?17M profit for speed camera operators
Published: 1st January 2006
Category: Statistics & Research
Reader's Rage: [25votes]

Speed camera partnerships in the UK made a massive ?17million profit last year. This is the amount they were left with after taking into account their operating costs. Government rules state that this money can only be used to re-invest in further speed cameras, otherwise it must be handed over to the Treasury.

An army of 6000 cameras raked in ?120million in fines resulting in the ?17M profit, or ?17,632,624 to be exact. The most profitable county was Northumbria with ?1,713,923 of excess cash followed by Hertfordshire with ?1,245,177, closely followed by Mid and South Wales with ?1,233,731. Two million drivers were caught speeding in the UK during 2004/05.

At the end of 2005 the government said there will be a halt on approvals for new speed camera sites, but given the partnerships' bursting bank accounts it seems likely they'd rather install more cameras than hand the money over to the government.

Our comment: Motorists' ?120M stealth tax nets nice earner for camera partnerships

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