His majesty, the speed radar!

This morning, while accompanying my daughters to school, I noticed a new glorious temporary installation: his majesty, the speed radar!

“It” was proudly watching the internal street of our village, to check any possible car driving faster than 30 km/h! Right decision: no car will put small children in danger any longer.

Call “it” as you wish, but as a matter of fact, the horrendous radar / speed trap / camera / big red eye is a real institution in the Confederation! Exactly like chocolate, watch, bank, cheese fondue and mountain.

And “it” is also a great money collector for the public administration, whenever some car falls under its claws.

I was so impressed and frightened by this steel policeman, that I almost wanted to modestly introduce myself to “it” and, bowing, already leave “it” a small monetary contribution…

Scary!

2016-09-22-16-19-30Introduction:
A flyer was spread in front of the school of a neighbouring village by the school director.
Two men driving a white van tried to “invite” a boy on their van and bring him home…
For sure accepting that invitation would have been very dangerous!
Fortunately the boy shouted and run away.

Development:
All the parents of the surrounding villages (including us) received somehow the flyer…it started circulating in a very fast way.
Everyone was worried.

Calling the law:
The police was informed by the school of their initiative of distributing such flyer.

Reaction of the police:
As reported by the Aargauer Zeitung (http://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/aargau/zurzach/wollten-zwei-maenner-einen-buben-entfuehren-kantonspolizei-aargau-warnt-vor-hysterie-130589868), the main newspaper of Canton Argovia), the official speaker of the Kantonspolizei Aargau stated that it is important to report such cases to the parents, school and finally to the police, BUT there is no need to become too fearful!
In fact:
– every year 60-80 similar events occur…
– in the last 20 years no kid was kidnapped in the Canton…
– once a girl simulated a similar event not to go to school…
– often people with mental problems (not necessarily dangerous) are approaching the kids in that way…

Moral:
“BUT it is not necessary to become too fearful”.
What?
As you see… there is something Swiss… something skeptical in all of this, isn’t it?
How would have the police reacted in your country? What would have the police done in your country?

In this case there should be no BUT!
That sense of confidence that let Swiss think that, just because we are in the Confederation, nothing bad can happen…
This is quite SCARY!