American Arrested For Shooting Traffic Camera
“WE’VE had a couple of them hit in traffic accidents,” says Knoxville Police Department Capt. Gordon Catlett. “This is the first one that’s been shot.”
The shot camera is at the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Interstate 640, one of 15 camera-equipped intersections in the Tennessee city.
The supposed shooter is one Clifford E. Clark, 47. He has been charged with felony vandalism and reckless endangerment “for allegedly firing at least three rounds from a .30-06 hunting rifle at the camera, knocking it out of action”.
As the Associate Press reports: “Clark, now facing a $50 fine if convicted and loss of his rifle, refused to say anything about the incident to police, leaving the motive unclear.”
Unclear? Do you need a motive to shoot a device that stops people driving not recklessly nor without due care and attention but “too fast”. The speed camera is alright in its place, but like a gnome in a packet of crisps on a main road is not it.
And secondly, can it be that this is the first time a camera has been shot in this US region? We had imagined a gun would be the instrument of first choice for an angry motorist in the US, while we in the UK are forced to make do with angle grinders, paint and steering into one…
Posted: 28th, November 2007 | In: Anorak In New York Comments (4) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
November 28th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
The Ban of my life -
November 28th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Hey the Brits are doing a good job as well
Here’s a nice collection of photographs.
http://www.speedcam.co.uk/gatso2.htm
Paintball guns for Christmas!
November 28th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Damn straight! The whole reason for the 2nd amendment was so that government couldn’t tyranize us. We take our freedoms and rights rather seriously over here.
November 28th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
When all else fails vote from the rooftops! This guy made his vote really clear. Maybe you guys on that side of the pond think cameras everywhere is cool, but over here we F them up. You should follow suit and take back a little privacy.