Speed camera spying is sinister

By Peter Barnwell
News Limited Community Newspapers
20 February 2012

Anything denoted as a driving distraction could be made into a fineable offence.

So the Government is looking at using speed cameras to catch people on their mobile phones while driving.

Apart from the "nana state" implications, there’s a sinister side to the proposal. If NSW does go with it, the other states will surely follow and that then means big business, big money.

While using your mobile phone behind the wheel is extremely dumb and dangerous, so is the precedent of using speed cameras in the way proposed.

It means these well-loved revenue-raising appliances could be harnessed to catch people for doing pretty much everything state road bureaucracies don’t like - and more.

Not wearing a seat belt, eating behind the wheel, drinking (coke or similar) behind the wheel, not wearing your spectacles, smoking, rude gesticulating, nose picking, and arguing could be targeted.

Anything denoted as a driving distraction could be made into a fineable offence. And that equals rivers of gold for a whole bunch of rapacious groups including the private company that owns the cameras.

They would have to rename these cameras "Everything Cameras’’ which would be the ideal enforcement tool for everything. We could then get rid of the police force because everything would be monitored by Everything Cameras.

They could then use face recognition technology to identify you, look up your credit card number and debit the amount required – immediately after the crime was committed.

Don’t laugh people. Obviously the person or group that postulated this preposterous proposal hasn't heard of privacy laws. Wait until they nail some heavy hitter engaging in some nefarious activity who doesn't want their picture taken and goes them in court. That will sort ‘em out.

Comments on this story

Displaying 3 of 24 comments

Just take note. it’s not speed that kills you, its the sudden stop you wankers who love speed cameras. I love how all this modern day technology, advancements in fines and all this other nonsense crap and yet it still doesn’t stop road fatality completely. there’s always going to be people killed by driving, not speeding! but driving and you camera hugging bastards who think your so proper cause you do 20ks under the stated speed sign who hold up traffic in the afternoons think an accident or just normal driving won’t ever harm you, think again!. You can be doing 50’s and still get killed, I remember Dr Karl doing a science experiment on this. I think we are becoming sooo dictated from the government in charge of roads, that I would call it being corrupt. doing something like 4k’s over on a 100k highway and getting fined which you can reluctantly do 120 on is just so corrupt.

