Speed Cameras Attacked in Finland, Poland and Wales
An anonymous vigilante in Rovaniemi, Finland destroyed a speed camera with military-grade explosives on Wednesday. Video of the assault uploaded to YouTube showed the remote detonation of a 700g charge cleanly blew the head off an automated ticketing machine on a deserted road (watch video below). The assault appears to be the most professionally executed attack recorded on tape. In 2006, a British man used thermite to damage what he thought was a speed camera, but turned out to be a police surveillance device.
Attacks on photo enforcement devices have grown increasingly common in the UK as Wales, with a population of three million, reported at least 102 camera attacks in the past few years. The Western Mail newspaper used a freedom of information request to discover that 29 cameras have been attacked in South Wales since January 2006, 21 in North Wales in the past five years and 52 in Gwent in the past seven.
Dyfed-Powys officials refused the request, insisting that the agency must hide all such figures from the public. The above numbers do not include incidents in which drivers crashed into the accident prevention devices. In 2006, Welsh speed cameras issued 160,126 tickets worth £9,607,560 (US $15,355,860).
In Rychnowach, Poland, vigilantes burned and destroyed a speed camera on Wednesday night, Glos Pomorza reported. The Czluchow municipality said it would have to spend 120,000 zloty (US $42,000) to replace the device. Last year alone, three other speed camera sites in the area were destroyed by fire. Police have never found any suspects.
[courtesy thenewspaper.com]
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That made my day. Awesome.
@ RichardD Really. Every single one succeeded?
@PeteMoran I think he was referring to the fact that "Every time it has actually been put to a vote, speed cameras have been ousted." Not that every petition drive has been successful in getting the issue on the ballot.