• Sweden edition
National

Gothenburg toll cameras hit in 'paintball' attack

Published: 19 Mar 13 11:36 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/46812/20130319/

In an apparent protest against Gothenburg's new congestion charges, local residents have sabotaged eleven of the city's toll-booth cameras in what is suspected to be a paintball attack.

The attack, which was carried out on Sunday night, left eleven of Gothenburg's toll cameras covered in yellow paint.

"They've been shot at with paint, probably from paintball guns," Eva Rosman, spokeswoman at the Swedish Transport Authority (Transportstyrelsen), told the Göteborgs-Posten (GP) newspaper.

Officials managed to clean four of the cameras immediately, but the other seven remained out of service for the rest of Monday.

The attack is not the first time the cameras have been subjected to vandalism.

"So far it's been individual stations now and then, but there have been six incidents since the cameras were introduced in January," Rosman told the paper.

Gothenburg residents upset by the fees have reacted especially to the locations of the cameras in the city, with many erected in residential areas.

The locations also helped explain why the suspected paintballers were able to get such close access to the cameras. In Stockholm, the congestion cameras installed in 2007 are mostly located on large roads and bridges.

The transport agency plans to report the matter to the police.

The system, aimed at financing infrastructure investments, reducing
greenhouse gases, and cutting traffic in the city centre by around 15 percent, includes 40 toll stations around the city.

Motorists entering and leaving the city on weekdays must pay between eight and 18 kronor (between $1 and $3) depending on the time of day, with an upper limit of 60 kronor a day.

TT/The Local/og
Follow The Local on Twitter

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

12:09 March 19, 2013 by Abe L
I'm glad some people are standing up to this nonsense, you don't solve congestion by imposing more taxes on citizens. Especially not on to those that already are among the highest taxed in Europe and globally.

You solve congestion by making public transportation a viable alternative, creating affordable housing closer to the workplace and by simply adding more road capacity.

Just adding another tax and leaning backwards as a city official so you can claim you're doing something about the problem doesn't help anyone at all.
12:29 March 19, 2013 by karex
Maybe in part the protest could be motivated by the fact that solving congestion is reallly not the motivation but finding a new way to get more money is?

If reducing congestion were the real motivation, they wouldn't hike up the cost of public transportation at the same time.

When the aim is to get more money by creating a new tax which directs residents to another way out: leave their cars at home and use public transport, you will loose that revenue, so you hit their pockets in the public transport area as well...
12:36 March 19, 2013 by Rishonim
@ Abe, exactly. A monthly SL pass cost close to 800.kr while in Paris, (RATP) ,the same is about 220.kr. No wonder people are getting frustrated with the government institutionalized extortion.
13:02 March 19, 2013 by RobinHood
Like so many good ideas, the Göteborg toll has been ruined by poor consultation, and rotten implementation.

If it collapses in chaos - and it might- the people responsible should be asked to make a contribution towards the wasted costs from their own pockets.
13:20 March 19, 2013 by Logic_and_Reason
Is public transportation in Gothenburg really public? Or is it privately owned?
13:45 March 19, 2013 by skogsbo
I've read in other places, that cities need to be the right shape, right road layout and have residential housing in the right place for some kind of congestion charge to work as it should. This one even charges people for the privilege of driving past it, or going up to the airport, plus even those heading to Liseberg which pretty much out of town are taxed too.
09:22 March 20, 2013 by matressmonkey
I've never seen a country more in need of a "low tax" political party. Why isn't there one? I'm not a citizen so I can't do it but between nonsense like this commuter tax and the TV/computer tax I bet it would be pretty easy to a minimum threshold of votes.
11:45 March 20, 2013 by robban70226
What a waste of time using paintbals, Use real bullets or high power ar rifles and use them as target practice, that is more effective!!!
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Unrest in Stockholm
Stockholm's not burning

Stockholm's not burning

With international media swooping on the Stockholm riots from every angle, The Local's Oliver Gee explains why Stockholm is not burning, and how the story has been blown out of proportion. READ () »

Unrest in Stockholm
Stockholm riots: causes and consequences

Stockholm riots: causes and consequences

After five nights of rioting throughout the outskirts of Stockholm, many in Sweden and elsewhere are trying to make sense of it all. The Local spoke to a mix of commentators and local politicians to get their views. READ () »

Swedish firms 'clueless' about foreign graduates

Swedish firms 'clueless' about foreign graduates

As white-collar union Saco slammed Sweden for not helping well-educated foreigners into the labour market, The Local spoke to researcher Josefin Edström about the disconnect between foreign professionals and Swedish employers. READ () »

Unrest in Stockholm
US and UK issue travel warnings for Sweden

US and UK issue travel warnings for Sweden

The UK Foreign Office has issued a travel warning for Sweden after arsonists tore through several Stockholm suburbs, while Americans have been warned to stay out of the affected areas by their embassy. READ () »

