Just when you think the UK can't possibly get more batshit insane that it is already...

www.thenewspaper.com/news/08/891.asp

UK Speed Camera Tickets Non-Speeding Protestor
Annoyed by defiant gesture, speed camera issues ticket to non-speeding driver.

A UK court on Monday severely penalized a motorist for the crime of showing disrespect to a mobile speed camera van. The device had photographed Sean Toehill, 21, driving 22 MPH in a 40 MPH zone but police became enraged when they noticed he had given the camera a "V-sign." Officers were dispatched to his home two days later to present charges which the Cupar Sheriff Court in Fife, Scotland upheld on Monday. The court suspended Toehill's right to drive for a year and imposed a £90 (US $160) fine.

"I can't believe that speed cameras can be used in this way," Toehill, a North Sea oil worker, told the London Telegraph. "I thought they were to catch speeding drivers."

Toehill plans to appeal the ruling.

RESPECT MAH AUTHORITAY!!!

So he gave the "peace" sign, and gets fined?? What is this world coming to???

Quoted: So he gave the "peace" sign, and gets fined?? What is this world coming to???

Over there the V flashed a certain way has a different meaning.

ETA the palm inwards is obsene, palm out is victory.

back in the day, english men were known for their archery skills, and the inwards V with your index and middle finger was a sign of defiance. Today, it's the same as the american middle finger.

I'm sorry, as much as I like the Brit culture and all of it's hostory and glory, that place is quickly placing itself on my lost cause and worthless list.

How do you disrespect a box?
It's an inanimate object.

Quoted: How do you disrespect a box? It's an inanimate object.

must suppress thoughts of my ex running through my head.....

Quoted: back in the day, english men were known for their archery skills, and the inwards V with your index and middle finger was a sign of defiance. Today, it's the same as the american middle finger.

Ahhhh,  gottcha... Thanks.

Quoted: "I can't believe that speed cameras can be used in this way," Toehill, a North Sea oil worker, told the London Telegraph. "I thought they were to catch speeding drivers."

Kinda reminds you of "... I do not believe it, they told me the firearm registration was to catch criminals.."

Quoted: back in the day, english men were known for their archery skills, and the inwards V with your index and middle finger was a sign of defiance. Today, it's the same as the american middle finger.

Sadly not true, which is a pity:

www.snopes.com/language/apocryph/pluckyew.htm

On the other hand, some of us Welshmen are still pretty good archers


It's also worth pointing out taht he's not "dissing" the speed camera, but the police officers (or at least the civilian police workers who operate it).

That said, I still think this is bullshit!

/PHil

Quoted: It's also worth pointing out taht he's not "dissing" the speed camera, but the police officers (or at least the civilian police workers who operate it). /PHil

Gee, I thought British cops were the ultimate in thick-skinned tolerance.

MAn, if they fines for disrespect here the photoradar vans they had in anchorage would have been serious moneymakers..I never got caught by one, but I sure flipped them off a whole bunch.  they only lasted a year.

You know, God made Thermite cheap, safe, easy to use, and easy to manufacture from common inert materials for a reason....

The Brits are such pussies, makes me ashamed to have been born there.

Quoted: I'm sorry, as much as I like the Brit culture and all of it's hostory and glory, that place is quickly placing itself on my lost cause and worthless list.

You mean like their history of taxation without representation?

Quoted: So he gave the "peace" sign, and gets fined?? What is this world coming to???

In Europe the "peace" sign is about like the finger here.

Quoted: Just when you think the UK can't possibly get more batshit insane that it is already... www.thenewspaper.com/news/08/891.asp UK Speed Camera Tickets Non-Speeding Protestor Annoyed by defiant gesture, speed camera issues ticket to non-speeding driver. A UK court on Monday severely penalized a motorist for the crime of showing disrespect to a mobile speed camera van. The device had photographed Sean Toehill, 21, driving 22 MPH in a 40 MPH zone but police became enraged when they noticed he had given the camera a "V-sign." Officers were dispatched to his home two days later to present charges which the Cupar Sheriff Court in Fife, Scotland upheld on Monday. The court suspended Toehill's right to drive for a year and imposed a £90 (US $160) fine. "I can't believe that speed cameras can be used in this way," Toehill, a North Sea oil worker, told the London Telegraph. "I thought they were to catch speeding drivers." Toehill plans to appeal the ruling.

How is it possible to display "disrespect" to a friggin robot camera???

Hopefully he makes sure those cops get what they deserve for enforcing such police state bullshite.

A little known fact about the 'V' sign from Britannicus. Yes, it does mean "fuck you". But it has an interesting story  to it. yes it has to do with the bow fingers. When English  (Welch really) Archers were caught by French or Others they had their fingers cut off so they could'nt shoot anymore. So in a battle as a sign of defiance or "fuck you" they would display their two intact fingers to the Enemy Frogs! Bullocks to you Oink! I break wind in your gereral direction!

