A day before the state Department of Transportation began enforcing a new electronic speed monitoring program, state officials noticed some of their speed cameras in Wilmington’s I-95 construction zone had been vandalized.
“I can confirm that two speed cameras located on I-95 were damaged in the early morning hours of Sunday,” Delaware State Police Senior Cpl. Jason Hatchell said on Monday. “However, this is an active [and] ongoing investigation and I do not have further information to release at this time.”
No explanation was given as to what sort of vandalism was done to the devices, which use radar to determine whether a car is speeding and, if so, take a picture of the license plate – much like the red-light cameras already in use statewide.
Background:Why you may now get mailed a ticket for speeding in the Wilmington I-95 construction zone
While the devices are billed as life-savers, around the world they have long been the targets of vandals who have shot, spray-painted and even tipped over the cameras.
The Phoenix New Times reported some vandals were placing sticky notes on camera lenses as far back as 2008 while the French populist group known as the “Yellow Vest” got blamed for damaging nearly 60 percent of that country’s speed cameras in 2018, according to Newsweek.
DelDOT spokesman C.R. McLeod said they are replacing the cameras and will add additional security for them.
Delaware’s speed cameras were introduced as a way to reduce the frequency of accidents on the I-95 Restore the Corridor work zone, which last year recorded 423 crashes – a 49% increase from 2019.
The new monitoring system, which was slated to start Monday, will remain in effect until the completion of the Restore the Corridor construction, which is estimated to be another year. If the pilot program works, DelDOT plans to advocate for similar programs in construction zones across the state.
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Drivers caught by the camera will receive a fine in the mail within 30 days, DelDOT said. These penalties are civil violations, meaning points will not be added to driver’s licenses and insurance companies will not be notified.
The amount of the penalty depends on the speed, according to McLeod. All drivers caught driving too quickly will be fined at least $20, with an additional dollar added for each mile above the 45 miles per hour speed limit.
Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3.
