NSW motorist’s dramatic act with a speed camera sign divides viewers
A man who ‘stole’ a speed camera sign on the side of a main road has divided the internet.
A passing motorist couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the man removing the sign at Edgeworth in NSW’s Lake Macquarie region on Monday morning.
Lee Mitchell recalled how the man “threw it near the drain” when he later shared photos of it the bizarre incident Facebook.
The footage showed the man walking along a footpath carrying the sign that he had allegedly detached from the back of a telegraph pole.
At one point the man, who was wearing a black printed T-shirt and blue board shorts, pointed his middle finger at someone as traffic stopped on the busy road.
Motorists are divided after a man removed a speed camera warning sign (pictured) placed on the side of a suburban road in Newcastle
Motorists could face hefty fines this holiday season due to a slew of unusual road laws that almost all Australians have adopted. Drivers can pay up to $698 and lose five demerit points for the illegal actions
“This man stole the speed camera signage this morning (and) threw it away in the area,” Mr Mitchell posted on a community Facebook page.
“If you get a ticket for speeding during this time, there was no signage (and) it was still missing (at) 10 a.m.,” I noted.
The post was divisive
Many praised the motorist for removing the sign.
‘Give this man a medal. F*****g legend,” one user said.
Others believed that the onus is on motorists to drive responsibly, regardless of whether a speed camera warning sign is posted or not.
“If you get a booking you’re breaking the law… very simple: don’t speed anywhere,” one person commented.
Another added: ‘Sorry but if you get a booking it’s your own fault you shouldn’t have been speeding in the first place.’
Some criticized the man for removing the sign and argued that more motorists will be caught speeding, not knowing there is a speed camera nearby.
‘Why remove the sign, isn’t it there to warn other motorists to slow down when a speed camera is approaching?’ one commented.
The man was seen walking along a footpath carrying the sign (pictured)
The NSW Government reintroduced portable speed camera warning signs last year.
The shockwave came three years after the government removed the signage following calls to scrap labels from mobile speed cameras.
“I have always said that I would rather people take it easy than receive a fine in the post two weeks after they committed the offence,” Prime Minister Chris Minns said at the time.
A spokesperson for Transport for NSW told Daily Mail Australia the signs advise motorists to slow down and are not intended to issue fines for speeding.
“The signs are in place when an enforcement session is underway, but motorists have a responsibility to ensure they drive within the speed limit at all times,” the spokesperson said.
‘The signage gives speed offenders every opportunity to change their behavior and helps to remind motorists to adhere to the limit.’
Drivers caught speeding, even if the speed camera warning sign is not clearly visible, will still have to pay a fine.
At one point, the man was caught snapping the middle finger at a passing motorist