GLENDALE, Ariz. -- A Glendale man is arrested on suspicion of vandalizing a stationary photo enforcement camera site by striking it with a pick ax.

WATCH: DPS Speed Camera Target Of Pick Ax Attack

An Arizona Department of Public Safety officer arrested Travis Townsend, 26, of Glendale, for allegedly vandalizing the camera on the Loop 101 at 59th Avenue in Glendale.

Townsend was booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail in Phoenix on the charges of criminal damage, interference with a traffic control device and criminal trespass.

Townsend could face up to three years imprisonment and a fine of up to $150,000 for the criminal damage charge.

For the interference with a traffic control device charge, Townsend could spend up to six months in jail and pay a fine of up to $2,500.

For criminal trespassing, Townsend could face up to 30 days in jail and fine of up to $500. Townsend may also be charged for retribution for the damaged protective case, and labor involved with the repair and replacement of the case.

Events leading to his arrest began on Wednesday at about 11:42 p.m. when a DPS motorcycle officer who was parked underneath the westbound side of the 59th Avenue overpass on the Loop 101 heard some very loud banging noises, DPS said.

The officer then observed a man wielding a large pick ax and swinging it very hard at the stationary photo enforcement camera site, DPS said. The suspect struck the metallic and glass housing that protects the photo enforcement camera equipment at the site with his large pick ax at least six times, DPS said.

The small puncture marks the man inflicted on the camera's protective housing had no impact on the integrity of the camera system inside, DPS said. A new protective housing was installed at this camera site following the incident, however, resulting in several thousand dollars in damages tied to the suspect's actions. The site was back in full operation Thursday at about 11 a.m.

"Any type of tampering with a photo enforcement site can result in extremely serious, life-changing charges being filed against a person," said DPS Director Roger Vanderpool. "From criminal damage charges to charges related to interfering with judicial proceedings that can carry lengthy jail terms and hefty fines, the ramifications a person could face for tampering with a photo enforcement site are extremely serious."

Earlier this week, DPS said its new speed camera enforcement has resulted in more than 40,000 drivers being issued tickets in the first two months.

The DPS said Tuesday that the new photo-enforcement cameras placed along Phoenix freeways or mounted on vehicles parking along highways have been activated 166,176 times between the program's launch on Sept. 26 and Sunday.

Those activation's resulted in 40,401 pre-citation notices being mailed to registered owners of vehicles, the agency said.

A DPS spokesman said the biggest reason for the big disparity between the activation and ticket figures is that contractor and DPS personnel rejected many photos because they didn't clearly show drivers or license plates.

"There's a lot of adjustments that need to be done to the cameras" to get clear pictures, said Lt. James Warriner. "We expected this. This is a brand-new program."

Said Warriner: "If we have any doubt ... we're erring on the public's side."

The program will eventually use 100 fixed and mobile units across Arizona.

Rollout began in the Phoenix area but deployment of mobile units to all 15 patrol districts across the state was completed last week, Warriner said.

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