by traffic lights RIGGED to turn red as cars passed.
The scam involving 30 Italian town halls emerged yesterday as fraud busters nicked the boss of the firm that supplied the lights.
Drivers who shot the red light were “flashed” by a built-in camera and hit with a £100 fine and three penalty points.
Bent traffic wardens and council officials were in on the con, which last year raised an estimated £8million for municipal coffers across the country.
Lights were doctored so they suddenly went straight from green to red — missing out amber.
Hardest-hit were drivers around Milan, Venice, Pisa, Benevento and Alghero in Sardinia.
A furious spokesman for one Italian consumer organisation said: “We believe thousands of motorists were unjustifiably given fines.”
Police spent six months staking out suspect lights after a tip-off from a warden. A spokesman in Milan said: “Investigations are ongoing. The fraud centred on doctored traffic lights and the timing mechanisms within them.” And I thought it was only in the UK that motorist had a hard time!
Friday, 19 September 2008
Red light con nets £8m fines.
HOLIDAY Brits were last night feared to be among drivers milked for millions in fines,
by traffic lights RIGGED to turn red as cars passed.
The scam involving 30 Italian town halls emerged yesterday as fraud busters nicked the boss of the firm that supplied the lights.
Drivers who shot the red light were “flashed” by a built-in camera and hit with a £100 fine and three penalty points.
Bent traffic wardens and council officials were in on the con, which last year raised an estimated £8million for municipal coffers across the country.
Lights were doctored so they suddenly went straight from green to red — missing out amber.
Hardest-hit were drivers around Milan, Venice, Pisa, Benevento and Alghero in Sardinia.
A furious spokesman for one Italian consumer organisation said: “We believe thousands of motorists were unjustifiably given fines.”
Police spent six months staking out suspect lights after a tip-off from a warden. A spokesman in Milan said: “Investigations are ongoing. The fraud centred on doctored traffic lights and the timing mechanisms within them.” And I thought it was only in the UK that motorist had a hard time!
by traffic lights RIGGED to turn red as cars passed.
The scam involving 30 Italian town halls emerged yesterday as fraud busters nicked the boss of the firm that supplied the lights.
Drivers who shot the red light were “flashed” by a built-in camera and hit with a £100 fine and three penalty points.
Bent traffic wardens and council officials were in on the con, which last year raised an estimated £8million for municipal coffers across the country.
Lights were doctored so they suddenly went straight from green to red — missing out amber.
Hardest-hit were drivers around Milan, Venice, Pisa, Benevento and Alghero in Sardinia.
A furious spokesman for one Italian consumer organisation said: “We believe thousands of motorists were unjustifiably given fines.”
Police spent six months staking out suspect lights after a tip-off from a warden. A spokesman in Milan said: “Investigations are ongoing. The fraud centred on doctored traffic lights and the timing mechanisms within them.” And I thought it was only in the UK that motorist had a hard time!
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