Speed camera operator shot dead

csv8 · 21-04-2009, 05:15 PM

Speed camera operator shot dead:
April 21, 2009 01:14am
.A GUNMAN has shot dead a speed camera operator on a busy freeway near Phoenix.

Police officers were called to the radar enforcement vehicle after reports of gunfire late on Sunday, and they found the employee shot several times, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said.

The victim, 51, was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his gunshot wounds, the department said.

He worked for RedFlex Traffic Systems, which has a contract with DPS to operate speed camera vehicles on the state's highways.

Police said they were treating the shooting as a homicide and were searching for a man driving a white Chevrolet Suburban, a popular SUV.

Arizona is the first US state to implement a state-wide speed camera system.

We mightn,t like the cameras but this is going to far.
He was only doing his job, even if it is an unpopular job

MITCHAY · 21-04-2009, 05:35 PM

That is disgusting. He got shot dead pushing the governments agenda. He probably couldn't have given a crap about the politics of it all but just wanted to get paid :(

**buggerlugs** · 21-04-2009, 05:51 PM

Went past a VE SS ute today pulling over a driver for speeding. Obviously our speed cameras aren't working good enough up here........

DBourne · 21-04-2009, 05:54 PM

reminds me of people cutting sick at gas metre workers in the states.

My grandad used to do that job and then gave it up cos it was too dangerous.. mind you he was fine going off to war!

shows how animalistic some people are i guess.

ten[A]cio[U]s · 21-04-2009, 05:57 PM

Its a job that needs to be done.. If you abide by the rules you shouldn't worry about speeding.. Didn't deserve to be shot for doing his job...!

snappy · 21-04-2009, 06:03 PM

When i saw the heading i thought this would have to be in america.

Bent8 · 21-04-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SgtBourne

reminds me of people cutting sick at gas metre workers in the states.

My grandad used to do that job and then gave it up cos it was too dangerous.. mind you he was fine going off to war!

shows how animalistic some people are i guess.

People can only take so much mate...

Our Govt's are into social engineering, they want us to riot and protest because that means more control for the police.

Deech · 21-04-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bent8

People can only take so much mate...

Our Govt's are into social engineering, they want us to riot and protest because that means more control for the police.

Yeah, but getting a few hundred $ in fines, or even losing your licence and appearing in court, is a whole world away from taking another person's life. Whoever shot him is obviously unable to function in society, having failed to make that distinction.

Picture killing someone in a life or death situation? This is the exact opposite.

flappist · 21-04-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deech

Yeah, but getting a few hundred $ in fines, or even losing your licence and appearing in court, is a whole world away from taking another person's life. Whoever shot him is obviously unable to function in society, having failed to make that distinction.

Picture killing someone in a life or death situation? This is the exact opposite.

Yes and the suicides and family breakups in Victoria AUSTRALIA directly caused by job loss/hardship due to license loss due to PROVEN INACCURATE speed measuring devices are not able to function in society either are they?

Deech, how many times could someone slap you in the face with a rolled up newspaper before you react very violently, far greater force than a simple slap in the face?

1? 5? 100? 1000?

You do not know the whole story, only what you read in the sensationalist media so be careful in making judgements....

mikestp · 21-04-2009, 08:33 PM

exactly what flappist said
there isn't one bit of media where you are getting the full story

Deech · 21-04-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

Yes and the suicides and family breakups in Victoria AUSTRALIA directly caused by job loss/hardship due to license loss due to PROVEN INACCURATE speed measuring devices are not able to function in society either are they?

To the contrary, people who show some sort of emotional display are perfectly normal, and probably less likely to internalise their problems and wind up literally "shooting the messenger". Granted, it sucks that people are losing their jobs, and I totally agree that the emphasis solely on speed as the main -if not sole- measure of road safety is a flawed model.

I hope that anyone in the exact situation you described who feels suicidal or homicidal urges seeks help. Exactly the same as the farmers doing it tough, or anyone getting retrenched at the moment. However, let's put this in perspective here; the dead bloke was doing his job.

A few hypothetical situations:
Are there any extenuating circumstances in a vegetarian shooting an abbatoir worker?
A drunk driver about to be breathalysed shooting the Police officer?
Someone here getting retrenched and shooting the head of Mastercard, for sort of causing the recession in a roundabout way?
Shooting someone after they make you spill your beer?

I'm sure we've all been in situations where you really wanted to perform violence on someone figuratively slapping you in the face (as you put it). The fact that a person is able to restrain themselves displays a sense of right and wrong. (Like the kind they assume you have when charging you as an adult?).

But I'd love to know the extenuating circumstances that excuse you from responsibility for killing someone enforcing a law he didn't even create.

This isn't a question about speed cameras, or their efficacy or fallibility. This is a question about whether someone who shoots a person with no imminent threat to their lives lacks a basic appreciation of right and wrong.

Now, my question:
Have you lived a life devoid of stress, or do the guards let convicted murderers use the internet?

RG · 21-04-2009, 09:06 PM

No matter what there is no valid reason to take another persons life over something so trivial.

Anyone who posts any more crap like this will get a warning.

wulos · 21-04-2009, 09:07 PM

Time to take a chill pill people....
Things in here are starting to get a bit on the heated side.

benoxr · 21-04-2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

Yes and the suicides and family breakups in Victoria AUSTRALIA directly caused by job loss/hardship due to license loss due to PROVEN INACCURATE speed measuring devices are not able to function in society either are they?

killing the innocent camera operator sure would help prove his case that ALL cameras are faulty and the loss of licence was the sole reason behind all his woes.
Most politicians lie and make your life miserable so they should be shot also?
Sure, as you say, the guy may have finally snapped but why does the camera operator have to die along with the life long suffering of his children/wife all because the guy was too frustrated?

wulos · 21-04-2009, 09:41 PM

Topics on speed cameras here on AFF pretty much all end exactly the same way. As speed camera topics in the past have proven many times over that they are 'controversial' topics(outside of site Terms and conditions), that result in continued arguments.
Tis a tragic story for all involved, & no amount of our debating things here will alter decisions that are outside of our control.
We are done here.