Pranksters using speed cameras to get revenge!

[SUBMAN1]

Speed cameras are just a bad idea.

-S

http://www.thesentinel.com/302730670790449.php

WEB EXCLUSIVE -- Local teens claim pranks on county's Speed Cams

By Joe Slaninka
Special to the Sentinel

As a prank, students from local high schools have been taking advantage of the county's Speed Camera Program in order to exact revenge on people who they believe have wronged them in the past, including other students and even teachers.

Students from Richard Montgomery High School dubbed the prank the Speed Camera "Pimping" game, according to a parent of a student enrolled at one of the high schools.

Originating from Wootton High School, the parent said, students duplicate the license plates by printing plate numbers on glossy photo paper, using fonts from certain websites that "mimic" those on Maryland license plates. They tape the duplicate plate over the existing plate on the back of their car and purposefully speed through a speed camera, the parent said. The victim then receives a citation in the mail days later.

Students are even obtaining vehicles from their friends that are similar or identical to the make and model of the car owned by the targeted victim, according to the parent.

"This game is very disturbing," the parent said. "Especially since unsuspecting parents will also be victimized through receipt of unwarranted photo speed tickets.

The parent said that "our civil rights are exploited," and the entire premise behind the Speed Camera Program is called into question as a result of the growing this fad among students.

The Speed Camera Program was implemented in March of this year and used for the purpose of reducing traffic and pedestrian collisions in the county. Cameras are located in residential areas and school zones where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or lower. A $40 citation is mailed to the owner of the car for violating the speed limit in these areas.

The Montgomery County Police said they have not seen or heard of this prank occurring but said they will keep an eye out for people committing the crime.

"I hope the public at large will complain loudly enough that local Montgomery County government officials will change their policy of using these cameras for monetary gain," the parent said. "The practice of sending speeding tickets to faceless recipients without any type of verification is unwarranted and an exploitation of our rights."

Edward Owusu, Assistant Principal at Wootton High School, said that he heard of local students pulling the prank when the school received a call from a parent informing them of its occurrence. "I have not heard of this happening among students at Wootton," Osuwu said. "It is unfortunate that kids have a lot of time on their hands that they can think of doing such a thing."

Montgomery County Council President Phil Andrews said that the issue is troubling in several respects. "I am concerned that someone could get hurt, first of all, because they are speeding in areas where they know speeding is a problem," he said.

Andrews also said that this could hurt the integrity of the Speed Camera Program. "It will cause potential problems for the Speed Camera Program in terms of the confidence in it," he said.

He said he is glad someone caught it before it becomes more widespread and he said he hopes that the word get out to the people participating in this that there will be consequences.

[Onkel Neal]

Hahaha, very imaginative! What would happen if they use cop personal cars' plate numbers :rotfl:

[sunvalleyslim]

without a photo of the driver and the license plate it's hard to believe they would get a conviction in court......Sounds like it was staged to get rid of a foolish idea........

[longam]

Funny stuff, I wonder if that would work for the red light cams in my area? Going to have to spread the word and let the rest happen. All kids have cam phones so gathering info would be quick.

[Bill Nichols]

I happen to live in Montgomery County, where this story originated. The photo-cops began operating in our neighborhood a few months ago... my wife immediately got two tickets and I got one ($40 per shot), just for travelling at the same speed as everyone else. I think nearly everyone in our neighborhood has been ticketed at least once.

I can't say I'm happy about the situation, but traffic has definitely slowed since the photocops arrived.

[Iceman]

Here in AZ they hav spread like a wildfire but I did not think or heard that the will not send or issue a ticket unless they we 100% sure of the driver is the person who owned the car....hence when a person shows up in court if they ain't the one in the pic it would be a pretty crappy thing to hand out the ticket...this is why I was told many times company vehicles will not get on if they are not sure of the exact driver...unfortunatley for me my truck is issued only to me...but never got one yet...personally i like em...the make you pay attention to your speed...and they are all over here on freeways and sts.

[Task Force]

:rotfl:funny stuff.:rotfl:What will they think of next.:hmm:

[UnderseaLcpl]

This is another good reason why I don't register my vehicles.
We're also beset by red-light cameras here.


You know, you'd think that if the state cared so much about people's safety, they'd bother less with trivial moving violations (not considered 'reckless driving') and more with making sure that the driving test wasn't so easy to pass. Anymore, I think it's easier to get a license to drive than it is to buy a gun.

