Boss, grab a beer and sit down, because I've got news that'll make you realize scamming never dies! A guy from Sweden, a true artist of evasion, was caught by radar 89 times in four years and got off scot-free. Now, check out what he came up with: he hid his face with his hand, a piece of paper, the sun visor, or even a parking permit. The cameras snap him, but can't identify him. And no joke: on May 18 last year, three fixed cameras caught him in 22 minutes - once doing 102 km/h in an 80 zone, another time holding his phone. The cars were registered to a company, but that didn't prove who was driving.
Now, how did they catch him? Investigators compared the radar photos with images from a news article after a market brawl and his passport picture. They looked at his neck, mouth, tip of his nose. The guy denied it, saying "We all have a neck," but the phone in the photos looked like his. In the end, prosecutors only went with 12 cases - 11 for speeding and one for alcohol - because the rest wouldn't bring a bigger sentence. The court in Halmstad fined him 10,000 kronor (about 920 euros) and suspended his license. Slick, but caught.
Here in Romania, the e-SIGUR system is a different story. We have 700 devices placed in high-risk areas nationwide. When the radar catches you, the fine goes straight to the car owner's home. You, as the owner, are obligated to say who was driving. If you lie, like "I don't know, bro, maybe it was my cousin," you risk a criminal case for false statements - 6 months to 2 years in prison or a fine. Our cameras film in high quality, so you can't really get away with "that's just my face."
Now, honestly, this Swede is a genius of scamming. 89 times, four years, no fine! Here, if you try to hide, even your neighbor from the block will see you. I look at my 2008 BMW and think: if Mioara gets a fine, she'll kill me. She's the queen of coupons, not speed. But don't worry, the e-SIGUR system is made to catch us all. So, if you've got guts, better drive legally, because false statements will land you in the slammer. I'm off to call Fane to see if we're having a barbecue, 'cause I'm not touching 920 euros, but maybe a pair of Bermuda shorts.