ETA: i saw the snopes page and it is wrong and right at the same time. This has nothing to do with Agincourt, it spans the longbowman period. Second I doubt the "middle finger" of America evolved from it. and last it doesnt have to mean "fuck you" or "pluck yew" which is probably added later for color. But it is definatly a symbol of defiance. The thing they are wrong about is the chopping off of the Archers fingers. They DID get the fingers cut off. And that whole excuse that they could still weild a club is pointless. Any fool can weild a club but to effectively use the Welsh longbow took a lifetime of training and Continental Europe considered those bows to be "unsporting" (basically meaning it could kill a well armored knight as opposed to schmuck) So all "longbowman" found in battle were under threat of having their fingers cut off, hence they could no longer weild that unusual skill. Normal Archers were immune. Also for a time Heavy crossbowmen were also under threat of Ex-communication because the steel bolt was also considered "unfair" to the sword wielding Knight.

UK = "Subjects"

USA = Citizens.

Sure, is semantics, but it is an improtant distinction.

This is a reminder not to fall into the trap of making minor concessions of individual rights such as privacy for such vapid arguments as "its for the children."

Quoted: How is it possible to display "disrespect" to a friggin robot camera???

Look twice - this is a real poster.

Quoted: Quoted: "I can't believe that speed cameras can be used in this way," Toehill, a North Sea oil worker, told the London Telegraph. "I thought they were to catch speeding drivers." Kinda reminds you of "... I do not believe it, they told me the firearm registration was to catch criminals.."

Heheheh. So much for "If you don't break the law, you have nothing to worry about."

Quoted: Just when you think the UK can't possibly get more batshit insane that it is already... www.thenewspaper.com/news/08/891.asp UK Speed Camera Tickets Non-Speeding Protestor Annoyed by defiant gesture, speed camera issues ticket to non-speeding driver. A UK court on Monday severely penalized a motorist for the crime of showing disrespect to a mobile speed camera van. The device had photographed Sean Toehill, 21, driving 22 MPH in a 40 MPH zone but police became enraged when they noticed he had given the camera a "V-sign." Officers were dispatched to his home two days later to present charges which the Cupar Sheriff Court in Fife, Scotland upheld on Monday. The court suspended Toehill's right to drive for a year and imposed a £90 (US $160) fine. "I can't believe that speed cameras can be used in this way," Toehill, a North Sea oil worker, told the London Telegraph. "I thought they were to catch speeding drivers." Toehill plans to appeal the ruling.

Give it a couple years and this will be happening here.

It's might just be but I would make it a point to walk by a speed camera every so often and flash the fingers again.

Oi, Cock-piece-face

Somone needs to stick their ass out of the window at this mobile camera vans, ya gotta love the Britts.

Quoted: Quoted: I'm sorry, as much as I like the Brit culture and all of it's hostory and glory, that place is quickly placing itself on my lost cause and worthless list. You mean like their history of taxation without representation?

Hmmm ...

You know, in the nearly 10 years I was here as a genuine green blooded, three-horned legal alien I had to file taxes. I did wonder about writing "No taxation without representation!" over my 1040 and mailing it in, but then resonsidered on the basis that:

a) They would have no clue what I was talking about.
b) They have no sense of humor.

In terms of taxation, the US is probably amongst the worst, if not the worst in the world.
No other civilised country wants to tax your income if you are living and earning outside your country of nationality for example.

If taxation is the basis for revolution, the US is well overdue.

Growing up in NY I heard stories of many of these speeding cameras becoming 'ventilated' and they quit using them.

Don't know if anything has changed since those days.

That's bullshit.

Well...I think he showed LOTS of respect!
He coulda mooned the darn thing!

Quoted: If taxation is the basis for revolution, the US is well overdue.

Damn straight.

Too bad we (myself included) don't have the stones to do something about the fact that 50%+ of your income is stolen by government thugs.

Quoted: Destroyed Speed Cameras

Andy,

You've restored my faith in the British people.

Quoted: Just a few points of order...... SCOTLAND is not 'The UK'... Scotland has a different set of laws from England and Wales and has it's own Parliament. Scotland is far and away the most violent and Socialised part of the 'UK'. 75% of Scotlands 'Economy' is made of of .Gov Welfare and civil service expenditure. Speed Cameras do live a tough life in England and Wales... they regularly catch fire or are blown up. Destroyed Speed Cameras Anyway, my SATNAV has the cameras stored in it's database... ANdy

Last I heard, Scotland became part of the UK when Bonnie Prince Charlie got himself in a pickle at Culloden. They may have their own Parliament, but it's about as powerful as the individual State govts are here when the FED decides they want something done on a National level, no?

Quoted: Speed Cameras do live a tough life in England and Wales... they regularly catch fire or are blown up. Destroyed Speed Cameras ANdy

"Gatso" must be English for "burn it".

Having to resort to fire is strong evidence that your gun laws are too restrictive. Out here in the Wild West the Gatso would be shot full of holes just like the street signs are. You know, some Elmers think a cow on a sign is an actual cow.

Quoted: That's bullshit.

Yes, that is bullshit.  I could never live in a place that operated like this.

Quoted: Quoted: Destroyed Speed Cameras Andy, You've restored my faith in the British people.

Those sure look expensive.

