Masked bikers keep CCTV cars off streets
A BAND of masked motorcyclists kept the controversial CCTV cars at bay, leaving Medway Council to count the cost.
The No to Mob group, which includes a taxi driver, a car dealer, a lawyer, a plumber and a retired salesman, are opposed to the two Smart cars which trawl Medway snapping illegally parked cars.
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Last Wednesday nine members of the group rallied for their regular meet or “schunt”, only to discover the parking enforcers failed to leave the compound.
The no-show is estimated to have cost the council several thousand pounds in lost revenue from parking fines.
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The riders say they are doing their bit for David Cameron’s “big society” by pointing out where the cameras are hiding.
Sporting high visibility jackets and plastic masks like the ones used in the film V For Vendetta, they feel the council is employing the vehicle as a “cash cow” and not for its intended purpose.
Leader of No To Mob’s Medway division, known as Monkey Girl, from
“I spoke to one of the CCTV car drivers and he said there were too many of us and it would have been dangerous.
“But as a rule we don’t have more than two riders next to the CCTV car because it would hold traffic up.
“We don’t threaten the drivers, we’re just making the public aware of the CCTV car.”
The riders first took to the streets of Medway last August and Kevin Portch, a self-employed taxi driver from Frindsbury, is among about 40 active schunters in the South East.
The 47-year-old, aka Headlong Cabbie, says the campaign has made the operators think about their actions.
He said: “We’ve seen them up to all sorts – parking on double yellow lines, ignoring a one-way sign, jumping out of the bushes to try and catch you out.
“But as we’ve grown as a group they have become more aware of their actions, and even have to drive back to the depot to go to the toilet!”
No To Mob evolved from another group, No To Bike Parking Tax.
Tom Bass, 58, known as TomTom, a retired area sales manager from Snodland, says he has been amazed by the level of public support for the group.
He said: “When we’re riding around, shop owners have been giving us the thumbs-up and helping us track the cars down.
“People even throw £20 in the kitty to help out with petrol.”
A Medway Police spokesman said they have no qualms with No To Mob, who visited the station before setting out on their first patrol.
She said: “It was very courteous of them to come to the front counter of the station and let us know what they’re doing.
“As long as it’s peaceful we haven’t got a problem with it.”
Medway Council refused to publicly comment on the issue of CCTV cars, but a spokesman quashed rumours it is planning to introduce a further two vehicles over the coming months.
Controversy has surrounded the enforcement car ever since it took to the Medway streets in April 2008, with the drivers accused of ignoring parking restrictions to nip into fast food takeaways and public toilets.
The vehicle raked in more than £200,000 in fines in its first year, issuing 9,518 fines, before a second car was introduced in 2009.
It is believed that the total revenue from the cars has surpassed £1 million.
Comments
by Shizzle Minizzle, Gillingham
Wednesday, May 11 2011, 8:36PM
“At first I didn't notice the message on the bikers and thought that they were learners but then realized them following the little cctv smart car and that's when I got up close and noticed that it was a campaign against the nuisance car, which ended up parking on double yellow line's near blockbusters. I gave a thumbs up to the bikers and knocked on the cctv car and asked them to move off the double yellow line's but my request fell on deaf ears and the car stayed put for about 5 minutes before driving off with the biker following behind. Hats off to the bikers and hope they can distribute anti cctv car stickers or banners to us motorists, so we can join forces against these irresponsible medway employees and get rid of the money making machine. Toot for the bikers!;-) Next time that I will see a cctv smart car parked dangerously, I will deliberately drive into them and they will be at fault for having stopped in a no stopping place. Watch out cctv car!”
by Bruce, London
Saturday, March 19 2011, 2:24AM
“Here is a classic example of the sort of tactics employed in London and how illegal ticketing could have netted over £500,000pa if this hadn't been exposed by NoToMob: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x1TyRBYEWo”
by Jack Picknell, Chatham
Thursday, March 10 2011, 7:54AM
“I fully support these bikers, these CCTV cars should be taken off the roads, they are often to be found illegally parked and causing more of an obstruction than the drivers they are out to catch.
I have seen them parked on the zig-zag lines in front of a pedestrian crossing, obstructing the view of approaching traffic.
Also, shortly after one of their drivers was reportedly sacked for misuse, I witnessed one of the cars park on double yellow lines outside Blockbusters in Chatham. There were no other parked vehicles in the area, so they were obviously not "working", perhaps just sorting out their evening entertainment? I emailed Medway Council about this but as is usual, if you ask a question they don't like, they don't answer.
Medway Council claim to be "Serving You" but only if it suits. If they have done, or are doing, something wrong or inappropriate and you question them about it they will not comment, they do not even offer the courtesy of an acknowledgement.
This was my email dated 13th August 2010 which was totally ignored:
"Following the recent dismissal of a member of your staff for illegally parking one of your mobile CCTV units, I was amazed this morning to witness one of the cars parked on double yellow lines, with two wheels on the pavement. Had this been to observe and record illegal parking causing obstruction on a busy road, I may have taken little notice. However, the car was parked adjacent to Blockbusters premises off Best Street in Chatham for a period of four or five minutes. I could see no legitimate reason for their presence, so I can only assume they were collecting/returning a DVD? Also, why should they park with wheels on the pavement when there was absolutely no need for it?
It seems your staff do not learn very quickly. It is not acceptable for the operators of these vehicles to flout the very regulations they are supposedly there to enforce. Many people feel that these ¿mobile big brother units¿ are a waste of tax payers¿ money and another form of intrusive surveillance, the behaviour of the operators is not helping to improve the publics¿ perception of the validity of these units.
I look forward to hearing your response."”
by Henry Jarvis, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Monday, March 07 2011, 6:15PM
“I think what these bikers, in exposing these cctv cars, are giving a great example to all of us that when we, the people, stand up in a dynamic yet non-violent way, we can defeat the control freaks of government and big business who are hell bent on setting up a global surveillance police state where we'll be spied on by our neighbours and big brother.
Unless we, as a people, actively stand up for freedom like these brave and truly patriotic bikers we will all end up being fined and taxed to hell with the state telling us they just 'no choice'
but to cut back on services to pay 'our' interest payments to the oligarchs (privately own Bank of England, Federal Reserve -USA etc.) while they carry on with their illegal wars.
The choice is ours: freedom or tyranny”