AURORA | After an Aurora speed camera was recently vandalized, Aurora police want to make clear they’re not Flock cameras and are hoping to educate residents about what they are and how they work.
Police didn’t detail the camera’s location and when it was vandalized, but officials say they hope to deter future incidents by sharing information about how the speed cameras operate.
“We understand people have questions, but damaging equipment doesn’t help anyone, and it’s a criminal offense,” the department said in a Facebook post. “The units do have security features and vandalism will be prosecuted.”
The city has four speed cameras, which activate when a vehicle passes it going 11 or more miles per hour over the speed limit. The cameras take a picture or short video to document the violation, but police said they don’t monitor people, residences or public activities.
So far this year, the cameras have issued 33,115 tickets, Gabby Easterwood, APD public information officer, said. The violations are physically approved by a traffic officer before a summons is issued.
The speed cameras differ from Flock cameras, which are automated license plate readers that capture photos and video of vehicles and license plates.
“(Flock cameras) do not measure vehicle speed or issue speeding citations and their locations are generally fixed,” Easterwood said in an email. “Our speed enforcement cameras are specifically designed to address speeding and improve traffic safety.”
Speed cameras are temporary and “placed where data and community feedback show speeding problems.” They are restricted to residential areas where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less, school zones, streets that border municipal parks and work zones.
More information about the speed cameras is available on the city’s website.
So much of the story left unerxplained and unexplored. How was the camera vandalized? Was it knocked over, covered up, the lense painted over, what? also with over 33,000 citations issued how many have been resolved and what revenue has been generated? Finally, where have the cameras been deployed and at whose request and direction? Are they placed for public safety reasons or are they placed to appease our politicians?
These speed cameras are nothing but a money making racket for the city. They don’t get dangerous drivers off our roads. I support any and all vandalism against these things. The city will spend the money they make from these continuously repairing or replacing them. It won’t be long until the courts rule these and all enforcement cameras are unconstitutional, per and earlier ruling in Florida this year:
https://rouvierelawfirm.com/red-light-camera-law-unconstitutional-florida/