DRIVERS have been warned that an angry reaction while passing a speed camera could see you slapped with a fine.
Experts from Staffordshire Police shared a video to remind motorists that they look out for a range of road offences, not just speeding.
A camera operator from the force, who works out of a mobile monitoring van, explained how something as simple as making a rude gesture towards a camera can land you in hot water.
They told Staffordshire Live: "If the vehicle is speeding over the speed limit, [the camera] will record it.
"If it isn't speeding it will just delete it straight away."
However, the operator can press a button to manually record any other violations they spot.
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They added: "That will put a marker on the recording.
"When the machine goes back to the office they will take the card out of the machine, put it into the computer system and the computer system will realise there's an offence other than speeding.
"That could be mobile phones, not wearing your seatbelt, making rude gestures to the camera. It could be things like dangerous parts which could cause harm."
Swearing at cameras through rude gestures can cause you to fall foul of a number of road laws.
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For example, taking a hand off the wheel to make a rude sign or looking at the camera rather than the road while you do it could see you slapped with a penalty for driving without due care and attention.
Indeed, 44-year-old Ben Baron from Clayton-le-Moors, Lancashire, was fined after sticking his middle fingers up at a camera in 2021.
While the amount was not disclosed, he was accused of not being in control of his vehicle, which can carry a penalty of 3 points and up to £1,000.
Driving without due care and attention sees a maximum penalty of a £5,000 fine and nine licence points, with a ban at the discretion of the judge.
While the Highway Code does not create a legal requirement to always drive with two hands on the wheel, as drivers may remove one to gear change and so on, not having a valid reason for driving with one or no hands could see you fall foul of the police.
It comes hybrid drivers were warned about a little-known part which could cost thousands if not serviced properly.
Meanwhile, an anti-ULEZ "Blade Runner" was filmed destroying monitoring cameras with a homemade gadget in an act of vigilante war against the policy.
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