So-called "safety cameras" have become the bane of British speeders, including the man whose company builds the devices. He was clocked at 103 mph.
Some folks wind up being hoisted on their own petard. In Tom Riall’s case, he’s been nailed by his own camera.
The 49-year-old Riall is chief executive of the home affairs division for the British company Serco, and one of their best-known, if most-reviled, products is the radar-triggered camera that’s been used to catch countless U.K. traffic offenders as they push past the local speed limits.
Now, the list of scofflaws, it turns out, includes Riall, who was snapped doing just short of 103 mph in his blue Volvo wagon on the A14 Motorway, near Suffolk, about an hour outside London.
Ironically, it was the third time the balding executive was captured playing fast and loose with the speed laws, which are being more and more heavily monitored in the U.K. after years of lax enforcement. Cameras made by companies like Serco have made it easy to catch speeders, though many drivers are aware of where the fixed monitors are positioned and know when to slow down. Throwing himself on the mercy of the court, Riall pleaded with the magistrate to go easy on him. Yanking his license, he contended, would seriously impact his job and, worse, hiring a costly chauffeur would require him to yank his three children out of private school.
The man in the wig and black robe apparently wasn’t particularly impressed. While the fine was a relatively modest 300 pounds, or $451, the magistrate also barred Riall from driving for six months, and added six points to his driving record.
“I accept the decision of the court. I recognize that speeding is not acceptable and regret what I did,” said following a hearing at magistrates court.