Hated Sydney speed camera torched on The Spit Rd, Mosman
Posted: August 12th, 2009, 4:57 pmBy Mark Worley From: The Daily Telegraph August 12, 2009 8:15AM
SYDNEY'S newest criminals - the speed camera torchers - have struck again in spectacular fashion, wiping out one of the city's most hated revenue-raising cameras.
The speed camera in Mosman is the fifth camera believed to have been set alight by vandals on Sydney's north shore in the past two months.
A city-bound fixed speed camera halfway up Spit Hill is believed to have been deliberately set alight at about 2am today.
Police attended the scene, taking photos and scouring the scene for evidence.
It was the fifth speed camera attack in the area since the start of June.
A fixed camera on Warringah Rd at Forestville was set on fire a fortnight ago.
At the start of July, vandals torched the north-bound camera on Pittwater Rd outside Narrabeen Lakes Public School.
And another two speed cameras, outside Narrabeen North Public School and Narrabeen Sports High, were set alight at the beginning of June.
Police said the Spit Hill camera had suffered smoke damage in the fire.
It has been estimated the damage bill for each of the four previous attacks would run between $15,000-$35,000 per camera.
Spit Rd speed traps have long drawn the ire of motorists, with the State Government removing one camera in 2005 to prevent drivers being caught twice for the same speeding offence.
Another camera on Spit Hill removed in 2005 was found to be defective after it booked ``speeding'' buses that were incapable of reaching the speeds captured on camera.
The controversial Spit Rd camera was ranked as one of the top 10 revenue raisers in the state in 2006-07, earning more than $1 million that year.
SYDNEY'S newest criminals - the speed camera torchers - have struck again in spectacular fashion, wiping out one of the city's most hated revenue-raising cameras.
The speed camera in Mosman is the fifth camera believed to have been set alight by vandals on Sydney's north shore in the past two months.
A city-bound fixed speed camera halfway up Spit Hill is believed to have been deliberately set alight at about 2am today.
Police attended the scene, taking photos and scouring the scene for evidence.
TORCHED ... The speed camera on The Spit Rd, Mosman, destroyed by fire. Picture: BILL HEARNE Source: The Daily Telegraph
It was the fifth speed camera attack in the area since the start of June.
A fixed camera on Warringah Rd at Forestville was set on fire a fortnight ago.
At the start of July, vandals torched the north-bound camera on Pittwater Rd outside Narrabeen Lakes Public School.
And another two speed cameras, outside Narrabeen North Public School and Narrabeen Sports High, were set alight at the beginning of June.
Police said the Spit Hill camera had suffered smoke damage in the fire.
It has been estimated the damage bill for each of the four previous attacks would run between $15,000-$35,000 per camera.
Spit Rd speed traps have long drawn the ire of motorists, with the State Government removing one camera in 2005 to prevent drivers being caught twice for the same speeding offence.
Another camera on Spit Hill removed in 2005 was found to be defective after it booked ``speeding'' buses that were incapable of reaching the speeds captured on camera.
The controversial Spit Rd camera was ranked as one of the top 10 revenue raisers in the state in 2006-07, earning more than $1 million that year.
