Police Warn about Speed Cameras

[WolfThomas]

So as part of a protest from the police in Victoria, Australia, officers are parking with their lights on in front of intersections that have speed cameras to warn drivers to slow down, estimates are it may halve the governments renevew from speed cameras from 5million to 2.5million dollars.

What do you guys think?

I think it's a brilliant form of protest, it only hurts the government and actually helps drivers. It's far more effective than the concept of a "blue-flu" where police officers call in on mass sick as protest, where that puts stress on the police that are actually working and endangers the public.

http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/police-to-warn-of-speed-cameras-20110606-1fot7.html

Edit: Also they do it in their breaks, so it's not like they should be doing something else.

 

[Sprinal]

Brilliant.

Maybe the Cops in New South Wales will do something similar cuz of what the government has done here.

 

[Thaluikhain]

I don't get it.

Speed cameras give out a lot of tickets, which give money to the police force/state/gov, punish bad drivers...

Why would people protest this? Is it about firing police officers because cameras do their job better???

The police apparently want a pay raise...you don't want the police to go on strike, for obvious reasons, so this is the next best thing.

And/or they'll just flash lights at people to make them think there are cameras, so everyone sticks to the speed limit

 

[Antari]

I have to say thats a creative approach. And I like it! Only wish our police would do the same ...

 

[Aedrial]

I don't get it.

Speed cameras give out a lot of tickets, which give money to the police force/state/gov, punish bad drivers...

Why would people protest this? Is it about firing police officers because cameras do their job better???

The police apparently want a pay raise...you don't want the police to go on strike, for obvious reasons, so this is the next best thing.

And/or they'll just flash lights at people to make them think there are cameras, so everyone sticks to the speed limit

So the police are warning people in a way so that they won't get ticketed in an attempt to affront the 'system', meant to force the 'powers that be' into paying more money to the police?

Some cops have no honor, nor have they any respect for what they are sworn to uphold it seems.

You know what would happen if police made a lot of money from their salary, eh?

Then again, this is Australia we are talking about, the people there already make a shit load of money compared to the rest of the world. If their cost of living was as high as their minimum wage is in comparison to the rest of the world, I might feel bad for them. But it isn't, so I don't.

Try buying anything over here. We pay ridiculous mark ups on EVERYTHING. I import 90% of my electronics now simply because I pay nearly double people in the US or UK would pay retail.

 

[WolfThomas]

Then again, this is Australia we are talking about, the people there already make a shit load of money compared to the rest of the world. If their cost of living was as high as their minimum wage is in comparison to the rest of the world, I might feel bad for them. But it isn't, so I don't.

Australian police officers make about 50-60k a year, yes that a decent salary for most people, but the hours and the dangers they face probably deserves a better reward. I've read police officers in the USA make anywhere between 30-90k depending on the area. The AUD and USD are at pretty much at parity so it's a good comparision.

Sources:
http://www.police.co.nassau.ny.us/recruitment.htm
http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?document_id=27023

What's 'ridiculous' (not really, but hear me out) is your minimum wage. It's practically double that of where I live, so I don't feel bad you pay double for some electronics and brand named foods. Your petrol isn't even close to double what I pay, nor is your housing. I truly envy Australians to a point because of that. Yet your 'decency' laws are truly rubbish, so i don't envy you that.

I think the problem here is not our high minium wage, but your low minium wage. Blame your government (or become an Australian citizen).

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

What's 'ridiculous' (not really, but hear me out) is your minimum wage. It's practically double that of where I live, so I don't feel bad you pay double for some electronics and brand named foods. Your petrol isn't even close to double what I pay, nor is your housing. I truly envy Australians to a point because of that. Yet your 'decency' laws are truly rubbish, so i don't envy you that.

How much do you pay for housing, out of interest? Where I live in Australia was ranked as the 28th most expensive city in the world last year, so I think the minimum wage is not at all ridiculous.

OT: As much as I sympathise with the right of officers to protest, what this actually shows is that they're lying out of their fucking teeth every time they prat on about how speed cameras are installed for public safety. They really are just used as a revenue raising device. My street is bisected by a longer crescent that goes up a hill: I live in a relatively quiet, low traffic area, and I have seen speed vans parked at the bottom of the god damn hill to catch people who let the acceleration of coming down the hill take them slightly above 50 km per hour. It's pure revenue raising, and to top it off, they don't even use that money for anything useful, like having enough officers to respond to my house when it got burgled.

 

[Valdus]

I think this is a good idea. Police cannot normally take time off work to actually protest since doing so would endanger the public. If people hear "no police" then except shit to hit the fan. This, however, is a nice way of getting the point across and protesting without the danger that would normally happen if they protested the same way everyone else does.

Kudos to them.