Drivers at war with a radar that gives 8,000 fines a month. The device was vandalized for the third time
A radar placed on one of the busiest thoroughfares in Warsaw was vandalized for the third time in less than a year, after about 8,000 monthly fines were issued because of it.
The radar that generated approximately 8,000 monthly fines. PHOTO: brd24
A radar device installed on Aleja Jerozolimskie Boulevard in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, was vandalized for the third time in less than a year. The device, which has already become the symbol of the discontent of the sanctioned drivers, lasted only 11 days this time after the last reinstallation, according to the information published by brd24.
The radar was initially installed in November 2024, with the aim of monitoring compliance with the legal speed limit of 50 km/h in the city. In just one month of operation, the device recorded approximately 8,000 speeding violations, generating a similar number of fines, which angered many drivers, quickly becoming the target of repeated acts of vandalism.
The first act of vandalism took place in February 2025, when the damage was estimated at 30,000 zlotys, which is more than 7,000 euros. After being repaired and reinstalled, the radar was damaged again in April, this time being “attacked” with an axe.
The device was repaired after the ax attack. PHOTO: brd24
The incident was caught on camera, but the perpetrator was not identified, and the repair costs rose to 50,000 zlotys, the equivalent of over €11,000.
In an attempt to prevent further destruction, authorities reinstalled the TraffiStar SR390 radar on December 23, 2025, equipping it with a 24/7 video surveillance system. However, on January 3, 2026, the device was damaged again, this time being splashed with paint.
The head of the Center for Automatic Surveillance of Road Traffic (CANARD), Marek Konkolewski, said that the area is being monitored and that the authorities will analyze the images captured by the surveillance cameras.
“There's a surveillance camera next to the device, so we'll see what it recorded. And if there's evidence of vandalism, we'll hand the recording over to the police so they can identify the perpetrator.” said Marek Konkolewski, the head of CANARD, stressing that the authorities do not intend to abandon the use of the radar, despite repeated acts of vandalism, and that the device will be put back into service.
“We'll have the money for the repairs because the device is insured. So I'm clear: we're going to install the speed camera for the fourth time. The fact that it's been destroyed three times already means to me that this device makes sense and that it's bothering someone who has to drive there according to the law. The radar will come back and continue to work to improve road safety at this location.” he concluded.
