Speed Radar Operator Shot in Phoenix

Motorists in Arizona are not big fans of automated systems designed to spot violations and assessing fines. Awhile back I had the story of the guy who took it upon himself to use a Sharpie to change his license number and fool the speed radar cameras in Scottsdale, and the guys who dressed up as Santa and tore down speed cameras in Tempe. However, this story takes the rage to a whole new level:

PHOENIX - Phoenix police arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting of a man who was operating a state police photo radar unit that was parked on a north Phoenix freeway to catch speeders, police said Monday.

The suspect was being questioned Monday morning, Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Andy Hill said in a news release. Police said more information would be released at a briefing later in the day.

The victim, 51-year-old Doug Georgianni, was shot just before 9 p.m. Sunday on the Loop 101 freeway and 7th Avenue.

Video equipment on the photo enforcement SUV, which is marked as an Arizona Department of Public Safety vehicle, showed a vehicle that was believed to have been used during the shooting. The driver of that vehicle was described as a man who appears to be in his 60s and has white hair and a white mustache.

Georgianni had worked for three months for RedFlex Traffic Systems Inc. The company has a contract with DPS to operate photo enforcement vehicles and fixed cameras on state highways.

When he was shot, Georgianni was inside the Ford Escape and monitoring data collection, the DPS said.

Clearly shooting at anything in anger is totally unacceptable, but I wonder if when they find this guy he'll say he didn't know anybody was in the car? I'll bet his excuse was he shot at the car to disable the device but didn't mean to hurt anybody.

I wouldn't be surprised if some alcohol was involved too.