Our Camera Strikes Back - The wall of Shame!

If the traffic authorities can take photos of us without our permission then surely we can do the same? We can also take videos and here's proof that we can and will.

The "Graveyard Shift" Redefined

When a chap by the name of Mike from Standard Bank emailed JPSA to enquire how legal a trap in Beyers Naude Drive (close to Judith) was since the trapping vehicle was parked in the Westpark Cemetery, we went to have a look and here is what we found.

Redefining the "Graveyard Shift". This vehicle was parked in the Westpark Cemetery, neatly tucked away behind the tombstones. What enormous respect for the dead.	Keeping it cool. Tucked neatly under a giant Cedar/Pine tree, was this Golf is used to transport the mobile speed camera. One "consilation" is that the gum that this tree drops is acidic and causes permanent damage to the paintwork. But who really cares? The car is hired anyway.
Saving a walk. The trap site would only be accessible by taking a 2.4km stroll (1.2km to the gate and 1.2km to the site). Removing two uprights from the pallisade fence quickly resolved this problem.	Short cut. The only two missing uprights in this fence allow trappers to walk a mere 30-50m to get to the trap site. The JMPD officer said it had been reported to Cemetery Security. What do you think?
Tucked away. Motorists travelling South to North would not see the trappers due to the dense vegitation around them. This trap, like most "camera enforcement" was set up to trap receding vehicles (i.e. from the rear).	Spot the cam. Spotting the camera, even from very close up is difficult.Clearly the objective is to get cases, not slow traffic down and save lives as that would be a "waste of the JMPD's time".
FYI: Hiding away is not against any rules or regulations - it is what most traffic authorities do when operating speed cameras - almost always. This trap site is authorised by the DPP and has been for a long time. If they trap oncoming vehicles, the chances are that they will be seen and motorists will slow down instead of getting caught, but slowing traffic down is not the objective - generating revenue is. Damaging State property by breaking a fence around a Cemetery to attain that objective is clearly included in the statement that "A traffic officer is exempt from certain provisions of the law in the execution of their duties", isn't it? This statement obviously also extends to the "technicians" employed by the so-called "contractors". All above photographs courtesy of JPSA.

Pay close attention. This how to get yourself locked up (by doing what the cop did).

Deep, deep, deep under cover...

Look how the TCSP guidelines are "applied".

Watch this traffic cop show you how you should (not) drive!

Talking on cellphone.
Left turn only lane but continued straight on.
Cut up another motorist.
Exceeded the speed limit.
Was not in emergency situation as siren and lights were not switched on.

Registration Plate: GGF504G

Below is a photograph taken on Monday 11 May 2009. This camera speed trap was set up by the JMPD on the M1 South in Johannesburg and the photographs shown below were taken between 13H00 and 13H30.

The Johannesburg Metro Policewoman did not have her operator's certificate in her possession although the man in the car had a photocopy in his wallet. This trap was set up and operated in flagrant violation of the TCSP (Technical Committee for Standards and Procedures) guidelines, however even though this was pointed out to them, they continued trapping.

Both of them gave me a mouthful for taking their photographs and demanded to see my identification, which, being a law-abiding citizen (unlike them), I duly showed. They were very aggressive and persistently shouted at me! Ag sis!

By the way, the car parked on the pavement is simply illegally parked and it's presence presented a hazard to pedestrians for whom the pavement was intended. Perhaps this doesn't matter to you if you were in a vehicle, but I bet it would if you were the poor pedestrian trying to cross the bridge! Also, it is highly unlikeley that this car was a JMPD vehicle, as we are informed that TMT also supplies the cars these guys use. If someone has access to eNaTIS, it may be interesting to see who owns the car hey?

Should you receive a fine in the post for "speeding" on the M1 South freeway at Jan Smuts Avenue at or around the times above, bear this in mind.

The JMPD's response to this evidence?

When I tried to take this up with the JMPD, Ms. A. Fourie said - "What you must do is wait for the infringement notice..."

I interrupted her and said I wasn’t expecting an infringement notice as I had taken the photographs of them, not them of me, I was told “Oh, then there is nothing to discuss.” To which I asked if I should rather go to the SAPS and lay a charge of fraud?

The response? “Ag, go to the SAPS and lay a charge if you want to!” and the door slammed in my face. Oh well...

Should you wish to have a gander at some interesting titbits and maybe even take in the Carte Blanche insert which screened on 29 March 2009 and gave rise to this site, then visit our "interesting titbits" section.