President Of Fuerteventura Denounces Police Radar Trap Over-Kill

[woe10]

Cabrera denuncia afán recaudatorio de la Guardia Civil con los radares
Según el presidente del Cabildo de Fuerteventura, los controles generan malestar

As Reorted in today's La Provincia: What it is, The president, Mario Cabrera is responding to complaints from Island Residents about the number of Guardia Civil Speed Radar Cameras in Hidden Plain Cars. They have been spotted on private land, in peoples driveways, and business forecourts. The Guardia say it's in the interest of Road Safety. Cabrera counter claims, in that case, why are they not in accident Blackspots. The road from Caleta down to MacDonalds in no Blackspot, and never has been so long as I remember.

He also would like to know why they are collecting all this money in fines, and seemingly, none of it goes into the Coffers of the Island.

Residents have set up a Facebook page: "Radares Fuerteventura" warning of potential Hidden Radar cars.

HIDDEN CAR BEHIND BUSHES IN CALETA

CLICK FOR FULL STORY:  http://www.laprovincia.es/fuerteventura/2013/10/10/cabrera-denuncia-afan-recaudatorio-guardia/563283.html

[KWC]

A bit sneaky hiding behind the bushes in that manner

Our lot aren't as bad as that  i'm sure? Unless others have similar scenarios in the UK?

[Ivemovedon]

They're are no more sneaky than those at home. Its just that as most of us have known for a long time its far more prevalent and is 'nuisance, and revenue raising' policing rather than safety policing.

[woe10]

I think, probably, that Mario Cabrera is a bit miffed at not getting a share of the takings. The Guardia Civil are raking it in. Money for rope 

[lionfish]

Unless he's been "done" for speeding?

[Paddster]

It's so profitable that everyone's at it - everywhere...

[Blueboy7]

Two friends of mine have just been done, one of them was doing 75km in a 50km zone, 200 euros and 4 points, my other mate is coming back to the UK and hopes they forget about it.

[Spike On Q]

"They" employ local collection agents in the UK now so I doubt it!

I've a good idea - why don't we suggest "they" set limits of seriously injured and dead people BEFORE "they" can put speed cameras on a road

So for say the road by McDonalds
5 people seriously injured or 2 dead means a camera is valid - that way if only 4 people are injured or 1 killed they'll be no risk of a speed camera and people can continue to travel along that section of road at any speed they like

[PHo]

Until ONLY four people are killed!! Would you like to see speed merchants shooting past your house, or anywhere else for that matter, at breakneck speed until they had killed four people?

Speed limits are there for a purpose. Obey them and you have nothing to fear from speed cameras, hidden or not.

[DaveW]

I wish they would put a speed camera outside my place, I get fed up with cars (mainly taxis) going at 70 kph plus in what is supposed to be a 40 limit.

[Ivemovedon]

speed camera valid or not valid?

Valid in an accident black spot?... of course. Valid placed in a position to maximise income with no thoughts of accident prevention?..... Certainly not.

[PremierBluebird]

Until ONLY four people are killed!! Would you like to see speed merchants shooting past your house, or anywhere else for that matter, at breakneck speed until they had killed four people?

Speed limits are there for a purpose. Obey them and you have nothing to fear from speed cameras, hidden or not.

Spot on although I think Spikes comment was probably tongue in cheek

[Spike On Q]

But Stedge - who decides when a road becomes an accident black spot - I suppose we could rely on a few members of the forum to sit in a "Black Spot Committee" and make those decisions for us. They don't need any background stats or other information, they can just decide using their intuition - that works

Please put forward your suggestions for the committee members

[Ivemovedon]

an accident black spot picks itself by what happens there. No committee needed. A revenue grabbing spot is picked by the guardia. No committee needed there either.

[RVEEE]

Everyone loves speed traps.






When they are outside their own homes.

[woe10]

an accident black spot picks itself by what happens there. No committee needed. A revenue grabbing spot is picked by the guardia. No committee needed there either.

[PremierBluebird]

Stedge et al, what a bunch of pansies

If you flout the law accept the fact that you might get caught

not

" he was hiding behind a bush!"

Grow a pair and accept the punishment

[Ivemovedon]

Lol its the pansies and gonadless who bow down in craven acceptance to officialdom.

[MinRich]

So can the fines be disputed like than can in the Uk ?

I would strongly suggest that their radar equipment is defective and not calibrated regularly

[Ivemovedon]

a police force unregulated and unchallenged becomes a police force that will eventually beleive it is above the law itself, working against the community rather than for it. Franco's dead and gone.... these pramilitary types have to realise in a democracy they can't ride roughshod over the public like they could in the 60's and 70's. 
You probably can appeal against a fine i don't know, but something tells me if you can it would be a waste of time.

