http://autos.aol.com/article/video-elderly-man-shoots-unmanned-police-vehicle-in-santa-fe-n/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl6%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D154155
video included
Police officers in Santa Fe, N.M. recently started using unmanned speed-enforcement vehicles to ticket heavy-footed motorists. It hasn't exactly been a popular endeavor.
One disgruntled man took his dissatisfaction to another level in the wee hours of Wednesday, April 11, firing at least five rounds from a handgun at the vehicle, which sustained minor damage.
Video cameras inside the police SUV captured the incident. Upon examination, the tape showed an elderly gentleman with a flowing mane of white hair, wearing what appears to be a nightgown of some sort, approach the vehicle.
As he fires his weapon from approximately 10 feet away, he mutters something inaudible, then gets back into his own vehicle, believed to be an Audi SUV or wagon. Police say only 3 of his 5 shots hit the vehicle.
The victim vehicle, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports, had been left overnight on Bishops Lodge Road, north of downtown, and is out of commission while being repaired.
Many critics have complained about "Big Brother" recording their whereabouts as well as inaccurate tickets with high fees. Police are hoping release of the video results in the assailant's arrest. He'll be on the hook for something more serious than a speeding ticket.
He should have approached from behind with five gallons of gasoline and a road flare.
J308
Reader
4/23/12 9:16 a.m.
Hmm.... so that's what it looks like to be shot at. Wow.
"10 feet away" + "3 of 5 shots hit the vehicle" = added charge of DUI. If you can't put 5 rounds in an SUV from 10 feet, you gotta be drunk.
ultraclyde wrote:
"10 feet away" + "3 of 5 shots hit the vehicle" = added charge of DUI. If you can't put 5 rounds in an SUV from 10 feet, you gotta be drunk.
That really should be the new sobriety test. 
Nah it is a better hit average than most cops 
J308
Reader
4/23/12 8:14 p.m.
Rat-tat-tat-tat late at night wit my gat!
jimbob_racing wrote:
He should have approached from behind with five gallons of gasoline and a road flare.
I'll let you in on a little secret. Cameras are everywhere.
Flowing mane? Not exactly.
Regardless, that video is simply awesome! 
My local police department sometimes deploys dummy cruisers to speeding areas to try and get people to slow down. They are easy to spot because they are older, retired Crown Vics with the big non-LED lightbars and have a towing tongue attached to the front.
http://www.eagletribune.com/local/x1876443621/Dummy-cruisers-give-police-an-extra-edge/
However, AFAIK, they do not have cameras in them... yet.
Ive seen dummy cruisers too with actual dummies in the drivers side dressed in uniform... not kidding.
gamby
PowerDork
4/24/12 12:07 a.m.
...so no one else finds the "literal loose cannon of a batE36 M3 insane wacko with a gun" factor of this a bit unsettling???
Fortunately it was unmanned. This one in Phoenix a few years ago got an operator killed. Dude shooting thought it was unmanned. http://www.naztoday.com/news/arizona/2009/04/phoenix-man-indicted-in-speed-camera-shooting/
I kinda like the burning tire over the fixed camera like in the UK. We also had Santa come out in Tempe and gift wrap our speed cameras (currently outlawed) a few years back. That was cool. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T43LtGNFLPw
Jay_W
Dork
4/24/12 8:32 a.m.
Nope, not at all. I find it more idisturbing that big brother thinks it's OK to use rolling robots to confiscate wealth.
Normally I side with the police in just about everything, they have a tough job that I couldn't be paid enough to do. Cameras for crowd control, yeah I can understand that, recently an arson down here was solved partially because the perp was caught on camera flinging a Molotov cocktail into a restaraunt. But that does not extend to traffic speed cameras which are nothing more than revenue enhancers.
The guy shooting the camera; I can understand the frustration which led to it. But that doesn't mean he was right to go shooting up the thing and it certainly does not excuse shooting at something which he could not be 100% positive was unmanned.
driver109x wrote:
Ive seen dummy cruisers too with actual dummies in the drivers side dressed in uniform... not kidding.
Yeah! Saw this for the first time when I drove up to SLO to pick up some wheels. Tripped me out for sure.
CLNSC3
Reader
4/24/12 11:24 a.m.
We have lots of speed radar vans, manned by old retired cops here...also red light cams. Oh so fun...
gamby wrote:
...so no one else finds the "literal loose cannon of a batE36 M3 insane wacko with a gun" factor of this a bit unsettling???
I did as well, glad you said it first
Yeah he didn't hurt anyone but you have to wonder about a guy who uses his gun like a cartoon gangster...
Looked like he had a hard time holding onto the gun after every shot.
IF I could get away with it I would blow every single camera/unmaned radar unit away. And then when they brought them back I would do it again.
Because antisocial
ultraclyde wrote:
"10 feet away" + "3 of 5 shots hit the vehicle" = added charge of DUI. If you can't put 5 rounds in an SUV from 10 feet, you gotta be drunk.
Nah. You probably passed the police sharpshooter test...
N Sperlo wrote:
jimbob_racing wrote:
He should have approached from behind with five gallons of gasoline and a road flare.
I'll let you in on a little secret. *Cameras are everywhere.*
yes.. but gasoline probably would have destroyed them all
