DPS investigating fourth case of speed camera vandalism

Another case of vandalism of a photo enforcement camera is under investigation by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Redflex, the company that operates the cameras, reported Tuesday morning that someone had stuck several Post-it notes on the front of a camera on the eastbound U.S. 60, near Alma School Road.

"We quickly removed them and put the camera back in action," said DPS spokesman Bart Graves, adding, "If we make an arrest on this, we will be recommending charges of hindering prosecution and damaging public property. We will be working with the county attorney of these cases."

No messages were on the Post-it notes, stuck to the camera. Graves said investigators believe the camera was out of use "maybe an hour or a couple of hours."

This is the fourth case of vandalism in a month on the controversial photo enforcement cameras, the use of which has been expanded around Arizona in the past few months.

The latest vandalized camera had been activated only recently, Graves said.

"We notified the media we were activating those cameras last week, but they had been built and were in place for a long time. Drivers just didn't know that they weren't working. Once that media story hit, sure enough, we have this. So you can probably add that all up."

DPS is keeping a closer watch on the cameras, Graves said.

"In a lot of the areas of metro Phoenix, where you have stationary cameras, our officers are making sure they're patrolling in those areas, primarily looking to see any unusual activities, so this has been stepped up and we're doing our own policing."