The speed camera is probably one of the most unpleasant opponents of every driver, ultimately threatening fines or points in Flensburg. Despite all the anger at the speed trap: Normally it only measures what you have done wrong yourself. It’s different in Berlin: A speed trap there went completely nuts over the weekend and was only able to be tamed by the police with unusual measures.
On the night of Monday, the speed camera on Frankfurter Allee in Lichtenberg apparently started flashing every car on its own and from one second to the next – even if the vehicle was traveling out of town at the permitted speed. Of course, this behavior irritated a number of drivers: The “B.Z.” reported that there were long tailbacks due to cars driving much too slowly. The police also received a number of calls from 10 p.m. about the overzealous speed camera, as the “Tagesspiegel” reports.
Twice as stupid: Because of the public holidays, no technician could be reached at this time and on Monday. The police officers who were called in reacted on the spot with an unusual but pragmatic solution: the speed camera was simply masked with a paper bag and plenty of adhesive tape.
According to a police spokesman, it is still unclear what caused the defect in the speed camera. The investigation by a technician on Tuesday should provide more precise information about the cause. There is good news for the “shot” drivers: they don’t have to worry about fines or points, they shouldn’t be fined.
Sources: Tagesspiegel, “B.Z.”
