Disappointed with the performance of automated bus lane cameras, officials in Athens, Greece announced their intention yesterday to hire human photographers to do the job. Traffic police will provide protection for Athens Urban Transport Organization employees as they roam the capital city looking for violations to photograph.

The city has 25 automated cameras designed to issue 78 euro (US $96) tickets to anyone driving in lane designated for bus use only. Many of the fixed camera photos have been unreadable. London bus lane cameras produce significant revenue, with a single street generating £2 million (US $3.7 million) in a year.