London-based entrepreneur Shed Simove with his newest novelty invention: an inflatable speed camera
A novelty toy inventor who designed an inflatable fake speed camera has been warned he could be jailed for seven years if his gadget causes car crashes.
Wacky entrepreneur Shed Simove is known for his gimmicks, including his bestselling book ‘What Every Man Thinks About Apart From Sex’ – consisting of 200 blank pages.
But the London-based former Big Brother producer has been told his latest curious creation could land him in trouble with the law.
Mr Simove commissioned a factory in China to manufacture his joke speed camera, dubbed the FAKESO, and planned to sell them in stores for £30 each.
Now officers have warned him he could fall foul of the Road Traffic Act 1988 if his blow-up yellow devices distract drivers and cause accidents.
When fixed to a drainpipe the bogus cameras look surprisingly realistic – but they could prove hazardous if motorists start taking notice of them rather than the road.
Mr Simove had thought they would appeal to drivers with a sense of humour and anyone trying to get cars to slow down outside their home.
But his plans to start selling the novelty item have now been put on hold and he is waiting for legal advice on whether he can press ahead.
One of the fake speed cameras, priced at £30, which can be fixed to the top of a drainpipe
‘I’m gutted. I really thought I’d created a product that could help everyone by reducing speeding on Britain’s roads,’ he said.
‘With my product, anyone can quickly construct their own fully mobile speed camera and reduce incidents of speeding in minutes.
Mr Simove dubbed his new invention the FAKESO. He is now getting legal advice on whether he can safely sell the cameras
‘I just want to encourage safe driving. The last thing I want is to cause an accident.
‘I was flabbergasted when the police told me I could face seven years in the clink for this.’
In an email to Mr Simove, police officers wrote: ‘Although it is not illegal per se to put up pretend speed cameras, the police do not endorse them.
‘Depending on where they were erected, there could be an offence contrary to section 22A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Causing danger to road users) – this carries a maximum of seven years in prison.
‘Additionally, if an accident were to occur as a result of the fake camera, those responsible could find themselves being sued by the victims.
‘Finally, putting up such a camera may breach planning legislation and so the local council may take action.’
Can you erect fake speed cameras?
It is not illegal to set up a fake speed camera.
If the device is erected on private land after obtaining the landowner’s permission and does not affect road users then there should be no issue.
However, you could be prosecuted for breaching section 22A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Causing danger to road-users), which carries a seven-year prison sentence, if the device is imposing or hazardous.
If the device contributes to an accident, the person who put it up could be sued by the victims of the crash.
The fake camera could also violate planning legislation depending on where it is placed. The local council may take action if there is a breach.
Source: Legislation.gov.uk
Mr Simove is not the first person to try to fool motorists with fake speed cameras.
In 2015 a man from Shropshire made a bogus device from an old microwave box, which he painted yellow and adorned with black sticky tape.
He wanted to get motorists on his local B road to stick to the 30mph limit.
Earlier this year fed up homeowners from Worcestershire and Berkshire fashioned similar bogus cameras.
Some of the bizarre materials they used to make them included a deodorant lid and a beer mat.
And it’s not just speed cameras that are being employed to get drivers to slow down.
In 2012 residents of a Northumberland village positioned a scarecrow by the roadside to deter speeding motorists.
It was dressed as a policeman and had former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson’s face strapped to it.