ISSUE 115 MARCH 2025 A FUNNY THING


THE CAMERA NEVER LIES


THE LASER USER


In today’s world, we are observed by cameras more than ever before. China is the top country for CCTV cameras per 1,000 people (373), followed by USA and UK. In fact London has 67 cameras per 1,000 people making it the 3rd highest densely monitored city in the world (after 2 Chinese cities). Of course, the number is hard to estimate as it is increasing every week. Another interesting fact is that the Ring Doorbell (other brands are available) is often used as an extra CCTV resource by the police investigating crimes visible from such devices.


My own experience with cameras relates primarily to my driving. In the past month I had to pay a fine for going over a bridge in London in a hired van which had a “gross weight” of 75 kg over the permitted 3,000 kg. For sure, it was lighter than that as it was not fully loaded – and I was blissfully unaware of my “crime” as I was focusing on driving a white van between 2 bollards with centimetres to spare on each side (not wanting to scratch the van and face a huge penalty for damage on return). Even though I followed another van (and there was a third van behind me) there is no safety in numbers when you are secretly being recorded. Since the


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vehicle was a hire van and not registered to me, it took a few months for the penalty to arrive in the post.


On another occasion, I was meeting with a colleague at a motorway service station and stayed for 15 minutes longer than the allowed free time – note to self, always read the sign and check the small print. In both the above cases I could have pleaded or appealed my case, but frankly I couldn’t really be bothered as I had inadvertently contravened the terms and conditions of the locations in both cases.


Humans have more grace than cameras, as my experience with exceeding the speed limit in my car over the years has taught me. A friendly face and a quick chat with the law enforcement officer has three times allowed me to get away with a speeding fine with a minor caution. I have great respect for the police, but I do know that taking an argumentative tone with officials will push many people to take a tougher line than a reasoned and responsible admission of guilt. On one occasion, a van driver delivering a laser to central London on my behalf received a parking ticket which, had he kept silent and allowed the


local buyer to reason with the parking meter enforcer, would likely have been avoided.


The only time I have received points on my licence were for driving too fast on the motorway and caught by a van-mounted camera on a flyover. Days later a summons to court arrived (I pleaded guilty in absentia) and 4 points and a healthy fine followed. It is likely that if I had been stopped by a human traffic officer, I would still have faced the same outcome, but I really baulk at the ease with which a static camera can rake in fines at a rate of 100s per day.


What is the moral of the tale? There are at least two things to take away. Firstly, it is always a good ploy to start any conversation with officials in a friendly and co-operative manner. And secondly, read the small print (or notice the signs on display) that limit your freedom in case you find yourself fined on the evidence of a hidden camera or three.


Dave MacLellan dave@ailu.org.uk www.ailu.org.uk


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