I read the following article on the Drive site and thought it may be of interest to others.
The truth about speed cameras (drive.com.au)
Not sure I ever beleive anything fully I read as I find people aren't thorough, complete, sometimes restricted in what they can share, perhaps even have motives I'm blindly unaware of. However I did find some useful pieces of information and thought other might find it useful too.
The following are the couple of things I thought was interesting.
1. A handheld speed camera needs to be held steady or otherwise it can serverely affect the result. Now that's a real concern for drivers as drivers have no proof. That's one reason I have a dashcam in my car. I don't really have much faith so I need to have my own tools to confirm if I've broken the law or not. I wouldn't be happy to get fined, but if I break the law then in the end I have to accept it.
What proof is the driver provided that the camera did not move. Do handheld drives contain sensors that can prove the office hasn't moved the device and the device is in fact pointing at the desired object? I certainly don't know.
2. Speed detection equipment needs to be calibrated. For analogue roadside speed cameras the legislation states they must have a margin for error of less than 3km/h or 3 per cent of a given speed. For digital devices such as handheld laser guns this drops to 2 km/h or 2 per cent.
That means the government is giving their agencies a margin for error, yet there's no margin of error given to drivers. Drivers should also be given a similar margin for error to be fair on all parties. Perhaps it means the giveronment can reduce costs by providing themselves with a margin for error.
3. Highway patrol do not operate to a quota system
In find this interesting. When I've looked at government reports they have budgets. Government's budget for fines. It's in their budgets. If there's a budget for something that infers an expect target and thus an expected result. Call it a quota, call it a budget, call it a target. It's really just semantics. The end result is expected income for the government. Best not to get hung up on words.
4. Demerit points can be applied if you're booked interstate.
Interesting to know.
5. Police can let you off with a warning.
I think this is important for people to know. We all make mistakes. None of us are perfect. Each states (and possibly each officer) has a degree of discretion. It never hurts to ask for a review, you may be pleasantly surprised. I and others I know have been.
6. Good past behaviour can get you out of trouble.
It's interesting to see the different approaches available in other states where motorists can escape convction for minor offences.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.SpeedCameraLocations.com.au
