Game to destroy CCTV cameras: vandalism or valid protest?

[mwooldri]

82. UK speeding cameras are run by local authorities.

The Police, the local authority, Magistrates Court, and Crown Prosecution Service all have a hand in the speeding cameras. Still it is a revenue business, apparently 1 speeding camera earned the local authority £1.3 million. The Tory/Lib-Dem government have cut funding for speeding cameras, and many local authorities have decided to turn them off as they cannot afford to run them without the government support. The money for speeding cameras was directed at other road safety improvement projects instead.

As for disputing the fine - it can be challenging. Usual defences are "I wasn't driving the vehicle" and "The speed camera isn't working correctly". A solicitor can help but of course you pay for that. For first time minor speeders a speed awareness course is offered which means the fine is waived and the licence doesn't get points added on.

Even first responders aren't immune - speed cameras will get police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, etc. If it can be proven that the vehicle was responding to an emergency call then it is waived but if the vehicle wasn't on an emergency call the driver gets the ticket. The emergency calls to 999 and dispatcher records can track this. Volunteer and private ambulance services who are responding to an emergency not initiated through 999 have to prove to police that they were responding to an emergency, or the driver does get a speeding ticket. This is basically to stop people repainting vehicles as emergency vehicles to get out of speeding tickets.