Have you ever flashed your high beams to warn oncoming drivers of a radar trap? Like many of us, it is likely that you have.
In essence, the job of police is “To Serve & Protect”. That should mean that slowing speeders down is the goal of radar traps. Unfortunately, most police departments are under funded so the radar trap becomes a much needed source of revenue. What happens when Joe Citizen warns a fellow motorist of a speed trap? Well, that really ticks off the guys who have been given a sales target for the day’s shift and they respond with a ticket for the unsuspecting good Samaritan. But is it legal?
Long time Canadian automotive print writer, Jim Kenzie, writes in today’s Wheels section about one such incident. It seems that Brad Diamond, the editor of TSN’s Motoring 2008 received that exact ticket. The reason for the citation? “flashing head beams” in contravention of the HTA, section 169. Upon inspection, this turns out to be a completely fictitious charge. When taken to court, the charge was thrown out due to a lack of evidence.
If this was in some backwater town in the south, where the police department is owned by some rich local guy who won the town’s popularity contest, then I could understand it. Justify no, but understand yes. This wasn’t in that little town though, it was in Toronto The Good, where Toronto Police Services are supposed to be there for the citizens. To allow blatant robbery of tax paying (mostly) residents is downright wrong. Perhaps it is time for traditional media, along with new media, to make a bit of noise about the way our streets are policed.
Lego speed trap image thanks to flickr user Willam Ward