I would definitely go to say that this is easy revenue and not road safety. Road safety would be investing money into a new drivers program for young and older drivers so that they can safely drive and be at the ready if a quick action arises from a situation they learned from inside the program.
dave Posted on 24 February 2012 3:12pm
Nothing to do with safety, although there are a few idiots out there that have bought this dribble.
nicko Posted on 24 February 2012 1:01pm
Earth to the Roads and Traffic Authorities of all states—So when someone has a fine levied for being 3km over the speed limit and they challenge this in court based on the % error inherent in all vehicle speedometers at the time of manufacture what will the Judicary decide? Wonder if Geoffrey ROBINSON would like to take on the first challenge? When vehicles are QC manufactured to comply within the 3km error factor or 3% and have a sophisticated Radar speed cruise control system then you might be able to levy such a fine. The Bureaucratic idea that vehicle speedometers are currently that accurate is simplistic and mistaken. Time for a rethink.
JohSan of Queensland Posted on 23 February 2012 10:30pm
Matt of Newcastle - Well what’s the point in having a law stating it’s dangerous to travel 3kms over the limit? What’s the point in enforcing such a stupid law? Just because something is deemed illegal does not make it dangerous - some laws just should not exist. That’s what sh*ts us off. Tonyspagony - You still not going to whinge when you have to fork out $133 for being caught doing 103 in a 100 zone? Doubt it. And being caught for such a ‘crime’ does not make you a stupid idiot, as you said.
alex Posted on 23 February 2012 4:13pm
@Shaddow - if all speed cameras were hidden (and the ridiculous signs warning you of them were removed) then motorists would never know when they might be getting photographed. This alone would cause many of them to drive more sensibly and for those others, a few hefty fines should do the job. I drive within the limits without having to watch my speedo constantly. If you can’t tell when you’re speeding up or slowing down then you shouldn’t be driving. I suspect that you’re one of the people Matt is referring to
JohnR of Sydney Posted on 23 February 2012 12:59pm
Agree totally with Tonyspagony of Gold Coast. There is no point having laws if you don’t enforce them. People complaining about these cameras are likely to be the idiots speeding, talking on their mobiles while driving etc. The more of these people we catch the safer our roads will be
Matt of Newcastle Posted on 23 February 2012 8:34am
@Tonyspagony Explain to me how 3 kms above the limit or the speed you gather up coming over the rise of a hill is risking the lives of people in Victoria? Explain how hiding a speed camera is helping slow motorists down? Explain how having to constantly watch your speedo instead of the road is saving lives? The people that go on about “don’t do the crime” are completely missing the argument. Your like a jock at the science fair you think you know what is happening but your completely clueless. Can’t contribute rationally to the discussion then stop talking. And if this sounds bitchy in this PC controlled nanny state then sorry but toughen up princess.
Shaddow of Newcastle Posted on 22 February 2012 7:10pm
Hey, don’t want to pay the government - simple, don’t do the crime! I hate the way people call these things revenue raisers. They only raise revenue from stupid idiots not obeying the road rules. I got tagged a week ago ... I was speeding and I will not whinge when I get the ticket. YOU are risking the lives of others, why shouldn’t you be penalised? It might remind you next time.
Tonyspagony of Gold Coast Posted on 22 February 2012 5:02pm
With all cars now with computers, and lots with GPS built in, Governments would only have to click their fingers and they could monitor every turn of the wheel. In particular, they could log every speed, stop sign, failure to indicate on roundabouts, failure to put on seat-belts, fog/driving lights on when other road users are visible. At registration, your car is plugged into the module and your “account” printed out. $700 for registration, $9567 for infringements.
Alan of Logan City Posted on 22 February 2012 1:13am
I wish they’d program them to look out for the magnititude of cars driving around at night with either missing headlights, or driving with driving lights on. Or going the other direction, with missing brake lights. Both of these are extremely dangerous. It would pay off the national debt within a fortnight.
Alan of Logan City Posted on 22 February 2012 1:07am
Have to agree with Krispy. Any one out there heard of communism?
This is it. The government establishes surveillance. All the gutless sheep inform on each other. That’s Australia today.
Joe of the real world Posted on 21 February 2012 9:13pm
This is what happens when Govt sells off Electricity & other assest as a short term fix. The income stream those assets used to provide needs to be replaced…. enter speed cameras and now the anything camera. Motorists are the new revenue stream.
CQ of Qld Posted on 21 February 2012 9:02pm
I’d chip in part court costs and a little something extra for anyone wishing to take part in the removal of these stupid camera’s.
the f.... that gives 2 f.... of your place Posted on 21 February 2012 8:57pm
If we didn’t have so many idiots who phone and drive, we wouldn’t need to use cameras to catch them. It’s nothing to do with a “Nanny-State” and everything to do with a society in which people put their own petty needs over the well being of others. Just wait until a loved one of yours is injured by a driver on a phone, then you’ll complain we don’t have enough cameras.
Andrew Mac of 2340 Posted on 21 February 2012 8:12pm
There will be vigilante groups that will task there life to exterminating each “everything cameras” and the infrastructure that built them. I hope they also include the car park operators and facilities that scam everyone at exorbitant costs. Have you ever needed to visit major hospitals without paying an arm or leg? Pun very much intended. How about the current airport operators that do the same. They probably all come from the same facility. I wonder who that is? Where IS the door to sign up for this necessary underground people power?
The Australian Demolition Party of Fortress Australia Posted on 21 February 2012 7:55pm
I agree with Krispy, Australians as rule just sit back and take whatever is dished out, I have always said once speeding revenue is down the the gov. would find another way to recoup it, as is suggested in the above story all it would take is a new law, and who is going argue.. not the public.
Ray Stanborough of bondi Posted on 21 February 2012 7:25pm
It’s all about US supporting the endless motoring journalist campaign to get rid of this particular road safety tool because their employment/enjoyment is threatened. Speeding is que-jumping and makes others frustrated and angry.
ryemanrye of Rye Posted on 21 February 2012 6:21pm
“There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power government has is the power to crack down on criminals. When there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.” Quote from Ayn Rand 1957.
No More Bus Lanes Posted on 21 February 2012 6:21pm
I find all of these cameras on the side of the road distracting. Who gets the fine for that?
Camera shy of Sydney Posted on 21 February 2012 5:55pm
Careful there Krispy, big brother might come at you with a big bright light for using them words… but Im with you; land of the free, and home of the brave!
Nom DePlume of Victoria Posted on 21 February 2012 5:49pm
George Orwell…... Big Brother ring a bell. Ministry of Truth? Only those who have nothing to lose, have nothing to lose! We, the over regulated, and they, the out of control legalised criminals… rapid descent into anarchy…. oh what has happened to this country!
Nom DePlume of Victoria Posted on 21 February 2012 5:43pm
They’re called safety cameras for a reason. Whether it’s smoking with children in car, eating while driving, not restraining your kids, or using your phone while driving, if you’re doing something dangerous or stupid behind the wheel you deserve to be caught. It’s simple common sense. Don’t be an idiot and your won’t have to worry about safety cameras.
Johnny Burnout of Radelaide 500 Posted on 21 February 2012 5:29pm
Australians used to be defined by their larikan attitude and irreverence for authority. Now we’re just a bunch of sheep waiting to be shawn by our rulers. Bureaucrats can do what they like to us and we just take it. Makes me sick. In the land of the free and home of the brave, they’d have blown those things to bits.
Krispy of Sydney Posted on 21 February 2012 4:53pm
Nanny state at its best anything to tear out your soul….pisses me off..
Michael Franco of 2042 Posted on 21 February 2012 4:48pm

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