In North Yorkshire, England, a man was sentenced to suspended sentence for installing a device on his car to interfere with police speed cameras. Ben Kitto, 41, who lives in Scarborough, was found on the A64 in North Yorkshire in June last year when he used a laser signal jammer to avoid police speed cameras. Kitto pleaded guilty at York Crown Court to speeding and perverting the course of justice. The court sentenced him to two months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and fined him £2,200, and also required him to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service. In addition, his driving license was deducted 5 points.
Judge's sentencing process
- In sentencing, Judge Andrew Stubbs QC stressed that if it were not for Kitto's "good conduct" in daily life, he should have faced actual jail time. Judge Stubbs pointed out that Kitto had raised a lot of money for local charities in the past, which won him some sympathy. But the judge still severely criticized his disregard for the law, saying that the behavior of speeding drivers is extremely dangerous.
- The judge said bluntly in court: "It seems that speed limits are just a nuisance to you." He continued to criticize Kitto, believing that because of his "arrogance", he installed a variety of devices on his car, including legal and illegal devices, in order to evade legal sanctions.
High-tech signal jammer becomes an evasion tool
- According to police investigation, this jammer blocker was installed under the front license plate of Kitto's BMW. Its main function is to interfere with the police speed camera by emitting laser signals, making it unable to accurately record the vehicle's speed. Police said that when he was driving his BMW on the A64 road from Malton to York, the surveillance showed that his speed was between 81.9 and 91 miles per hour (about 131 to 146 kilometers per hour), significantly exceeding the legal speed limit.
- The police later retrieved the surveillance video on the road and found that Kitto's vehicle was equipped with laser signal jammers, so they launched further investigations. Kitto was eventually arrested by the police at his residence. It is reported that installing similar jammer devices is illegal and is an act of intentional interference with justice. Although these devices are not difficult to buy on the market, once discovered by the police, the driver will face severe legal penalties.
From philanthropist to court defendant
Kitto originally enjoyed a good reputation in the community. He had raised funds for charities in Scarborough many times in the past and accumulated considerable donations. But this time, his attempt to evade a speeding ticket completely destroyed his accumulated good reputation. Judge Stubbs acknowledged that Kitto's charity work earned him some leniency at the trial, but it was not enough to completely offset the illegal acts he committed.
It is reported that such signal jammer devices are illegal to use in the UK. Although some devices can be used legally for protective purposes, it is illegal to install them on vehicles to interfere with speed measurement systems. Law enforcement agencies remind drivers that using such devices will not only result in fines, but may also face criminal charges.
With the advancement of traffic technology, technology is bringing more convenience to drivers while also causing new violations. How to strike a balance between technology and law to ensure public safety will be an important challenge facing law enforcement agencies in the future. Kitto's case reminds us that complying with traffic laws is not only responsible for the safety of others, but also the best way to avoid legal trouble.
