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        General >> Off Topic Subjects >> SPECS CAMERA'S
        
(Message started by: craig on Nov 14^th, 2006, 7:23am)

Title: SPECS CAMERA'S
Post by craig on Nov 14^th, 2006, 7:23am

This makes interesting reading. It was delivered to me today with a copy of 'The Drivers Survival Handbook' (the one that tells you how to get out of speeding and parking fines)

Take the time to read it, it might save you a few bob.

Here's a very interesting speed camera loophole -and one that's actually been officially confirmed too! You're probably familiar with the SPECS cameras; they're the ones that sit in rows on gantries above the road like electronic vultures just waiting to swoop down on unsuspecting motorists!

However, it's been discovered that by changing lanes, so that a driver passes the second camera in a different lane to that in which he passed the first, prosecution for speeding can be avoided.

The reason is that the cameras are linked up to monitor only one lane of traffic at a time. As vehicles pass between the entry and exit camera points their number plates are digitally recorded, whether speeding or not. Then, by ANPR recognition, the images on the video of matching number plates are paired up, and because each image carries a date and time stamp, a computer can then work out the average speed of a vehicle between the cameras. No film is used in SPECS.

If the whole of a three-lane carriageway were to be monitored, three sets of cameras would be needed -but the SPECS are expensive and the government has so far not been willing to pay for additional cameras to monitor multiple lanes.

The loophole has been confirmed by the manufacturers of the SPECS, Speed Check Services (SCS). Graeme Southwood, the technical director at SCS, has admitted that the system is approved for use in monitoring only one lane at a time.

The SPECS system is currently in use in permanent sites in Nottinghamshire, Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire and in temporary locations in Cheshire, Kent, West Midlands, West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. Many more speed control zones are planned in the UK.

Even so, the system is still very efficient at catching speeding drivers who don't employ the lane changing tactic, and a quote from SCS reads: "The SPECS system is so efficient and user friendly that Manchester CTO processed 2,500 offences in 6 man-hours"!

The road police chief Med Hughes has said that swapping lanes in order to avoid detection by speed cameras could be very dangerous and that it was irresponsible of drivers to deliberately seek to avoid detection in this way.

Drivers in the UK who are prosecuted for speeding after being caught by the SPECS system face a minimum of 3 penalty points on their licence and a £60 fine

Title: Re: SPECS CAMERA'S
Post by LiverpaulH on Nov 14^th, 2006, 12:08pm

I read about that in the paper, and good adive on how to avoid one of Mr Browns numerous stealth taxes.

On an aside craig, is the drivers survival handbook worth purchasing?

Paul

Title: Re: SPECS CAMERA'S
Post by craig on Nov 14^th, 2006, 2:56pm

i'd say yes,ok,there is a bit of bumph in there,but the majority of information in there is very interesting..

Title: Re: SPECS CAMERA'S
Post by Kjetil S on Nov 14^th, 2006, 3:00pm

I'm glad I live in Norway now. These things were proposed, but were deemed illegal as they were a form of mass surveillance of public areas, which is not allowed (even for the govt).

Title: Re: SPECS CAMERA'S
Post by cossieguy on Nov 14^th, 2006, 3:11pm

on 11/14/06 at 15:00:02, Kjetil S wrote:

I'm glad I live in Norway now. These things were proposed, but were deemed illegal as they were a form of mass surveillance of public areas, which is not allowed (even for the govt).

What a sensible country Norway is ;)

Title: Re: SPECS CAMERA'S
Post by taliban on Nov 14^th, 2006, 5:12pm

oh dont.....you'll wake up highlander.................... ;)

Title: Re: SPECS CAMERA'S
Post by cossieguy on Nov 14^th, 2006, 5:46pm

on 11/14/06 at 17:12:47, taliban wrote:

oh dont.....you'll wake up highlander.................... ;)

And we all know what happens then :-X
PS What a silly idea speed cameras are ::)
Let loose the dogs of war }{ }{ }{ }{ }{ }{ }{ }{

Title: Re: SPECS CAMERA'S
Post by TiberiuS on Nov 14^th, 2006, 6:41pm

on 11/14/06 at 17:12:47, taliban wrote:

oh dont.....you'll wake up highlander.................... ;)

Only if you speed ;)

Title: Re: SPECS CAMERA'S
Post by Baz on Nov 15^th, 2006, 8:46pm

Then you deserve to be fined and prosecuted ;D ;D

Title: Re: SPECS CAMERA'S
Post by TiberiuS on Nov 15^th, 2006, 8:56pm

on 11/15/06 at 20:46:04, Baz wrote:

Then you deserve to be fined and prosecuted ;D ;D

;D ;D ;D

Off with the head...

Title: Re: SPECS CAMERA'S
Post by Highlander on Nov 16^th, 2006, 8:06am

Title: Re: SPECS CAMERA'S
Post by dh_dove on Nov 16^th, 2006, 6:18pm

www.speedcam.co.uk ;D
DH Dove