[SOC] Don't get mad, get even.

[Todd Butler]

Chris Redding wrote:

>And now a word from "Captain Gatso".
>
>Wednesday 22nd August 2002=20
>
>FLEECING, NOT POLICING!=20
>
>I can confirm that a militant organisation known as MOTORISTS AGAINST DE=
TECTION (MAD) have this week started a direct action anti speed camera ca=
mpaign, kicking off with the UK's most profitable speed camera located at=
 the bottom of the M11 motorway near WOODFORD, ESSEX which is reputed to =
earn up to =A3840,000 per week, moving in to take out of action a further=
 29 speed cameras along the whole 27 mile length of the A406 NORTH CIRCUL=
AR ROAD from CHISWICK in the west to BECKTON in the east side of LONDON. =

>
>A spokesman for MAD calling himself CAPTAIN GATSO said today:=20
>
>"We represent an unheard band of motorists and bikers fed up with this c=
ontinuing proliferation of speed cameras, specs cameras, bus lane, parkin=
g and now congestion cameras. We are sick and tired of driving to our spe=
edos and braking in the vicinity of a speed camera as opposed to driving =
and braking as to what we can see!=20
>
>We are fed up with lining the pockets of police forces and councils as a=
 stealth tax revenue raising scheme.=20
>
>We are not criminals, just drivers going about our daily business and we=
 are essentially law abiding citizens. However everytime a person gets be=
hind the wheel or rides a motorcycle they can become a criminal in respec=
t of absolute motoring laws administered by the non-discretionary nature =
of speed camera systems! We totally agree with existing road traffic laws=
 and speed cameras sited within built up and urban areas and we APPLAUD t=
hem. In fact we feel there should be more of them in towns and cities, bu=
t we are tired of having speed cameras sited on major trunk roads and mot=
orways where there are never any children playing. They are unnecessary a=
nd achieve very little in bringing down the numbers of casualties and dea=
ths on the UK's roads. This is supported by TRL, DETR and HOME OFFICE fig=
ures, however they add large amounts of ill-gotten gains to police and co=
uncil coffers, further alienating the voting motoring public.=20
>
>We have spoken to numerous police officers and emergency service personn=
el countrywide and they agree that the majority of speed cameras are site=
d for revenue, not safety, and in a lot of cases they just impede general=
 progress.
>
I know several local police forces in a number of places (like the=20
Phoenix, Arizona area, the Twin Cities, Dallas, Texas and in California=20
use them to "catch" violators.   Catching violators also is a huge=20
source of revenue for these communities.   Not only do they get free (or =

at greatly reduced cost) use of the technology to expand their revenue=20
stream, but they can due it under the guise (appears seven words after=20
"guilty" in my desk dictionary) of safety.  Velocity seldom has a direct =

relationship to accidents, and simple laws of physics do.   Take 33=20
Indianapolis race cars, 33 drivers, and run the Indianapolis 500.  =20
Potentially a race involving over 16,000  driver/miles  taking about 2=BD=
 =20
to  3 hours with speeds over 200 miles per hour with fewer than ten=20
"incidents" per race. And we can talk about minimal fatalities.  Car=20
makers could learn a lesson or two from the design engineers with Indy=20
cars. Of course, they design heavy rusting hulks that run on gasoline,=20
expected to wear out before you make the last payment unless the car=20
falls apart first.  Same kind of stories when they "mix it up" on=20
NASCAR.  I realize these are professional drivers, but myself, I have=20
been driving for 32 years (I'm 48) and conservatively estimate that I=20
have easily 300,000 miles behind the wheel. With the exception of an=20
idiot more concerned about his cellular telephone than his process of=20
backing out into a busy street (he was cited) than his direction of=20
travel, I have never been involved in an accident.  I might have not=20
been so angry with the guy, but his stupidity caused me to be late for a =

meeting with another ham, and I spent my 46th birthday (the next day)=20
dealing with body shop estimates (needed three), insurance companies=20
(his and mine), rental car companies, and telling everyone why my car=20
got bashed by an idiot, over and over!   Further, I realize that our=20
British friends drive on the wrong side of the roadway, but it really=20
isn't a factor here!

73,     Todd      N0NCL    SOC # 533