[Spike On Q]

A New Road Scheme from La Salinas to El Materal

1) Remove all of the roundabouts so you don't have to slow down. [Make people wait coming in from side roads]
2) Remove that silly pedestrain crossing in Caleta by Dulce y Leche where the red light can delay your journey from N.H. to McDonalds by TWO whole minutes. This means that pedestrians crossing the road to get to and from the new bus station or onto "the mountain" will have to run the gauntlet of fast traffic - good fun!
3) Increase the speed limit to 90 KPH [perhaps we could make an exception and go to 110 KPH]

That works too, don't you think?

PS - Didn't Franco die in 1975 - that is along time ago, the Guardia only impose the law set by the politicians, you're blaming the wrong people!

[zedzedeleven]

So can the fines be disputed like than can in the Uk ?

I would strongly suggest that their radar equipment is defective and not calibrated regularly

The summons I received contained a photocopy of the radar equipment validation certificate. And just for good measure, the police car vin number, tripod number and manufacturers name. Proving that this car was indeed the one that snapped you would be difficult unless you went back to check.

[Ivemovedon]

A New Road Scheme from La Salinas to El Materal

1) Remove all of the roundabouts so you don't have to slow down. [Make people wait coming in from side roads]
2) Remove that silly pedestrain crossing in Caleta by Dulce y Leche where the red light can delay your journey from N.H. to McDonalds by TWO whole minutes. This means that pedestrians crossing the road to get to and from the new bus station or onto "the mountain" will have to run the gauntlet of fast traffic - good fun!
3) Increase the speed limit to 90 KPH [perhaps we could make an exception and go to 110 KPH]

That works too, don't you think?

PS - Didn't Franco die in 1975 - that is along time ago, the Guardia only impose the law set by the politicians, you're blaming the wrong people!

The Guardia have their own set of rules . We found that out when half a dozen of them had their collars felt not too long ago.Spike its the politicians themselves who are now questioning the fact its over the top. It appears the president of the Fuerteventura Cabildo is not happy with it. I'm just glad he's running the show and not you. Something might just get done about it.

[Deso]

So can the fines be disputed like than can in the Uk ?

I would strongly suggest that their radar equipment is defective and not calibrated regularly

The summons I received contained a photocopy of the radar equipment validation certificate. And just for good measure, the police car vin number, tripod number and manufacturers name. Proving that this car was indeed the one that snapped you would be difficult unless you went back to check.

You could have had them on a technicality there ZZ, should have been the original copy plus 3 photocopies.      

[woe10]

'ello 'ello 'ello,  Spelling Police here. Spike, it's EL MATORRAL 

With a double "R" you roll tongue 

[Blueboy7]

A lot of what you say makes sense Stedge. Having just recently came back from Fuerter, the Guardia and POLICE seem to be stopping cars everywhere, even more than usual. I was in Corralejo town hall queuing, a row of locals sitting at my side all seem to be holding speeding fines. They were paroling around Tamaragua on a regular basis also slowing down near the Rubbish collection areas.

[Ivemovedon]

I thought it had died down a bit when i was over last month but it looks like they're back up to their old tricks. I really think it could put people off hiring cars and driving on the island. I know some residents don't agree with me but hey ho maybe they don't have to worry about tourist numbers.

[woe10]

There were two Blackspots that I remember when I first came to Caleta. Before they were made into Roundabouts, the one at Horizonte and the one at Caleta where you go up to Chipmunk, were cross-roads. The problem was that some Brightspark ( no not you BS ) from the council had big Palm Trees planted on each corner of the Crossroads so you couldn't see a thing coming. There were always crashes. I remember once at the Caleta junction, Six tourists in a Jeep Safari Vehicle were hit by a 4 x 4 as they were trying to pull out. They were all killed 
That's when they changed to Roundabouts. It's still a nightmare going round them though.

[Spike On Q]

Some times it's like being married on here - I missed an R out of Mattoorrrall -

I'm so sorry people find our traffic laws so restricting - perhaps somewhere where the law is totally ignored would be a better place to spend holidays - I'm just looking at Sao Paulo and Rio De Janiero in Brazil for instance, I'm sure you could speed there much more easily and get away with it

As you say Stedge now the politicians are involved perhaps ideas like mine above for the total de-regulation of speed limits will be voted in shortly only to be re-introduced as the road kill increases. It is the politicians and civil servants that need to remove the speed limits - the Guardia then have no power to fine us

Who was it that first suggested Pet Passports?   Screaming Lord Sutch and The Monster Raving Loony Party so there is chance for us yet

[Ivemovedon]

No need for any draconian changes spike. Just sensible traffic policing geared to ensure road safety rather than monetary profiteering.