A 67-year-old man was sentenced to eight months in prison after he admitted to using a laser jamming device to avoid detection by speed cameras. Timothy Hill was caught by police after he flipped off mobile speed camera vans on three separate occasions. He was also banned from driving for one year.
Traffic Constable Andrew Forth said that Hill made himself an easy target by "repeatedly gesturing at police camera vans with your middle finger while you’re driving a distinctive car."
“If you want to attract our attention, repeatedly gesturing at police camera vans with your middle finger while you’re driving a distinctive car fitted with a laser jammer is an excellent way to do it."
Police were able to detect the laser jammer on his White Range Rover, which had personalized license plates making him easy to track down. Police said when they spoke with him he denied driving the car, claiming he was working 60 miles away. They also said that Hill tried to destroy the jamming device.
Hill eventually relented and admitted to speeding and flipping off the cameras. He also said that he threw the jamming device in the river an attempt to destroy it. He pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and received his eight-month prison sentence. Police were unable to charge him with speeding because the jammer worked and police were unable to determine how fast he was driving.
Authorities have a warning for drivers who try to cheat the system. They will find you, and you will face the consequences.
“Drivers who fit laser jammers may mistakenly feel smug about ‘getting one over’ on the police. But we can tell if motorists are using these devices, and we will always endeavour to bring them to justice.”