Hands up if you don’t mind getting a speeding ticket.

Exactly. No one likes being dinged for exceeding the limit on our roads and highways.

And when it comes to automated, unmanned speed cameras, “hate” might not be too strong a word to describe many people’s feelings.

It seems that many residents really, really detest the concept: blow past a speed camera and get a nasty surprise in the mail a few weeks later — a sizable fine.

Because the cameras don’t identify the person who is driving at the time of the offence, no demerit points are accumulated. That’s about the only good news in the whole process. The vehicle’s registered owner receives the fine.

It’s a bit of modern tough love.

Over the past year or so, Niagara Region has gone all-in on the idea and is expanding its use of speed cameras in areas where authorities want people to slow down. Notably near schools.

And by the way, anecdotally at least, it appears that the vast majority of those who exceed speed limits all across the community are not visitors and tourists. They’re driving slowly, soaking it all in.

The culprits are your friends and neighbours, the folks who should know better.

The whole speed camera concept rubs many people the wrong way, apparently, because, since the program began, numerous cameras have been cut down around the region by vigilantes seeking some twisted form of justice.

And last week some people celebrated the vandals who cut down the camera set up near Crossroads Public School in Virgil.

“It’s just a cash grab,” is the common refrain.

Well, yes.

It certainly IS a cash grab. But so what?

Take responsibility for your actions: it might hurt financially, but the wisdom of obeying the speed limit near a school (whether kids are present or if it’s late at night) seems like something right out of Driver Ed 101.

In other words, don’t do it. And if you do — and Big Brother catches you — suck it up, pay the fine and be better.

Besides, it’s not as if warning signs and numerous in-car navigation apps don’t warn you about the speed trap.

The fines incurred are an unpleasant, often unexpected (and pricey) intrusion.

To paraphrase the legendary actor John Houseman, those who have been dinged achieved it the old-fashioned way. They earned it.

And those who embrace the hillbilly ideal of vigilante justice by chopping down or damaging speed cameras should be vilified instead of praised.

Their actions are irresponsible, their “successes” short lived (and just cost us all).

As for the Virgil speed camera — it’s ba-a-a-ack.

Drive carefully.