Cromwell Bridge Speed Camera Vandalized
The camera, which was spray painted on, has been cleaned and is now operational again.
Photos
A newly-activated speed camera on Cromwell Bridge Road near Loch Raven High School was found vandalized Friday morning.
Officers responded to a call that the speed camera had been spray-painted around 7:45 a.m., said Elise Armacost, a police spokeswoman.
Light red paint was used to paint expletives on the camera casing and the lens, Armacost said. The camera was not rendered inoperable as a result of the vandalism.
Armacost said the camera vendor, ACS, is responsible for repairing damage to the cameras. By Friday afternoon the camera had been cleaned and is operational.
This is not the first incident of speed camera vandalism the county has dealt with this year.
Back in April, a speed camera on Rolling Road in Catonsville was set on fire and later, in June, that same camera was found spray-painted in much the same way the one near Loch Raven was.
The camera on Cromwell Bridge Road is one of the five that recently became operational on Aug. 8.
Other Tim
6:53 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
How about just slow down.
Sean Colin
9:00 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
Evets,
It clearly states that the Camera Company pays for repairs, and they get their money through a percentage of each ticket issued. So if fewer tickets are issued, it will cost both the County and the company. but since these are not about revenue generation it really shouldn't matter.
Evets
4:14 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
Mr. Collins, I was clearly responding to your post:
"Sean Colin
5:06 pm on Friday, August 17, 2012
To those responsible: In the future just use a matte finished clear coat spray so the lens is covered and cannot read the license plates, this will not draw attention to the unit and will COST THE COUNTY and the operator $$$$." (caps are mine)
Clearly, these cameras are about making money. Does that make vandalizing them OK? Parking meters and tolls on tunnels and bridges are about making money. Shall we vandalize these as well?
I am not a fan of speed cameras. However, their location is well known, signs warn you as you approach them, so failure to slow down in a speed camera zone is simply volunteering to provide revenue for the county. It is not clear why this failure to act rationally (slow down for the camera) should lead to acting irrationally (vandalizing or destroying property that belongs to someone else).
Margaret
7:58 am on Saturday, August 18, 2012
please don't incourage them to keep up the vanilisim
SAB
9:32 pm on Saturday, August 18, 2012
If speed camera's purpose is for safety, why was this installed long before school was in session. How many accident's are caused due to speed camera's? With the money generated from speed camera's, who's pocket is it going into?
Sean Colin
7:17 am on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Evets,
If the State/County honestly wanted to slow vehicles down, they would use traffic calming devices like speed bumps, traffic chokers(narrowing the lanes), or even rumble strips. Placing passive systems on the side of the road that sends you a bill two weeks after the offense and does not stop the act of speeding shows they don't care about the issue, they care about money. I believe that trivializing speeding by treating it no different than a parking ticket, in that the driver is not identified, no points, just pay the fine, is another example of their lack of caring. I have never seen a speed bump vandalized, because they work and people don't second guess the purpose of it. So as long these are in use, people will react with frustration which sometimes comes out as vandalism.
Buck Harmon
8:39 am on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Painting is safer than burning and still gets the protest message out there....
this blog is an example of the effectiveness.Speed camera's are a "cop out" perceived solution to a very real problem. Our government should do better to avoid this type of protest.
Lou Moriconi
9:47 am on Sunday, August 19, 2012
My issue with speed cameras is the fact that the "offender" is automatically judged guilty with no possibility of discovery or even questioning the "accuser". To me, this seems to be a another violation of our rights as citizens in a country governed by laws (and the right to examine the accuser).
Other Tim
8:15 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
You do have the right to challenge the speed camera fine, but you will probably lose.
Jim Arrington
3:10 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Here is a good one for everybody, was at the 895 tunnel northbound and it was turn to pay the toll of $3.00, I handed the girl the money and I drove away hearing all these sound that happen when you don't pay the toll. The alarm was for my car as the girl did not push the button to let me clearly go in time and later came the ticket, so all you wait for the green go light to go on before proceeding. And naturally the toll facility people don't want to hear it so your screwed. People don't like machines giving them a ticket, I want a officer to get me so I can curse him out lollll.
Nayana Davis
9:42 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
A comment left by Sean Collins was removed for violating Patch's Terms of Use, which calls for the removal of any comment that is illegal or promotes any illegal activities.
M. Sullivan
11:25 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ! Civil disobedience against an oppressive government is a wonderful thing!
Tom Sharp
6:18 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Leaves the company with less bribe money to spread around to the politicians who approve these things. Indictments always seem to follow the installation of these machines.
Lablover
8:00 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Jim Arrington, I got in the habit years ago to always ask for a receipt when I go through the tolls.
Parkvillehoney
12:46 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Why is the county putting street level cameras in place? It seems the county is asking for vandalism of these cameras. I like the overhead cameras where vandals can't access the camera lense. The bottom line is don't speed and you will not receive a ticket.