Mobile speed cameras - tracking vehicle movements?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Mobile speed cameras - tracking vehicle movements?

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MikeAqua

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#1819384 11-Jul-2017 09:44

Fred99:

MikeAqua:

I didn't know the cameras captured infrared light.

On that basis you could position infrared lights to create over exposure in the vicinity of number plates and the rego label.

That would be illegal - it's specifically prohibited to use any methods to interfere with the function of speed cameras, radar etc.

Are you sure?

Every person commits an offence who—

(a) uses in a motor vehicle any equipment that interferes with the operation of a speed measuring device:

(b) possesses in a motor vehicle any equipment that is designed to interfere with the operation of a speed measuring device.

If the camera can still measure speed and snap off a photo are you interfering with its operation? It's still operating normally, you have simply changed the external conditions.

It is illegal to obscure your number plate but IR illumination is invisible so your plate is still clearly legible to the human eye.

Note: I wouldn't actually bother doing any of this - cruise control is a much simpler precaution. But I do enjoy thinking about it.

Mike

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kryptonjohn

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#1819393 11-Jul-2017 09:54

Yes your honour, it's illumination for my FLIR !

Fred99

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#1819418 11-Jul-2017 10:33

MikeAqua:

Fred99:

MikeAqua:

I didn't know the cameras captured infrared light.

On that basis you could position infrared lights to create over exposure in the vicinity of number plates and the rego label.

That would be illegal - it's specifically prohibited to use any methods to interfere with the function of speed cameras, radar etc.

Are you sure?

Every person commits an offence who—

(a) uses in a motor vehicle any equipment that interferes with the operation of a speed measuring device: (b) possesses in a motor vehicle any equipment that is designed to interfere with the operation of a speed measuring device.

If the camera can still measure speed and snap off a photo are you interfering with its operation? It's still operating normally, you have simply changed the external conditions.

It is illegal to obscure your number plate but IR illumination is invisible so your plate is still clearly legible to the human eye.

Note: I wouldn't actually bother doing any of this - cruise control is a much simpler precaution. But I do enjoy thinking about it.

I'm guessing that part of the normal "operation" of a speed camera is to capture the number plate / registration. In fact I'd say that's a very fundamental part of its operation.

If one person might challenge challenge prosecution for using a device that disrupts operation of a speed camera, then any loophole would be closed immediately.

blakamin

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#1819454 11-Jul-2017 11:07

Putting those plastic covers, that dispersed the camera flash, over your plates was illegal....

Geektastic

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#1819456 11-Jul-2017 11:12

Ge0rge:
Stu: Not sure what you mean? As has been mentioned, there are ANPR vans in use here.

They have average speed tracking systems on some motorways in Aussie. They've discussed implementing them here also, but I'm not aware of any installations as yet.

From what I have seen of UK reality police shows, it would appear they have ANPR in nearly all their patrol cars - I see that as being a lot easier to act on the information gained as opposed to having it in a few vans.

Correct, they do. Also in the gantry cameras on motorways and dual carriageways (the equivalent of a NZ motorway really, as one of the defining characteristics of a motorway is usually a higher speed limit than elsewhere).

They're getting pretty sharp, by all accounts. Friends there tell me that if you do not renew your VED (rego) then, at 0001 hrs on the day after it should have been renewed, the computer prints your penalty fine notice and mails it to you!

Ge0rge

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#1819458 11-Jul-2017 11:15

IR spot/flood lights instead perhaps? Not 'directly' related to obscuring the number plate and a much more legitimate claim to feeding light to the dashcam as opposed to the leds...

Ge0rge

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#1819464 11-Jul-2017 11:18

@geektastic - that's a bit rough! What if said vehicle wasn't being used on the road after it had expired? Or have I misread your post and you mean if the ANPR spots you without your rego it will automatically fine you? Now that I could live with.

Geektastic

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#1819496 11-Jul-2017 11:35

Ge0rge: @geektastic - that's a bit rough! What if said vehicle wasn't being used on the road after it had expired? Or have I misread your post and you mean if the ANPR spots you without your rego it will automatically fine you? Now that I could live with.

You have to fill out a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notice) which must be submitted by the due date to advice the authorities that the vehicle is officially off the road temporarily or permanently. Recommend not getting caught driving it when you have done that...

If the vehicle is parked on the public highway without either VED or SORN, it will be ticketed. If not paid, it will be impounded. If not then paid, it will be sold.

ANPR will get you tickets for no insurance, no rego, driving a vehicle supposed to be officially off the road, driving with no WOF as well.

It's no joke - you do not dick around with these things unlike here:

"Driving a car whilst declared SORN is much more serious offence than simply driving without tax. The fine and penalty depends on individual circumstances and the ultimate outcome is decided by the court. The maximum fine for this offence is £5,000 and a possibility of imprisonment."

Stu

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#1819498 11-Jul-2017 11:38

Geektastic: "...The maximum fine for this offence is £5,000 and a possibility of imprisonment."

There aren't enough prison cells for that in NZ.

It’s not that I’m agoraphobic, it’s just not safe to go out anymore.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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frankv

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#1819513 11-Jul-2017 12:17

Ge0rge: IR spot/flood lights instead perhaps? Not 'directly' related to obscuring the number plate and a much more legitimate claim to feeding light to the dashcam as opposed to the leds...

(a) uses in a motor vehicle any equipment that interferes with the operation of a speed measuring device:

Note that this does not care about the purpose or design of the equipment; just whether it interferes. If you have equipment such as IR LEDs or spot/flood lights or anything else, then you cannot use them if they would interfere with a SMD. Presumably it's OK to use them where there's no SMD. I suggest you ask NZTA whether it is OK to use your IR devices, and, if so, where.

OTOH, it appears that it would be perfectly legal to use SMD-interfering equipment so long as it is completely outside a motor vehicle. I guess it couldn't be powered from your car battery, otherwise that would be part of the "equipment" which interferes with the SMD. Rooftop mounting? Mounting on your front bumper? Mount it on a trailer towed behind your car? An autonomous drone that flies above your car? In this case, it would be legal even if the equipment was designed to interfere.

MikeAqua

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#1819516 11-Jul-2017 12:21

In NZ motor vehicle licensing for a car is continuous. You have to pay (at some point) licensing due up until you de-register the vehicle temporarily or permanently. So if the car isn't being used a fine would seem rather harsh.

Mike

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