General News
16 October, 2024
KAP wants unmanned speed cameras scrapped
UNMANNED speed cameras should be scrapped and replaced with a “strong police presence” using hand-held devices, according to Katter’s Australian Party.
Party leader Robbie Katter and Member for Hill Shane Knuth have vowed to get rid of the unmanned devices should they win government at October’s state election, saying they are nothing more than “revenue raising” tools.
“The Department of Transport and Main Roads’s unmanned mobile speed camera trailers are raking in hundreds of millions from hard working regional Queenslanders,” Mr Knuth said.
“Smile for Sam Speed signs and a strong police presence through use of hand-held devices deter speeding, not unmanned devices that sit in wait at the same spot for two weeks, then send out multiple fines weeks later, worth thousands of dollars.
“All this does is create more problems, through financial stress and mental health issues across our communities.
“It’s time to call out this blatant revenue-raising tactic. We deserve safer roads, not a financial trap and the KAP will not stop until these devices are off our roads.”
Late last year, Mr Knuth tried to help more than 250 people who were nabbed by an unmanned camera near Malanda. The motorists believed it was calibrated wrong, claiming they were doing the 60km/h speed limit but were slapped with infringement notices for doing 79km/h.
“The Labor government has been fixated on using unmanned speed cameras under the guise of making people feel safe, exploiting public concerns about road safety while wilfully turning a blind eye to the rampant youth crime plaguing our communities,” Mr Katter said.
“The KAP is committed to eradicating these cameras and in this election wants to see a commitment from all parties to do the same while shifting the focus back to real law enforcement and prioritising public safety over profit.
“While the government wheels out these yellow revenue wagons, they fail to utilise visible and effective deterrents such as marked police vehicles.
“Burnt-out cars litter our roads and daily car thefts are becoming the norm across North Queensland, yet this government is choosing road safety theatre over real, impactful solutions to youth crime.
“The government has made its priorities clear, determined to chase remote dwellers on bush roads for a quick dollar, wasting valuable resources on these sneaky speed traps and ignoring the real criminals terrorising our communities.”