Imo, the driving test should involve challenging, timed obstacle courses that must be traversed forwards and backwards both in the daytime and at night, while talking on the phone, in a stick shift.
It should also include a supervised road test, where you are evaluated not only on your ability to operate the vehicle safely, but to do it without impeding the flow of traffic. Merge onto a freeway going 40mph and you fail.
Forget to use the turn indicators or use them half a second before you turn? Fail.
In the wrong lane and decide to try to wedge yourself over, stopping two lanes at once, rather than take a different route or circle and try again? Fail.
The light turns green and you just sit there? You fail forever.
And you only get to take that test if you have at least 300 hours of road time with a certified instructor.

There should be a written portion as well. It should be at least as long as the SAT. Unlike the driver's test, the questions should be relevant and difficult. Nobody cares what the penalty is for a second-time DWI offense.

You wouldn't let a pilot take a book home, get a signature his parents saying that he has all his hours, give him a twenty-question multiple choice test and hand him his licencse, right? So why would you let a person operate a 2-ton chunk of metal powered by exploding, volatile, vaporized, fuel at 70mph in areas with hundreds of people around?


If we didn't have so many crappy drivers, maybe we wouldn't have to worry so much about people speeding or rolling stop signs, or being on their cell phones.

[nikimcbee]

Ha, that's pretty funny. i hate those things. I totally avoid the red light camera intersections. Someone should just smear vasilne on the lense.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

Ha, that's pretty funny. i hate those things. I totally avoid the red light camera intersections. Someone should just smear vasilne on the lense.

I'd opt for spray paint myself.

[Bill Nichols]

That's where I've always thought a paintgun would be handy...

[lesrae]

Originally Posted by Iceman

Here in AZ they hav spread like a wildfire but I did not think or heard that the will not send or issue a ticket unless they we 100% sure of the driver is the person who owned the car....hence when a person shows up in court if they ain't the one in the pic it would be a pretty crappy thing to hand out the ticket...this is why I was told many times company vehicles will not get on if they are not sure of the exact driver...unfortunatley for me my truck is issued only to me...but never got one yet...personally i like em...the make you pay attention to your speed...and they are all over here on freeways and sts.

In the UK the ticket goes to the registered owner of the car who must pay it, or tell the police who was driving it.

Not registering the car is an option, but you can't get road tax without the registration docs and that's a visible sign for the police to stop you. The spread of ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras is also making that more of a problem, with the officers in the police car being alerted if a car has no tax, mot or insurance.

[Hylander_1314]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

This is another good reason why I don't register my vehicles.
We're also beset by red-light cameras here.


You know, you'd think that if the state cared so much about people's safety, they'd bother less with trivial moving violations (not considered 'reckless driving') and more with making sure that the driving test wasn't so easy to pass. Anymore, I think it's easier to get a license to drive than it is to buy a gun.

Imo, the driving test should involve challenging, timed obstacle courses that must be traversed forwards and backwards both in the daytime and at night, while talking on the phone, in a stick shift.
It should also include a supervised road test, where you are evaluated not only on your ability to operate the vehicle safely, but to do it without impeding the flow of traffic. Merge onto a freeway going 40mph and you fail.
Forget to use the turn indicators or use them half a second before you turn? Fail.
In the wrong lane and decide to try to wedge yourself over, stopping two lanes at once, rather than take a different route or circle and try again? Fail.
The light turns green and you just sit there? You fail forever.
And you only get to take that test if you have at least 300 hours of road time with a certified instructor.

There should be a written portion as well. It should be at least as long as the SAT. Unlike the driver's test, the questions should be relevant and difficult. Nobody cares what the penalty is for a second-time DWI offense.

You wouldn't let a pilot take a book home, get a signature his parents saying that he has all his hours, give him a twenty-question multiple choice test and hand him his licencse, right? So why would you let a person operate a 2-ton chunk of metal powered by exploding, volatile, vaporized, fuel at 70mph in areas with hundreds of people around?


If we didn't have so many crappy drivers, maybe we wouldn't have to worry so much about people speeding or rolling stop signs, or being on their cell phones.

Or to add to it,

Shaving and or putting on makeup

While talking on the cell phone

Eating a meal

And tuning in a different radio station or believe it not, watching a dvd on a dash mounted screen.

And trying to scald themselves with a cup of Starbucks so they can sue them like the lady did to McDonalds.

Out west in the Rocky Mountains, winter mountain driving instruction should be mandatory. I did this with both my kids. It made a very big impression on them. Therefore they are much more observant and cautious behind the wheel.

Just out of curiosity, how do you not register your vehicles? ANd still operate them?