Quoted: Quoted: How is it possible to display "disrespect" to a friggin robot camera??? subjunctive.net/photoblog/2003/watchful-eyes.jpg Look twice - this is a real poster.

It looks positively Orwellian!!!

Quoted: I'm sorry, as much as I like the Brit culture and all of it's hostory and glory, that place is quickly placing itself on my lost cause and worthless list.

You should enjoy this....

Britain's Blair calls for respect then admits smacking kids
    Jan 10 9:02 PM US/Eastern
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   British Prime Minister Tony Blair spent Tuesday promoting respect in British society by tackling problem parents and their unruly offspring -- and then admitted to smacking his older children.

            Blair's admission came during a BBC television face-the-public session on his "respect agenda" measures, intended to tackle anti-social behaviour -- a core theme of his third and final term in office.

 

            The 52-year-old was quizzed by the presenter about his own parental discipline.

            "Do you smack your kids? Did you?... Did it cause a problem?" he was asked.

            Blair, who has four children aged five to 21, replied: "No, I think, funnily enough, I'm probably different with my youngest than I was with my older ones."

            Misunderstanding his reply, the presenter said: "What, you do smack the younger one?"

            Blair said: "No, no, it was actually the other way round but... I think, look, this smacking... I think everybody knows the difference between smacking a kid and abusing a child."

            Blair's government stopped short of a total ban on smacking in England and Wales a year ago. Smacks that leave marks are punishable by up to five years in prison.

             

As part of the war on "yobbish" behaviour, problem families could be evicted from their homes in the event of "significant, persistent and serious nuisance" and lose their welfare handouts, under powers now used on drug dens.

            Loutish families could be forced into rehabilitation courses and moved to a secure local authority "sin bin".

            The proposals also include a National Parenting Academy where frustrated parents would be given help in dealing with out-of-control offspring.

            Blair pledged that restoring respect in Britain would be at the heart of his agenda when his Labour Party was re-elected in May last year.

            He said on the BBC programme: "If you're living in a street where you've got a family that's causing absolute hell for you and the other families in the street, you want something done about it.

            "It's about saying: 'I'm sorry, if your family is out of control and causing hell for everybody else in the local community we cannot sit there and simply say nothing's going to happen to you."

             

Blair earlier blasted graffiti with a power hose on an estate in Swindon, southwest England.

            The Daily Telegraph said Wednesday that the measures "will entirely fail to frighten the yobbish fraternity" while The Independent said Blair's "heroic rhetoric" on fighting yobs was little more than "gesture politics".

            The Guardian said "Blair has launched a dangerous assault on a basic liberty" by plumbing new depths in its "disregard for civil rights".

            He contrasted life in Britain with that experienced by his father growing up in a poor part of Glasgow in the 1930s, and his grandfather's generation before that.

            "The one thing that would shock them, where they would say society has changed for the worse is in that loss of respect in local communities and on the street," he said.

           
     
     

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Destroyed Speed Cameras Andy, You've restored my faith in the British people. Those sure look expensive. £55,000 per copy, that's about $90,000....

Looks like it's a good way to get rid of old tires.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I'm sorry, as much as I like the Brit culture and all of it's hostory and glory, that place is quickly placing itself on my lost cause and worthless list. You mean like their history of taxation without representation? Hmmm ... You know, in the nearly 10 years I was here as a genuine green blooded, three-horned legal alien I had to file taxes. I did wonder about writing "No taxation without representation!" over my 1040 and mailing it in, but then resonsidered on the basis that: a) They would have no clue what I was talking about. b) They have no sense of humor. In terms of taxation, the US is probably amongst the worst, if not the worst in the world. No other civilised country wants to tax your income if you are living and earning outside your country of nationality for example. If taxation is the basis for revolution, the US is well overdue.

You are partially correct.  If you were earning here and resident here (in the US), then you owe taxes.  That would be true in virtually any country:  you live "there" and derive income "there", you pay taxes "there."  

The bad law in the US is that if I lived somewhere else, say, Ireland (I am ignorant of Irish Law, so if the technicality is different, it's not a point of contention), and derived income from, say, Switzerland, I (as a US citizen) would still owe taxes to the US.  To be sure, they would allow me  a credit for taxes paid to a foreign jurisdiction.  But owing taxes and having to file if I live and earn elsewhere is simply wrong.

However, if you lived here and earned here, then you owe, you owe, and it's off to work you go.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Last I heard, Scotland became part of the UK when Bonnie Prince Charlie got himself in a pickle at Culloden. They may have their own Parliament, but it's about as powerful as the individual State govts are here when the FED decides they want something done on a National level, no? It's only part of the UK when they want more our our taxes to bail out their insanely spendthrift social programmes.  The devolved Parliament is pretty similar to a US State legislature and can do pretty much what it wants with regards to Scotland specific laws and it's legal system is seperate from the rest of the UK. Under Scottish law you can be 'Guilty', 'Innocent' and 'Not Proven' (Not Proven means we think you did it but can't prove it so the charge remains on the books against you till we can). Scottish Parliament Scotland is rapidly turning into a semi autonomous Marxist state. ANdy

Well, many Scots would probably feel it's payback for the clearances.