Driver Who Gave the Finger to Speed Camera Faces Jail

A French motorist is facing a high price for a moment of passion, having been caught flipping off a speeding camera as he drove past.

Officials at the public prosecutor's office were outraged when they looked back at the images taken of the speeding driver in May 2015, Le Parisien reported. Public prosecutors are requesting a sentence of up to four months in prison on top of speeding fines, accusing the man of contempt of the public servants who had to view the photos.

The 46-year-old man had obscured his license plate using black tape so an investigation was required to identify him. When going back through his criminal history, prosecutors found that he had flipped off another speed camera in a separate case.

The driver claimed that the finger was aimed at his girlfriend's former partner, not the inanimate speeding camera. He said he was arguing with his girlfriend when the picture was taken, having been annoyed at a mention of her ex-boyfriend. The gesture was intended for the ex, the man said.

His lawyer requested that his client be acquitted, claiming that the court could not sentence anyone for flipping off a machine, a question that might re-emerge as human society shifts towards autonomous technology.

Though he admitted that he was speeding and agreed to pay the fines, the man said he was not responsible for the obscured plates. Instead, he blamed a friend to whom he had lent the vehicle the day before.

According to Le Progrès, the public prosecutor also requested a three-month jail term for another separate driving offense; driving under the influence of alcohol. The court will decide the fate of the serial offender on April 3.

In France, new drivers start with 12 points on their license. Between 1 and 6 points can be deducted for each offense that a driver is convicted of. When all the points are gone, so does the person's right to drive.

This man might have to continue his speed camera crusade from the passenger seat.