Completely unannounced RMS has removed a speed camera from the highway at Hartley, just east of the Jenolan Caves Road intersection.

Over the years the camera has seen demerit points diminish for unwary motorists from across the region and for truckies keeping up speed to tackle River Lett Hill.

It has frequently been criticised as a speed trap and even more so during nearby roadworks where the speed limit has been fluctuating.

In recent days the camera disappeared from beside the highway.

So too did the advance warning signs.

The changing scene took place without public announcement and those commuters who have noticed the departure are wondering whether it’s a temporary reprieve or permanent.

An RMS spokesperson confirmed that the roadworks were the cause of the removal, however was unsure how long the removal would last.

The Hartley speed camera has become well known to regulars and is far from the busiest location in the RMS network.

Revenue has fallen but even so in the first seven months of the current financial year 871 careless motorists contributed almost $190,000 to the cause which was well down on the previous year..

But that was petty cash compared to the now notorious speed trap at the top of Victoria Pass that in just eight months since being commissioned raked in more than $4.8 million.

More than 24000 motorists found themselves on not so candid camera during that time, the majority of them west bound.

Those that found themselves in the Lithgow Local Court lists have also been hit with substantial RMS ‘legal costs’.

FOOTNOTE: The speed limit on Victoria Pass is 60 kilometres an hour, regarded by many as an urban crawl on an open road that is claimed to contribute to the speed camera haul.

The upside is that the accident rate on The Pass in that time has dropped significantly.