Photo Enforcement Explained - How does it work?

[danjmcs]

One of the motorcycle email lists i subscribe to is called CycleRides.com, run by Barry Caraway, a local bike enthusiast.

He put together a really good collection of information and articles on how the new "Stationary Photo Enforcement Cameras" work, as well as comments from law enforcement and how they also view them.

I think it's one of the better overall presentations of technically how the system works, the fines involved, the how and why. Good pictures of the lanes, and how it identifies speed of each car in each lane of travel, etc.

http://www.cyclerides.com/WeeklyUpdate11_5_08.htm

[deemotored]

Thanks for the info!

[pepegrande008]

it makes sense for in town, but that sign thing is only for the stationary units correct? these mobile units that are gunna be rollin around the state are on the bordering the legality line. if memory serves mycorrect, if you are ticked by radar on a road/highway that has no sign that says "speed enforced by radar," then the ticket should be thrown out? I am just worried about them having one of those mobile units out in the middle of bfe on the 8 one night and they catch me doin 110. that would be very bad...

[Louie B.]

mobile units are required to post warning signs. they're usually put up on A-frames like construction signs are.

[jax archillies]

yeah. if they cant serve you withjin 120 days youre in the clear if theres no sign.

however. i got an email from a DPS officer statign there will be signs for all 60+ of those new cameras......

[Gigi]

Just to add a few more things:

1. I read in Executive Staff Minutes at DPS this week that they plan to have a mobile unit stationed every 20 miles from Phoenix to the California State line on a near permanent basis.

2. The mobile units use a phased array radar, not the older slotted waveguide radars used by earlier mobile units in Mesa and other cities. The phased array radar allows the system to track multiple vehicles at the same time. The technology is based on the PAVEPAWS missile detection radar systems and the JSTARS platforms.....reinforcing the application of military research and development to civilian use. You can see the phased array radar mounted to the roof rack in the center back and center front of the vehicle (they can track vehicles in both directions for single lane roads). It is a very thin, flat black plate pointing at 22 degrees across the road. When DPS did the press release for the mobile units a year ago this month, I went out to talk to the vendors who had two units out there for display.....the technology was very interesting. In addition to stills, the vans have video also. The expandable mast that you see on them allows a real-time video and data microwave link back to DPS and the vendor to monitor traffic and the safety of the operator.

3. The Legislature mandated that DPS errect, at a minimum, two warning signs before every fixed based and mobile unit.

[wearlaz]

Well, the creators of this device say they invented it in order to protect car owner's privacy while at Car Shows (yea, right! You never know who's jotting down your license number while at the Pavillions!)

I can imagine there are a few other uses...

http://www.tricplate.com/

[Mrono]

Well, the creators of this device say they invented it in order to protect car owner's privacy while at Car Shows (yea, right! You never know who's jotting down your license number while at the Pavillions!)

I can imagine there are a few other uses...

http://www.tricplate.com/

woah, that's cool

[Louie B.]

It's really cool when they put it on bathroom stall doors in clubs. It stays transparent when you're on the inside looking out.

[pepegrande008]

so i just passed the 1st mobile units this weekend, the signs for marking them are, i kid you not, 15-25 yds infront of the unit. It bs, one you see the sign it is allready too late. Also, both units I saw had a man in the front seat? Are they truely mobile if someone still as to man them?

[danjmcs]

so i just passed the 1st mobile units this weekend, the signs for marking them are, i kid you not, 15-25 yds infront of the unit. It bs, one you see the sign it is allready too late. Also, both units I saw had a man in the front seat? Are they truely mobile if someone still as to man them?

Ummm, mobile, as in its on wheels, not un-manned. The person inside is an employee of the company running the units for the State, I believe RedFlex or American Traffic Solutions, I forget which on the mobile units.

I've never seen the signs that close. There are normally 2, one about 1/4+ mile before you get to it, and then one real close. Are you sure you weren't going so fast that it was just a yellow blur?

They like setting them up here just after the fixed cameras so when people speed back up, they get whacked by the mobile units. Real DPS officers have been doing the same lately.

[Louie B.]

They like setting them up here just after the fixed cameras so when people speed back up, they get whacked by the mobile units. Real DPS officers have been doing the same lately.

OK, so they found a cure for everyone slamming on the gas after the cameras, but what about for everyone slamming on the brakes before the cameras causing trafic insidents there. Kinda wonder how many rear-endings have occured because of people panicing just before the cameras.

[minisaz]

A friend of mine brought up the point is that one reason when DPS officers stopped cars that were speeding, they might find other violations (outstanding warrants, for example) now all they are getting another ticket

[danjmcs]

The Arizona Department of Public Safety said Tuesday that it has issued 40,401 speeding tickets in the first two months of its speed-enforcement camera program. That's a windfall of at least $6.6 million for the state if all the violators pay up.

If 40,000 sounds like a lot of tickets, know that the cameras have snapped even more photos. Drivers have activated the cameras 166,176 times on freeways statewide since the program began Sept. 26, state officials said.

Three out of four images captured by stationary and mobile speed-enforcement cameras this fall were discarded. Bart Graves, a DPS spokesman, said tickets are scrapped if they don't clearly show the driver or the license plate, and that happens frequently.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... 02-ON.html

One part of this article that is incorrect is the part about "If the owner was not the driver, the DPS must be notified of the correct driver. " That is NOT true, you are under no obligation to notify DPS who the driver is.

Per DPS Director Roger Vanderpool - http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/metro/263943.php

[azminiman]

Side note: I was on my way home tonight around 7:15, N bound on 17 coming up on Deer Valley. I see police lights flashing up in the distance..as i approach, I see a Phoenix police car has someone pulled over. ( odd on the freeway ) and low and behold, he has pulled over one of the DPS mobile photo trucks... Classic... was quickly thinking of a place to turnaround at to get a picture.. but opted out, to not try to get introuble..