officer to guard it!

That happened near the Larkman estate in Norwich, the camera got destroyed almost as soon as it was repaired, so finally they actually removed the camera!

Originally Posted by Captain Nemo

that must have took some balls, it was done some time over the weekend, must have been done in the dark, although the road only goes to Thorpe arch trading estate (about 4000 staff, 24 hour operation) and a few small villages, it must have taken about 10-15 mins to knock em down and drive between them, 1 is right out side a cottage, in the dead of anight a jcb makes some noise , especially when breaking steel and concrete !!!!. Must have been seen by someone, i cant believe that no vehicles went down that road in 15 mins and didnt wonder what a jcb was doing in the middle of the night......

But, be honest, had you seen someone 'JCBing' a camera, would you report it?