Gotcha! CCTV catches driver speeding down a U.S. motorway with his head and shoulders sticking out of the sunroof

 

 

By Mail Foreign Service

Last updated at 3:00 AM on 12th January 2010

 

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It seems to have been a deliberate rebellion by a man determined to point out the apparent uselessness of Arizona's newly-installed speed cameras.

But Richard Flores' one-man protest against the UK-style initiative has backfired spectacularly.

The 25-year-old was snapped in this image speeding down a motorway in Arizona last week with his head and half his body sticking out the sunroof.

 

 

Enlarge Flores is captured doing 78mph standing with his head poking through the sunroof of his car by an Arizona police department CCTV camera

 

Photo radar image of Richard Anthony Flores speeding and standing up through the sunroof of his car while driving. Flores faces criminal speeding and reckless driving charges

 

He had covered up most of his license plate in an attempt to hide it from the cameras - but had neglected to cover his face.

And, despite Flores' attempts to hide his license plate, police were able to make out enough of it to trace the car back to his family, who forced him to turn himself in, local media reported.

The first time Flores' photo was taken he was driving at 90mph in a 65mph zone, police said. The second time, he was still speeding - and had his head and half his body stuck out the sun roof.

 

The clear shot that officers got of Flores' face allowed them to identify him in eight other violations.

 

 

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Caught out: Flores' identification information was posted on the sheriff's office website

 

 

 

 

Enlarge Making a monkey out of us: Dana Vontesmar is snapped by speed cameras while wearing a monkey mask in Arizona in September

 

Flores is not alone in his protest of Arizona's speed cameras, the first state-wide speed camera system in the U.S.

The scheme is ending in public revolt, with drivers binning up to £60million worth of speeding tickets.

Others are putting boxes over cameras and or covering them with sticky notes.

And in September one man was caught breaking the law by the speed cameras while wearing a monkey mask over his face.

 

'Everyone has First Amendment rights,' a police spokesman told local media. 'If people don't like [photo enforcement], call your congressman; don't go and do stupid stuff like this.'

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'Everyone has First Amendment rights,' a police spokesman told local media. 'If people don't like [photo enforcement], call your congressman; don't go and do stupid stuff like this.'

 

The "I was just following orders" line doesn't work, pig. You enforce a stupid law at gunpoint, don't be offended when it comes back around to bite you in the rear.

 

I'm so sick of cops being offended when people don't comply. It's sort of like when the US gets huffy about attempted terrorist attacks after declaring a "war on terror".

 

In war, there are casualties on both sides. When the US is involved, it isn't an exception. The CIA and military shouldn't go around patting themselves on the back and calling themselves "heroes" all the time if they aren't willing to take the requisite ass-kicking every now and again. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

If you're going to do it, at least do it properly, and in style.