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 Staffordshire Lollipops tackle crime
Lollipop men and women are starting to help tackle crime. A new initiative is being brought in by Staffordshire County Council to help try to catch offenders that drive too fast around schools, putting children’s lives at risk.
Lollipop men and women are to be armed with hidden cameras to catch aggressive and dangerous drivers.
Hi-tech lollipop crossing sticks will be used to film incidents where motorists refuse to stop for children, shout abuse or intimidate patrol staff.
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The footage will be stored on memory cards and handed to police to pursue and punish motorists.
The sticks will be used in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire from April 20, although exact locations have not been revealed.
Last year, school crossing patrols reported more than 50 cases of cars failing to stop, putting children’s lives at risk. But only one motorist was prosecuted because of a lack of evidence.
The cameras, mounted at the top of the lollipop sticks, just below the sign, are capable of recording incidents and the number plates of the vehicles involved. At least two of them will be used at crossings in Stoke-on-Trent.
Joy Whiston, aged 55, a warden at St Gregory’s Primary School in Longton, said: “Most of the drivers are fine, but you get a few who just don’t want to stop and will shout and swear at you. In the past I’ve had a taxi driver threaten to run me over if I didn’t get out of his way.”
A lollipop stop sign has the same legal power as a red traffic light. Failure to take notice can result in a £1,000 fine and a three-point penalty.
Similar schemes operate elsewhere in the country. The sticks cost £900.
source: The Sentinel, 30 March 2009
to be armed with … – felfegyverkezve lenni vmivel
stick – bot
to refuse to do sth – megtagad vmit csinálni/visszautasítja, hogy csináljon vmit
to intimidate sb – megfélemlíteni vkit
patrol – jár?r
footage – filmfelvétel, filmszalag
to be stored – tárolva van
to pursue – folytat, ?z, üldöz
to punish – megbüntet
motorist – járm?vezet?
to reveal – felfed
to put sb’s life at risk – veszélyezteti vkinek az életét
to prosecute – beperel, feljelent
lack of evidence – bizonyíték hiánya
number plate – rendszám
to swear at sb – káromkodást szórni vkire
to threaten – fenyeget
to run sb over – elütni vkit/elgázolni vkit
fine – (pénz) büntetés
penalty – büntetés
scheme – tervezet, elképzelés
What’s the difference between the regular lollipop sticks and the stick Debbie Mackay is using?The stick , the lollipop lady Debby Mackay is using, has a camera fitted into it.
Why has the Staffordshire County Council decided to use this new kind of stick?
Because people failed to stop at school crossings. With the use of this camera-equipped stick they’ll be able to catch drivers who speed around school areas at drop-off and pick-up time.
How long has Debbie Mackay been working as a lollipop lady?
She’s been doing the job for 20 years.
How long will the trial period be?
The trial period will finish in the middle of July. During this period the Council can monitor its success.
How many sticks are in operation during the trial period?
5 sticks are in operation during the trial period.
LECKE Indítása
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