Polish Police have come up with a new idea – a speed camera hidden in a bin. Within two days it took photos of 1,300 drivers speeding in Lublin. “The bin camera was operative for two days in Lublin, at Sikorski, Witosa, Spółdzielczości Pracy and Kraśnicka Streets. It took around 1,300 photos, which are now being re-touched,” says Arkadiusz Arciszewski from the police department in Lublin. During the day the machine was working without a flash and so the drivers had no idea that photos were being taken – they will soon receive speeding tickets.
On average, drivers exceeded the speed limit by 30 to 50 km/h, which equals 6 to 10 penalty points and a fine ranging from PLN 200 to 500. “They only want to make money,” says Tomasz Kosmider, a driver from Lublin. “It is commonly known that nobody respects the 50km/h speed limit, especially on thoroughfares. Such guerilla warfare puts police to shame,” says Anna Pietrzyk from Lublin. Doubts concerning the idea have also been expressed by members of the Warsaw Police Department. Junior police inspector Marek Kakolewski stated that from the drivers’ point of view such action may be perceived as irritating. “It also exposes the cameras to damage, since someone may smash into the bin by the side of the road. I doubt whether concealing speed cameras allows them to fulfil their preventive purpose. Perhaps the area within its reach should be somehow marked with signs warning about electronic speed measurement, which is recommended (but not required) by the EU,” claims Kakolewski. Meanwhile, police from Lublin have announced that they are going to increase the number of hidden cameras. “It is legal and speed cameras force drivers to abide by traffic regulations; therefore, more hidden cameras may appear,” says Arciszewski.
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Newzar 
The ideas of our police are really astonishing. I get the feeling their intention is to collect fines while they should be trying to make drivers slow down. It’s much better to inform people where the cameras are hidden and give them the possibility to react (I have even heard it works).
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You do really have to question the motive.
It is well proven that the making the cameras clearly visble makes people slow down, particulary in traffic hotspots.
If legislation were to prevent fines going to the police, this sort of action would soon fizzle out just like it did in the UK.
Legality and ethics are not the same. When quoting that you are within the law on a controversial matter tends to indicate that the intentions are not always the most ethical.
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Good points. Give the money to charity!
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I’m simply pissed off with the idea:D If everyone respected the speed limits, getting from point A to point B would take at least twice as much time, and traffic in Warsaw, for instance, would be paralyzed. A good example was shown two days ago when the first snow started falling. Everyone slowed down and so traffic jam was immense.
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No need to worry that much, Urszula.
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I just watched a documentary about SB following the opposition and taping them I am sure that’s where they got their idea from.
Speeding, or red light cameras should be visible to drivers, they are supposed to serve as a deterrent first and foremost. Safety, not money should be their purpose.
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