PHOENIX -- The speed camera on southbound State Route 51 at Bethany Home Road was vandalized Thursday during the evening rush hour, according to the Department of Public Safety.

DPS reported getting calls from motorists about 5:40 p.m. of someone taking a sledge hammer to the unit.

The flash unit was dented, and the outer case of the camera unit was also damaged, DPS reported.

Many residents in the area had similar reactions upon hearing about the incident.

"I totally disagree with photo radar. I don't like it but there's other ways to go about it," said Mike Munson, a Valley resident.

"I think people are angry about cameras already. I'm not surprised with how people are in this state, but I don't think they should act out by doing that," said Natalie Evans.

DPS said Redflex, which operates the speed cameras, needs to get inside the unit and see if the camera itself was damaged. If it is, they could be looking at up to $6,000 in damage.

The speed camera at SR 51 and Bethany Home Road catches the most speeders of all the stationary speed cameras, according to DPS. Officers said it was back up and running within a few hours.

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