WA Police have warned vigilantes who place signs informing motorists of upcoming speed cameras may be breaking local council by-laws.
The warning follows an increase in the signs cropping up on WA roads after Perth group Speed Camera Crusaders commissioned their first ever mass production run of the signs.
![The signs at work.](/web/20170420124657im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/n/m/w/s/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvnmy8.png/1492569220566.jpg)
Each sign costs the group $10 to produce and their first large-scale printing operation produced just over 45 signs.
The signs are available free of charge to any 'protester', but WA Police Sergeant Andrew Maher warned they may end up coming at a cost.
"The placement of signs on the roadside and verge may represent an offence under local by-laws but this is a matter for Local Government Authorities," he said.
"If the member of the public are not on the roadway and not obstructing public officers in their duty, there is no offence committed that is enforceable by Police.
"However, it is an offence to stand in front of cameras so that they cannot operate, or to park vehicles in front of them, so the cameras can't be used."
Under various WA Local Government by-laws, it can be an offence to park on verges and footpaths. A number of speed camera protesters park their vehicles in these locations in order to set up their signs, as standalone signage can be taken down.
In some local government districts it is also illegal to post signs with 'objectionable content' or without a license.
But a Speed Camera Crusaders spokesperson said the group was aiming to help police transparency, and promote a revision of road safety methods in WA.
"The purpose of the camera signs [is] to reach out for change in a peaceful manner," the spokesperson said.
"There is no reason the WA Police have to shy away from alerting motorists to roadside speed traps, we do this job for the WA Police.
"As residents we have the right to protest police decisions... we understand that the 'road safety' system is ineffective and requires revision."
Sergeant Maher said the placement of the signs was not an offence for the police to deal with. He said he hoped the WA public would continue to understand the importance of speed cameras.
"Speed cameras are an important part of the overall road safety strategy in WA and they will continue to be used," he said.
"The evidence shows that excessive speed is a factor in many fatal and serious crashes and the presence of speed cameras slows down vehicles on WA roads overall.
"It's been said many times before, but 100 per cent of the fines generated from speed camera offences are used to fund road safety programs."