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Smiley-faced road sign tipping off police about speeding drivers

The smiley-faced Sam road sign, which warns Brisbane drivers to slow down, is also being used to tip-off police, according to a council.

Brisbane City Council admits some of the hotspots are shared with police.

Council Infrastructure Chair Amanda Cooper said while the speed awareness monitors are there to encourage drivers to do the right thing, the data is also collected by local councillors and “some provide them to police”.

RACQ’s Steve Spalding said the information “can help police make an informed decision whether they need to monitor or enforce speeds”.

The smiley-faced Sam road sign, which warns Brisbane drivers to slow down, is also being used to tip-off police, according to council. Source: 7 News
The smiley-faced Sam road sign, which warns Brisbane drivers to slow down, is also being used to tip-off police, according to council. Source: 7 News

The signs are moved between suburbs too.

Queensland Police wouldn’t comment on whether it uses the data to set speed cameras up.

But Seven News’s cameras spotted a radar van at Lambert Street, Indooroopilly on Thursday, two weeks after a Sam sign was removed.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said authorities “use the latest information, the latest resources to place its resources in the best possible place”.