[Scan-DC] License Plate Readers

[Sheldon Daitch]

rick,

well, anytime you have two points and calculate the speed based
on time and distance, it has to be average speed, because there is
no way to determine instantaneous speed at any point between the 
the two timing location points.

I know there are speed cameras which determine the vehicle speed
as it passes the camera installation.  I don't know the details on 
speed calculation, that is, if the vehicle has a speed change in the 
speed determining zone if too much speed change will not allow
the system to detect a speeder.

We are being told the newer cameras have license plate recognition
and if the same plate number appears at the next (or successive)
camera systems, and the math determines that the plate could not
go from point A to point B without speeding, the plate number is
flagged for a ticket.  So, if the system is in place and works, it does
seem that tickets could be issued for speeding, based on calculated
speed determined from time.

In your Illinois example, it does seem certain vehicles (trucks) are
targeted.   I don't think other vehicles should be exempted.   
Speeding is speeding.  

At least in Kuwait, the camera tickets do not seem to go against 
the driver, but against the vehicle.  I don't think they mail out tickets
but they do collect the fines at vehicle registration time.  Don't pay
the ticket, you can't renew the registration.  Now, interestingly 
enough, there are no plate changes, no stickers, nothing, so
it is impossible to determine from looking at the plate that the
registration is or is not current.

73
Sheldon



-----Original Message-----
From: scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Rick Hansen
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 5:12 PM
To: Sheldon Daitch
Cc: Scan-DC
Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] License Plate Readers

Sheldon, FB. I didn't know the average speed was being used.

In Illinois ordinary traffic monitoring cams are being used as source of revenue. On expressways near Chicago, the truckers are complaining of selective enforcement with ordinary traffic cameras. The truck's average speed is calculated and trucks alone are ticketed, avoiding an outcry from the public. 

A friend of mine was ticketed last year for an alleged rolling stop in Chicago, which she  vehemently denies, from a traffic cam. The cost to appeal is a day off work and a 5 hour round trip; you just grimace and pay. These programs must be profitable as they require full-time staff.

I can understand why a number of my neighbors do their best to patronize businesses outside of Montgomery, PG, and DC. I think I will join them ;)


On Jan 15, 2013, at 4:07 AM, Sheldon Daitch <SDAITCH at bbg.gov> wrote:

> "1)  In my opinion, this speed camera stuff is blatant revenue generation.  It _might_ have its place in school zones, high-pedestrian-traffic areas, or near senior communities, but anywhere else is ( ). "
> 
> I think it might depend on the triggering speed of the speed camera systems.  I've identified about 62 locations in the area I live which have fixed speed cameras, the vast majority of them are in the center median of the divided roads, and monitor the flow of traffic in both directions.  My experience is that none of them "flash" below 20 KPH above the speed limit.  Most of these cameras are located in 120 KPH speed zones, so it appears that traffic can flow up to roughly 85 MPH before getting a camera ticket.   Where does camera ticketing cross over from a traffic speed management tool to a revenue generating tool?
> 
> 
> 
> "Even electronic tolling can be used for stuff like that, or simply for issuing speeding citations (distance = rate x time, and if you get from one tolling station to another too soon, you get your green stamps in the mail - 7th grade math, or less)."
> 
> Many of the high speed stretches now are said to have speed camera systems which will trigger both on vehicle passing speed and average speed between camera locations (distance and time calculations).  
> 
> See:
> 
> http://www.bananaq8.com/cars/types-of-speed-cameras-in-kuwait-streets/
> 
> for a number of these camera systems.
> 
> I suspect the reason for going to the speed averaging is that too many drivers knew where the speed cameras are located (yep and I even have a list of the ones I've found) and would slow down to just below 140 KPH to pass the speed camera and then speed back up.  On the most heavily populated section of highway with the new speed cameras, the speed cameras are now about every 3-4 km.
> 
> 
> 73
> Sheldon
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> 
______________________________________________________________
Scan-DC mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/scan-dc
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html