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A man who ‘stole’ a radar signal installed on the side of a main road has divided the internet.
A passing motorist couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw the man removing the sign in Edgeworth, in the Lake Macquarie region of New South Wales, on Monday morning.
Lee Mitchell recalled how the man threw him “down the nearby drain” when he later shared photos of the strange incident in Facebook.
Footage showed the man walking along a path carrying the sign he had reportedly unleashed from the back of a telegraph pole.
At one point, the man wearing a black printed T-shirt and blue shorts gave someone the middle finger as traffic backed up on the busy highway.
Motorists were left divided after a man removed a speed camera warning sign (pictured) which had been placed on the side of a suburban road in Newcastle.
Motorists could be hit with hefty fines this Christmas season due to a series of unusual road laws that almost all Australians have enforced. Drivers could be paying up to $698 and lose five demerit points for illegal acts
‘This guy stole the speed camera signs this morning. [and] I dumped it down the nearby drain,” Mitchell posted on a community Facebook page.
‘If you get fined for speeding during this time, there was no signage [and] was still missing [at] At 10 in the morning I realized.’
The publication attracted a division.
Many praised the motorist for removing the sign.
‘Give this guy a medal. Damn legend,” said one user.
Others believed that the responsibility for responsible driving rested with motorists, whether or not a speed camera warning sign had been posted.
“If you get a ticket, you’re breaking the law… pretty simple, don’t speed anywhere,” one commented.
Another added: “I’m sorry but if they sign you it’s your fault, you shouldn’t do it.” [sic] First of all, I’ve been speeding up.
Some criticized the man for removing the sign and argued that more drivers will be caught speeding without knowing there is a speed camera in the area.
‘Why remove the sign? Isn’t it there to warn other drivers to slow down because a radar is approaching?’ one commented.
The man was seen walking along a trail while carrying the sign (pictured)
The New South Wales government reintroduced portable radar warning signs last year.
The shock rollback came three years after the government removed the signage following calls to remove tags from mobile speed cameras.
“I have always said that I would rather people stop than receive a fine in the mail two weeks after committing the offence,” Premier Chris Minns said at the time.
A Transport for NSW spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the signs advise drivers to slow down and are not prepared to issue fines for speeding.
“Signs are in place when an enforcement session is taking place, however motorists have a responsibility to ensure they drive within the speed limit at all times,” the spokesperson said.
“Signage gives speeding drivers every opportunity to change their behavior and reminds them to respect the limit.”
Drivers caught speeding, even if a speed camera warning sign is not clearly visible, will have to pay a fine.
At one point, the man was caught giving the middle finger to a passing motorist.
