12/19/2010
Germany, UK: Speed Cameras Unplugged, Swiped, SmokingGerman vigilantes grab a powerless speed camera while a UK camera causes causes fire alarm.
Vigilantes in Euskirchen, Germany put a speed camera out of commission Monday by pulling the plug. The automated ticketing machine on the B266 in the tiny village of Wallenthalerhohe had its power line cut at 1:29pm, disabling its alarm system. That done, the camera head was removed and taken away, Kolnische Runschau reported. The location was put back into service on Tuesday after officials purchased a new camera unit and housing for 40,000 euros (US $53,000).
In Ipswich, England last Sunday at around 3:10pm, firefighters were dispatched to a suspected fire on the A14 highway construction zone. It turns out that the billowing smoke drivers saw was in fact a speed camera operating off of a diesel power generator, the East Anglian Daily Times reported.