[Infowarrior] - Pranking (Spoofing) Speed Cameras

[Richard Forno]

(Part of me would like to see this widespread around the world as a  
further method of getting rid of these controversial things.....--rf)

WEB EXCLUSIVE -- Local teens claim pranks on county's Speed Cams

By Joe Slaninka

Special to the Sentinel

http://www.thesentinel.com/302730670790449.php

As a prank, students from local high schools have been taking  
advantage of the county's Speed Camera Program in order to exact  
revenge on people who they believe have wronged them in the past,  
including other students and even teachers.

Students from Richard Montgomery High School dubbed the prank the  
Speed Camera "Pimping" game, according to a parent of a student  
enrolled at one of the high schools.

Originating from Wootton High School, the parent said, students  
duplicate the license plates by printing plate numbers on glossy photo  
paper, using fonts from certain websites that "mimic" those on  
Maryland license plates. They tape the duplicate plate over the  
existing plate on the back of their car and purposefully speed through  
a speed camera, the parent said. The victim then receives a citation  
in the mail days later.

Students are even obtaining vehicles from their friends that are  
similar or identical to the make and model of the car owned by the  
targeted victim, according to the parent.

"This game is very disturbing," the parent said. "Especially since  
unsuspecting parents will also be victimized through receipt of  
unwarranted photo speed tickets.

The parent said that "our civil rights are exploited," and the entire  
premise behind the Speed Camera Program is called into question as a  
result of the growing this fad among students.

The Speed Camera Program was implemented in March of this year and  
used for the purpose of reducing traffic and pedestrian collisions in  
the county. Cameras are located in residential areas and school zones  
where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or lower. A $40  
citation is mailed to the owner of the car for violating the speed  
limit in these areas.

The Montgomery County Police said they have not seen or heard of this  
prank occurring but said they will keep an eye out for people  
committing the crime.

"I hope the public at large will complain loudly enough that local  
Montgomery County government officials will change their policy of  
using these cameras for monetary gain," the parent said. "The practice  
of sending speeding tickets to faceless recipients without any type of  
verification is unwarranted and an exploitation of our rights."

Edward Owusu, Assistant Principal at Wootton High School, said that he  
heard of local students pulling the prank when the school received a  
call from a parent informing them of its occurrence. "I have not heard  
of this happening among students at Wootton," Osuwu said. "It is  
unfortunate that kids have a lot of time on their hands that they can  
think of doing such a thing."

Montgomery County Council President Phil Andrews said that the issue  
is troubling in several respects. "I am concerned that someone could  
get hurt, first of all, because they are speeding in areas where they  
know speeding is a problem," he said.

Andrews also said that this could hurt the integrity of the Speed  
Camera Program. "It will cause potential problems for the Speed Camera  
Program in terms of the confidence in it," he said.

He said he is glad someone caught it before it becomes more widespread  
and he said he hopes that the word get out to the people participating  
in this that there will be consequences.