Fake speed camera signs?

Gammawolf · 22 Jul 2015 at 22:47

I noticed on my drive to work that some person has taken it upon themselves to put a fake sign in their front yard when there is no speed camera there. It's just a plastic sign attached to a realtors stake most likely. It got me thinking on what the legalities are around that. As far as I could tell it was an accurate copy of a real speed camera sign

They've presumably put it up because their driveway happens to be on the inside of bend and they feel uncomfortable pulling in and out.

Anyone in the know shed some light if it is legal?

Just cause you guys love pictures :cool:

teenwolf · 22 Jul 2015 at 22:51

Is that illegal

TheVoice · 22 Jul 2015 at 22:53

Bound to be illegal. Doubt anyone will do anything about though!

teenwolf · 22 Jul 2015 at 22:55

Dob them in

Woden · 22 Jul 2015 at 22:59

Doubt it's illegal. Is hardly an Isis flag and those are cool beans.

OpenToSuggestions · 22 Jul 2015 at 23:01

Yes it is illegal.

Faking signs that are part of the highway code are not permitted.

TheVoice · 22 Jul 2015 at 23:03

Woden said:
Doubt it's illegal. Is hardly an Isis flag and those are cool beans.

There are all sorts of legislation and regulations regarding road signage, you can't just put your own signs up that mimic an official format.

Vulcan · 22 Jul 2015 at 23:18

OpenToSuggestions said:
Yes it is illegal.

Faking signs that are part of the highway code are not permitted.

Whilst probably true, what is the Act? ...Given that the highway code is not law.

teenwolf · 22 Jul 2015 at 23:19

I guess if someone was to crash into the sign they could sue the home owners

OpenToSuggestions · 22 Jul 2015 at 23:20

Longbow said:
Whilst probably true, what is the Act? ...Given that the highway code is not law.

I'm not sure, but misinforming drivers must fall into some category.

The worst ones to fake would be the mandatory signs i.e. ones in a red circle.

d_brennen · 22 Jul 2015 at 23:31

Does anyone really care? I mean, really?

Gammawolf · 22 Jul 2015 at 23:49

It just reminded me of something i heard on the news last year about fake speed signs where motorists got prosecuted for speeding for "obeying" the signs. I was wondering to what extent these things were allowed and not allowed. ie If you aren't allowed to put up fake signs (which presumably you aren't, but i have no idea of the technicalities) what would be the view on a slightly altered sign that beared resemblance but was not identical to official signs?

Legend · 23 Jul 2015 at 00:35

This doesn't make much sense from what I'm seeing. They've got a convex mirror across the road, so it's not like they can't see cars coming around the bend, but the fake speed sign is facing the wrong way anyway if they are hoping to discourage people from speeding around that bend... even if it was facing the other way people wouldn't see it lol! What is the road on the approach to the actual sign? If it's a straight road then maybe they are just trying to get people to slow down, as perhaps there have been accidents there in the past?? Appears to be a sharper than average bend that may catch some unaware.

D.P. · 23 Jul 2015 at 00:43

In the US a lot of small rural towns put a fake police car with a dummy sat in the seat.

Kind of effective but I'm not sure it is legal either but the local cops probably don't care

Uther · 23 Jul 2015 at 00:46

If it stops people speeding somewhere that looks a bit dangerous, it's fair enough.

breadturbo · 23 Jul 2015 at 00:49

Go modify it

silversurfer · 23 Jul 2015 at 02:55

The sign can just be within 2 miles of cameras I think not on same road even ?

ThePirateHulk · 23 Jul 2015 at 06:21

I'm sure it isn't legal but I also don't see why anybody would have a problem with it.

Haggisman · 23 Jul 2015 at 08:27

While they are out:

Pour a few litres of fake blood across the road/their drive/the wall.
Scatter a load of broken vehicle glass and smashed up plastic (I'm sure you can find some along the roadside) around the area as well.
Do a burnout on the road to leave some tyre tracks.

When they come back and wonder what's happened, explain to them that someone came round the bend, saw the sign and slammed on the brakes, but because "the road surface wasn't prepared properly for a camera site" (or some other official sounding, vaguely plausible pseudo-sciencey BS) they lost control, spun into an oncoming car and were killed instantly (along with the 3 children in the back); the police are currently looking for the person responsible for the sign, and want to talk to them urgently.

bad_ass_neil · 23 Jul 2015 at 08:30

I guess this fits in with the "Polite slow" signs you see about and the people in the fake police uniforms with "polite" on the back.

why they don't get pulled over all the time i don't know.