Unrest in Stockholm
Swedish riot police to call in reinforcements

Swedish riot police to call in reinforcements

With Swedish police set to call in reinforcements in an attempt to get the now five-day-old wave of arson and vandalism under control, Sweden's image abroad may have been tarnished. READ () »

Think You Know Sweden?
Quiz: 'A Swedish city with a pulse'

Quiz: 'A Swedish city with a pulse'

For this week's secret location picture gallery quiz, we head to a city that's among the top 20 in terms of population size. Can you guess which one it is in nine clues? READ () »

Princess Madeleine 'not nervous' about wedding

Princess Madeleine 'not nervous' about wedding

Sweden's Princess Madeleine is "less nervous than she thought" about her impending walk down the aisle at Stockholm's Storkyrkan church to wed US financier Chris O'Neill. READ () »

'Tired' Swedes have less sex than ever: study

'Tired' Swedes have less sex than ever: study

Swedes are having less sex than ever before, a new survey has revealed, and their libidos appear to have waned too, prompting researchers to warn that "desire disorders" may be keeping Swedes from getting intimate. READ () »

More National

 

RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
 

 

Highlights
DoToday
LIFESTYLE »
What's On:The Local's guide to upcoming attractions and events in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö
www.finest.se
GALLERY »
People-watching May 20-23
Erik Bloom
LIFESTYLE »
Stockholm's ten best-kept secrets - revealed
Fredrik Sanberg/Scanpix (File)
OPINION »
'The future of freedom on the internet is at stake'
Peter Håkansson/Swedish Fashion Council
SOCIETY »
Fashion prize turns Rookies into players
La Neta
LIFESTYLE »
My Swedish Career: We talk to the founder of Stockholm's favourite Mexican restaurant chain - La Neta
Leif R Jansson/Scanpix
NATIONAL »
Riot police 'resorted to racial slurs' in Husby
Scanpix
SPORT »
Sweden win ice hockey world champs at home
Scanpix
SPORT »
Swedes sweep top French football awards
fastighetsbyrån.se
GALLERY »
Property of the Week: Check out this funky three-room apartment on the Stockholm island of Södermalm
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Sweden win Ice Hockey World Championships. See the celebrations in Stockholm
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Youths burn 100 cars in north Stockholm riots
Finest.se scanpix.se
GALLERY »
People-watching: Nightlife, Ice Hockey Gold celebrations, the royal family... You name it, this week's gallery has it
WikiCommons
BUSINESS & MONEY »
Solna voted best place to live in Sweden
Scanpix
TRAVEL »
Quiz - Think You Know Sweden? This week we head to one of Sweden's ten biggest towns. But which one?
Scanpix
LIFESTYLE »
Eurovision host: 'Not everyone has to like me'
Scanpix
LIFESTYLE »
Denmark wins Eurovision 2013 in Malmö
Paul Hansen/World Press Photo
SOCIETY »
Award-winning Swedish photographer cleared of manipulation
Scanpix
NATIONAL »
A Congolese-Swedish pastor explains the roots to recent cases of parents exorcising demons from their children in Sweden
File photo: AP
NATIONAL »
H&M backs Bangladesh building safety accord
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Eurovision: second semi-final entries
Screenshot: American Apparel
SOCIETY »
Swedes slam American Apparel over 'sexist' ads
Hasse Holmberg/Scanpix (File)
BUSINESS & MONEY »
Housing crunch forces more young Swedes to live with mum and dad
Asif Akbar/sxc.hu (File)
OPINION »
'Not all discrimination in Sweden is racism'
Lana Wimmer
GALLERY »
Hidden Stockholm Gems: Ulriksdal's Palace
Sex in Sweden: condoms optional - study
SOCIETY »
Sex in Sweden: condoms optional - study
AP (File)
POLITICS »
Russia 'lacks capacity' to attack Sweden: Reinfeldt
fastighetsbyrån.se
GALLERY »
Property of the Week: This week, we're looking inside a home from the 1700s just west of Stockholm. Complete with two cannons.
Scanpix (File)
OPINION »
JobTalk: Top ten tips for earning a higher salary in Sweden
Eddie Gee
LIFESTYLE »
Check out the back catalogue of all The Local's Swedes of the Week
Photo: The Local
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Stockholm International School - what’s in IT for students?

 

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »


Blog Update: The Swedish Teacher

19 March 19:24

“Örngott”, “luttanpluttan” and “chokladglass” »

"Hej! How is your Swedish coming along? I have received many questions on the Facebook page and in my email lately and it seems like a good idea to post the answers here. Enjoy! Question 1 – “får inte” or “måste inte” Could you please clarify for me which is the most commonly used phrase in Swedish for..." READ »

Holiday Luxury Villa in Portugal
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE