Fire Engines to carry cameras

[elfa7]

What are your views on fire engines filming motorists who are flouting the law ?.

[civic-babe]

Originally Posted by elfa7

What are your views on fire engines filming motorists who are flouting the law ?.

Is that the job of fire fighters now?? They should leave that to te police..

[czechplastik]

I don't believe that! What next Police carrying defibs.....oh wait..... Next thing I'll be putting out fires!

[elfa7]

Originally Posted by civic-babe

Is that the job of fire fighters now?? They should leave that to te police..

You may find it hard to believe, but South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority, has announced it is paying £440.000 to fit 39 fire engines with six cameras each.

[civic-babe]

Originally Posted by elfa7

You may find it hard to believe, but South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority, has announced it is paying £440.000 to fit 39 fire engines with six cameras each.

They can spend nearly half a million pounds on cameras, but are not able to pay the fire fighters a decent wage..

[Korkut Varol]

That's a bit weird... Fire engines should be in their fire stations waiting for an alert. They are not supposed to patrol around to encounter some occasional fire, and meanwhile record footages, are they?

[Kremmen]

There have been incidents of fire crews being called out on a hoax and then attacked.

Wonder if the cameras are for that sort of thing ?

[elfa7]

It is weird --- but true.

[blzb0b]

Originally Posted by elfa7

You may find it hard to believe, but South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority, has announced it is paying £440.000 to fit 39 fire engines with six cameras each.

There was something on the news last year about this - it's to film incidents they have been called to - apparently alot of arsonists hang around to see the fire brigade tackle the fire! - so filming the crowd that gathers can provide evidence that a suspect was there.. it will also help prosecute hoaxers and people who attack fire fighters..

[Dalboy]

I find it hard to believe that the camera's are to catch out drivers??. I worked for 30 years in the Fire Service and would not have been very pleased if I had been asked to do so.
Camera's to help to protect Firefighters from attack yes.
Firefighters need the support of the public, and to fit camera's to help the Police do their job is not the way to get it.

[elfa7]

This is everything to do with catching motorists.

It says the cameras could be linked to number plate recognition systems, which would allow fines to be issued to drivers spotted offending.

The technology could also catch people driving in bus lanes or with inappropriate child seats.

[czechplastik]

I agree with comments suggesting it is probably to record footage of the fire service being attacked. Unfortunately its a regular occurance here, hoax calls made almost daily and fire officers being attacked. makes sense to gather evidence via camera. Find it very unlikely it will be to catch motorists.

[CivPilot]

Originally Posted by elfa7

This is everything to do with catching motorists.

It says the cameras could be linked to number plate recognition systems, which would allow fines to be issued to drivers spotted offending.

The technology could also catch people driving in bus lanes or with inappropriate child seats.

BS.. stop panicing. The fire service are NOT on the payroll of the scamera partnerships.

The camera's are for recording the crowds and to help protect Firefighters as previously stated. Alot of fire services in the USA have Handheld video camera's available in the cab in case things happen. If installing cameras around the cab can only help protect a bunch of people who risk thier life every single day for us (no matter how ungratefull some appear to be) then so be it.
Considering the pace through the traffic a units travell being able to provide video evidence of motoring infractionswould be nigh on impossible. You certainly wouldn't get court admissable quality. How would you calibrate a camera moving faster than its catch?

As for numberplate recognition, well, any camera designed to catch tax dodgers and insurance fraudsters (like those modding cars and not declaring mods etc ) is ok by me anyway. a numberplate recognition camera only catches one type of infraction, an infraction that costs us (the law abiding insured motorist) thousands every year.

Of course you could argue that if a fire engine is impieded by an inconsiderate motorist and that motorist is on film, then he/she should be fined for driving without due care an attention. Ask yourself... how would you feel towards that driver if it was your house burning.

Oh, and if your going to make statements like "it says..." then please provide your sources with links. You are clearly panicing about something youve read about on one source, a source which clearly didnt understand the reason for the cameras (cue BBc news page panic mongering source ).

[TFL]

I fail to understand why this is such a bad thing. Is it because people might get caught doing something wrong???
I find this funny, because people always seem to think that stuff is ok as long as they can get away with it.
I do agree that Firefighters shouldnt do the job of the police, but there are plenty of people who will follow an emergency vechile (not police mind you) when it has its lights on, these are the kind of people i think are idiots on the road and id be happy for them to receive a nice fat fine.
If I break the law, then i say 'fair cop' if i get caught

[Dalboy]

Originally Posted by elfa7

This is everything to do with catching motorists.

It says the cameras could be linked to number plate recognition systems, which would allow fines to be issued to drivers spotted offending.

The technology could also catch people driving in bus lanes or with inappropriate child seats.

Where was this report seen as I can not find anything on their website

[elfa7]

I'm quoting from the Mail on Sunday. 21 01 07.

I agree, people driving without tax & insurance are a pain in the backside,
and should be taken off the road.

The question is, whether you think the police should be responsible for road traffic offences, or are you in favour of a free for all, whereby any organisation selected by the government can arm itself with cameras to "nick" us.

[Dalboy]

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/...n_page_id=1770
the above link is to the article. which if read in full says that these camera's are being installed as silent witnesses, and that there is not plan to use them for any other purpose.
As I thought the FBU (Fire Brigades Union) would fight any attempt to use them them to catch motorists

[elfa7]

Originally Posted by Dalboy

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/...n_page_id=1770
the above link is to the article. which if read in full says that these camera's are being installed as silent witnesses, and that there is not plan to use them for any other purpose.
As I thought the FBU (Fire Brigades Union) would fight any attempt to use them them to catch motorists

I certainly hope you're right.

I sometimes think 1984 is becoming a reality.

[Charles_Harding]

I seem to see more fire engines than police cars lately so I don't reckon it's bad idea at all.

'Spect to see fire fighters with laser guns to catch the speeders as well soon.

Then us oldens can get across the road safer!!!

"You don't have to remind me of my age, I have a bladder that does that for me!"

Charles H.

[MrEd]

Originally Posted by czechplastik

I don't believe that! What next Police carrying defibs.....oh wait.....

that is actually not a bad idea they arent that hard to use lol, hmmm..... *ed spys a reason for slacking off work even more haha*