ACA Report on Speed Cameras - Anyone See It?

[Deadman]

Hi Everyone,

I remember hearing that A Current Affair were doing a report on how dodgy speed cameras are (or something along those lines).

I just switched on the TV and I realised I've probably missed it if it was on. Could anyone who saw it give me a bit of an idea about what the story was about? Just thought it would have been good to watch.

Thanks :1syellow1

[MoreHPformyXR6]

Originally Posted by Deadman

Hi Everyone,

I remember hearing that A Current Affair were doing a report on how dodgy speed cameras are (or something along those lines).

I just switched on the TV and I realised I've probably missed it if it was on. Could anyone who saw it give me a bit of an idea about what the story was about? Just thought it would have been good to watch.

Thanks :1syellow1

G'Day mate

I seen it its sounded betta on the promo on the radio on the way home from work than the actual story but. They where talking about the radar that u see hanging from the highway patrol cars & that sometimes the reading are not accurate & a guy that spent $20000 going to court to prove this so the cops withdrew the fine rather than contest it & have a judgement against them which could set a legal precadance. But as i havent got a spare 20 grand if it was me i have to pay the fine.

[Deadman]

Originally Posted by MoreHPformyXR6

I seen it its sounded betta on the promo on the radio on the way home from work than the actual story but.

Yeah, they have a way of always making the story sound much more interesting than it turns out to be.

Cheers for the info though

[shane3]

The guy that they had on was ex-RAAF radar expert and said that the way that the speed cameras and other radar units are set up they are not accurate and to contest ANY/EVERY ticket/fine that you get, as it's up to the police to prove that the device (speed camera, vehicle mounted, or hand held) is 100% accurate.

One guy was doing 110km/h in a 110km/h zone and the cops got him on the vehicle mounted radar at 133km/h, the fine was dropped as the cops did not want to go to court and have to prove that the radar was 100% accurate. The cop car was not calibrated correctly so the on coming cars were registering a higher speed.

[pertuan]

Funny thing.. In NSW, all the radars I've seen are setup in a dodgy manner. Massive angles so your car only ever crosses the beam instead of parallel to the road like it should be.

In Victoria however, the radars are all setup parallel to the road.

[fiery]

Most of the current type stories can be found on their websites to read (or listen to sometimes)..
Im sure ACA do have this and I think TT also do...

[lisa76]

They were basically saying that the silver eagle radars (i think that's what they were called) in use in NSW and a couple of other states too I think weren't as accurate as others and some states have stopped using them because of it. They showed the cop cars hiding on the sides of the road where you don't see them until it's too late but they're on such an angle that your car only crosses the beam for a split second - not long enough to get an accurate speed reading.

Basically though, you need to have the moulah on hand to fight it if you want to contest it.

[BA_Turbs]

If you're on the angle, it is only going to show a lower speed, not a higher one.

My love for speeding fines is not great, however the defence raised by this expert sounds like it could only be relevant if the radar's annual calibration had expired, or the position of use was not correct. Both of these defences are only relevant a small amount of the time.

What drives me nuts about the whole speed camera issue is everyone is prepared to sit here and whinge, but does nothign about it. The police are following orders form the government because the seperation of powers no longer exists. If the masses want something done about the abuse of speed cameras they should be writing en-mass to their local members of parliment, not whiging on the internet. One way of doing things will get results, the other won't (this isn't directed at anyone in particular, just a general observation).

My opinion is that it's $$$ raising bullship, however if I get caught, I was speeding, why should I whinge? What have I done to recify the situation? Nothing.

[ltd]

YEah, you should contest every ticket, as it is harder for the police to prove the accuracy of the radar and lidar than you think. Talk to an ex copper, they will tell you why they have always been able to get out of tickets as a civilian.
And I also agree with you BA Turbs, I have started a petition to our opposition leader to remove the revenue cameras and place some good ol fashion police there instead so that you are able to rectify the situation rather than find out two weeks later. We have an election in 13 months, and the way I see it, is if Peter Debnam says he will remove the cameras, he will garnish massive support from the electorate.

[Deadman]

Originally Posted by ltd

I have started a petition to our opposition leader to remove the revenue cameras and place some good ol fashion police there instead so that you are able to rectify the situation rather than find out two weeks later. We have an election in 13 months, and the way I see it, is if Peter Debnam says he will remove the cameras, he will garnish massive support from the electorate.

Where do I sign?

[csv8]

Queensland cops stopped using this radar,because of reliablity/accuracy issues. But NSW cops still use it !!!!

[russellw]

A properly calibrated unit is accurate in assessing the speed of the object IT is seeing.

With the exception of the roadside cameras (which are calibrated to operate at 30 degrees to the road) any angle added to the reading will actually favour the target as parallax error reduces the accuracy of the unit.

The primary issue with radar as a means of speed detection is targeting. The beam pattern from most hand held radar units is an ever widening cone that for my Stalker is 150 metres wide at 500 metres out. This isn't an issue when you have a target lock on a predefined target as the reading will remain accurate but to use it across a 4 or 6 lane road at random targets is fundamentally flawed.
This is further exacerbated by the tendency of radar waves to be attracted to fast moving or large objects - it's the reason that chaff is effective as a defence against radar guided missiles because they are attracted to the better radar image presented by the foil.

In real world situations this means that the speeding truck / van or other larger object can actually provide the reading being taken and not the car the operator thinks he has targeted. This is partly the reason why operating guidelines limit the maximum range that a reading is supposed to be taken at but that falls to the judgement of the operator on the day.

Victoria (and presumably other States) are making the move to Laser detection units as they operate on a much narrower beam, have a longer effective operating range and are hard to countermeasure.

Cheers
Russ

[EDManual]

Does anyone know where that site is for legal help and stories about radar/speed detcting? Theres a pretty big one somewhere there....

[EL_futuraistic]

for $20,000........... i think i will pay the $220 fine and lose the points.

[chief]

They said the Silver Eagle unit is not accurate to the Speed Measuring Devices Act and on those grounds take on the fine. But for $20,000 + I think not.