After a Tennessee police department let its website expire, the site was snatched up by a new owner - A man who uses it to gripe about traffic cameras that issue speeding tickets.

Computer network designer Brian McCrary says he discovered the Bluff City Police Department site was up for grabs, so he paid domain provider Go Daddy for the rights to http:// www.bluffcitypd.com

McCrary, who says he received a $90 speeding citation earlier this year, took over the site on May 22.

The former police site now shows a cartoon character shaped like a police badge holding cash in one hand. And it's devoted to news about the speed surveillance cameras, pending legislation news, and testimonials from the people who loathe speed cameras.

In fact, when news of what McCrary did spread, his site began getting messages of support from around the world and he became a celebrity, a "new age revolutionary."

"Mountain Ranch, CA, salutes you!" one message said. "Dude, you're a hero. You've brought attention to what many of us thankfully aren't burdened with elsewhere."

A man from Austin, Texas, wrote: "Whatever you do, please do not let them bully or intimidate you into giving it up. It is your legal property now, and that's all there is to it. Fight the power."

A minority of messages urge McCrary to pay the fine and give the police department its website back.

"I think that you're making a terrible mistake," one message said. "Domain-squatting isn't a punishable offense, but you're forgetting about karma."

McCrary, who reportedly still hasn't paid his fine for the February ticket, says he's not sure if he'd give the website back to the police department. "They haven't asked me yet," he said. "I might consider it, but I don't know."

Police Chief David Nelson said the officer who managed the site had been on medical leave and the expiration slipped up on the department.

Although use of traffic-light cameras is still legal in Tennessee, other state and local referendums have restricted their use. Tell your State Representative the people are watching.

Sources: Bristol Herald Courier, http:// www.bristolnews.com

")