Drivers baffled as ‘dozens of speeding fines’ issued by ‘invisible’ camera

Drivers have been left baffled and confused after “dozens of speeding fines and letters” were sent out for a North Yorkshire[1] road with no speed camera in sight.

Motorists using the A687 road in Burton in Lonsdale say they have been slapped with speeding fines during the past few weeks – but did not see any van or camera in the area. This has lead to a massive group discussion on social media about what is going on in the small village.

David Bairstow said: “I’ve used that road every week for 20 years & never seen a speed camera in Burton.” However, one eagle-eyed driver said: “The van parked/parks on a private drive/generally parked up the side of a shed!

Read more Victoria Taylor missing live updates as ‘significant’ police update due at press conference[2]

“The tripod and ‘operator’ is stood off the road against a wall/hedge so can only be seen coming into Burton not driving out of Burton!

“He’s quite ‘strategically’ stood/placed.” Other residents were unsympathetic to those getting fines as they said those speeding ‘deserved it’.

Read more: North Yorkshire dad issues four words to inmates as he hugs mum after ‘mint’ early prison release[3]

But North Yorkshire Police said there has not been any cameras in the area recently. In fact, they confirmed the last time they were in the area was in June, when they caught 12 speeding drivers.

Eleven of them were sent on a speed awareness course. The other was given a conditional offer, which is an offence that cannot be dealt with by means of education.

According to What Car? There are 15 different versions of speed cameras. These include an average speed camera – which catches motorists who speed between two fixed points such as between the start and finish of roadworks – mobile speed cameras, which are set up in accident blackspots by local police, and ANPR cameras – Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras which can read and check your number plate.

Did you receive a fine after driving through Lonsdale? Get in touch to tell us about it.

Get all the latest and breaking North Yorkshire news straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter here.[4]