Police Do Not See Funny Side Of Blow Up Speed Camera

[RobBrady]

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A novelty speed camera inventor has been warned that he may get more than he bargained for - seven years in jail.

Shed Simove has invented an inflatable traffic camera and plans to sell them for £30 each. The blow-up camera, which has been christened FAKESO, is based on the GATSO design and it can be attached to the top of a post.

However, the police don't see the funny side of Mr. Simove's invention. They say the "cameras" don't comply with the Road Traffic Act of 1988 and have warned him that if his creation causes any crashes he could be handed a seven year prison sentence.

Simove said to the Daily Mail: "I'm gutted, I really thought I'd created a product that could help everyone by reducing speeding on Britain's roads. With my product, anyone can quickly construct their own fully mobile speed camera and reduce incidents of speeding in minutes. I just want to encourage safe driving. The last thing I want is to cause an accident. I was flabbergasted when the police told me I could face seven years in the clink for this."

The police emailed the inventor saying: "Although it is not illegal per se to put up pretend speed cameras, the police do not endorse them. Depending on where they were erected, there could be an offence contrary to section 22A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Causing danger to road users) - this carries a maximum of seven years in prison. Additionally, if an accident were to occur as a result of the fake camera, those responsible could find themselves being sued by the victims."

They continued: "Finally, putting up such a camera may breach planning legislation and so the local council may take action."

Simove has put his project on hold while he awaits legal advice.

Source and Inflatable Camera Images

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Robert Brady
Editor, Pocket GPS World
The Premier GPS / SatNav Resource for News, Reviews and Forums

[TuppyTrucker]

I really don't see how this gimmick is any different from a For Sale board.
And how can Shed be held responsible for anything after he has sold his square balloon to Joe Public?
Another case of Plod making stuff up as they go along.
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[sussamb]

I guess in the same way if you sell a gun to someone you could under certain circumstances be charged with assisting in a crime.
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Where there's a will ... there's a way.

[rf065]

[sussamb]

Well some do, many of us don't ...
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Where there's a will ... there's a way.

[b33jay]

I seem to recall life-size cardboard policemen being placed at the roadside in some areas to get motorists to slow down.

Good for the goose but not the gander eh?

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