In Italy, as in other parts of the world, speed cameras aren’t particularly popular with the public, and some residents are taking action. Moving under the cover of darkness, a character named Fleximan is cutting down the traffic control devices and becoming a folk hero in the process.
Fleximan is named after the preferred tool for felling speed cameras, an angle grinder, which is known as a flessibile in Italian. However, that’s not the only tool being used to incapacitate them. Some have also been blown up, shot at, or even taken down with farm equipment.
The variety of weapons appears to be a reflection of the fact that there isn’t a single “Fleximan.” Instead, anonymous people throughout northern Italy appear to be using (or receiving) the name as they cut down cameras in their region.
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And they’re becoming popular. Posters have popped up around Italy celebrating Fleximan, and people on social media have been creating comic book style art in the form of super heroes celebrating the character. But he has also attracted the attention of the police, and they’re taking the character very seriously.
The crimes are deemed significant enough that a paramilitary arm of the Carabinieri police, which typically focuses on pursuing mafia members and terrorists, has taken charge of the Fleximan case. And they have already achieved some success.
In the region of Verbano, a 50-year-old construction worker with no wife or children has been arrested in connection with cutting down a speed camera, reports Corriere Della Sera. Police are hailing him as the first Felximan to go down. And they say they’re after more.
Their secret weapon lies in their meticulous approach. By utilizing footage from thousands of surveillance cameras, collecting license plate information, and intensifying patrols, they are confident that they can apprehend these Fleximen by thoroughly analyzing every piece of available evidence.
Grande #Fleximan, cavaliere senza macchia e senza paura. #Fleximan uno di noi pic.twitter.com/gDPJ4pNnIv
— André Bellegarde (@Gingio5) January 19, 2024
Just like the police, these vigilantes have also been successful in their own way. Although traffic-related deaths remain a serious problem in Italy — The Times reports that, on average, around eight people die and 600 are injured in car accidents every day — some officials, including the mayors in some of the towns that have been hit, say they are listening to the cheers that are being directed towards the Fleximen.
“These people are delinquents but we need to listen to the standing ovation they are getting — speed cameras are instruments of repression,” said Antonella Argenti, the mayor of Villa del Conte, where one Fleximan is believed to be operating.
Flexy se ci leggi stai accorto, non farti beccare, sii come Batman. #flexman #fleximan #autovelox #radar #multa #multe #Italia #italy pic.twitter.com/OaW83rrXCT
— Flavia Nigra 🇮🇹 🇧🇷 🇦🇷 (@Flavia_Nigra) January 17, 2024