My neighbor installed a fake speed camera to stop crazy drivers – it worked, but we were still forced to dismantle it

A RESIDENT who was fed up with speedsters driving at up to 50 miles per hour in his neighborhood installed a fake speed camera.

O Marylander Whoever built the fake speed camera had it taken down by the county last year, even though it slowed down drivers down in the area.

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The person who raised the speed bump made it look like a Little Free Library, something known to be in local neighborhoods, CBS News affiliate KKTV reported.

The resident who installed the fake radar was someone who lived near an avenue that serves as a shortcut for many traffic drivers.

A neighbor in the area emphasized that car owners speed through the community, going 40 to 80 kilometers per hour.

He said many speedsters caused damage to vehicles parked on McComas Avenue.

“Someone actually came down the lane and hit the retaining wall at one point,” Matthew Fairbank explained.

“My wife’s car has already lost three mirrors. I know people on the street down there, you can see the traffic cones next to the cars down there. His car has been hit a few times.”

The Little Free Library built to resemble a real speed camera also had believable-looking signs around it.

Because of this, neighbors said it appeared to be working to slow down drivers.

“And I actually noticed people slowing down,” Fairbank said.

“For the first time since the three years I’ve been here.”

Speeding was so bad that residents said they had complained to Montgomery County for years about the problem.

City officials said there is a plan to remake it with speed bumps and bike lanes, but it will be years before residents see any changes.

Despite its effectiveness, the municipality ended up removing the signage.

Fairbank ended up taking down the fake radar with the help of another neighbor to comply with the county.

How to Fight a Parking Ticket

You can avoid being fined by following all published laws and regulations, but sometimes mistakes are made

Like any form of citation, parking tickets can be avoided by reading and obeying posted signage. However, when visiting a new city, or state, or in a hurry, things can be missed and mistakes can be made.

Suddenly there’s a ticket you weren’t prepared to pay for. If the ticket comes as a surprise to you, there are some things you can do to help your case when appealing a parking ticket.

• Read the ticket carefully. Look for errors such as incorrect street names, license plate numbers, vehicle make and model, time and date, etc. Errors would render the ticket invalid.
• Take pictures. The vehicle in the space, lack of signage, or other vehicles that were not cited for performing the same parking service. If the ticket involves parking too close to something like a fire hydrant, a photo showing a reasonable distance would help your case. Make sure metadata with time and date is accessible. Signs that are obstructed by trees, or on crooked posts, or that are not “obvious” are also great things to photograph.
• Make sure the statute that was violated is listed on the ticket. If it is not listed, the ticket is not valid.
• Immediately follow the appeal instructions on the ticket. All legitimate tickets will have appeal instructions. Waiting until the last moment weakens your argument and can result in late fees.
• When in court, avoid these phrases as they reduce your credibility and weaken your argument:
  • “I didn’t know the law.”
  • “I was going to move my car.”
  • “I can’t pay this ticket.”
  • “I’ve been doing this for years.”
  • “I checked with the parking officer, who said everything was fine.”
• Contact a lawyer. If you are facing obstacles and feel stuck, you may want to contact a traffic lawyer in your area. Many have free case consultations.

Source: Reader Summary

He shared that he hoped the builder of the Little Free Library would come forward.

“It’s a little disappointing,” Fairbank said.

He went on to share his plans for keeping the Little Free Library safe, should it happen to find a home.

“I think it was to raise awareness,” Fairbank admitted.

“And it seemed to work initially.”

Officials also noted that the library could not be in an easement and could not be in a yard without a permit.

According to the Montgomery County Police, the location he was in was not approved for a speed trap – even though it was fake.

At the time, police said that the obstruction built by a resident led them to evaluate where new cameras could be installed in the area.