Welsh Police Pimp Their Speed Camera Talivan
If you're looking for the U.K.'s most fanatical speed enforcement acolytes, head on down to Wales. (Or not.) The country has been waging a jihad against speeders for over a decade, including fleets of unmarked, speed camera-equipped vans (a.k.a. Talivans) parked on highway overpasses, around corners, etc. Now that the heddlu (police) have alienated hundreds of thousands of drivers both old and young, they've decided to launch a charm offensive– of sorts. At the taxpayer's expense, they've pimped out a van for "youth education." Pistonheads reports the cunning plan: "The idea is to infiltrate cruises and car park gatherings, and when the young drivers come over to have a look at the van – which is fitted with a pumping sound system – they are hit with information on how to stop being a nuisance." One wonders about local residents' take on noise nuisance, and how glad the Max Power crowd is to see Officer Plod, no matter how fly his whip.
More by Robert Farago
Comments
Join the conversation
How many tickets did it take to pay for that waste of money?
To be slightly fair to the Welch police, one should note that the roads in that country are often narrow, twisty, hilly -- and there are no motorways (i.e. interstates) except for a fairly modest stretch between Cardiff and Swansea. If there is one place you'd well to adhere to the UK national speed limit (70 m.p.h.), these two lane country roads are probably it.
To be fair to the Welsh residents it taxes the imagination to think building a boom van is a proper use for public funds.
Ear Defenders!! I love British idioms.