Police operating guide for speed enforcement: passing lanes

**grusomhat** · 15th December 2009, 17:50

I was trying to find out what bands are used in New Zealand regarding speed radars and I stumbled upon the NZ police Operating Speed Measuring Devices guide.

I found this but quite interesting

Originally Posted by police rubbish

When speed camera enforcement is taking place in the area of passing lanes, vehicles should not be targeted within 250 (two hundred and fifty) metres of the finish of any passing lane.

I've now just noticed that the guide has expired at the start of this year. BUT, is that guide gospel, ie could be used against speeding tickets from passing or is it simply just a guide.

Also when they say target, does that simply mean that they can't sit there and wait, but a cop can still drive pass and catch you?

Source:http://www.police.govt.nz/resources/...ide/index.html

Oh and to my original reason for searching, what bands need to be activated on a radar detector?

**slofox** · 15th December 2009, 17:55

Originally Posted by grusomhat

Oh and to my original reason for searching, what bands need to be activated on a radar detector?

All except X band I would say...the new speed cameras use K and at an unusually low frequency - "they" reckon some detectors will not detect this frequency. I have yet to find out about my own...

**grusomhat** · 15th December 2009, 18:01

Originally Posted by slofox

All except X band I would say...the new speed cameras use K and at an unusually low frequency - "they" reckon some detectors will not detect this frequency. I have yet to find out about my own...

Thanks, will do some testing once I get it on the bike.

**Max Headroom** · 15th December 2009, 19:13

Originally Posted by grusomhat

I was trying to find out what bands are used in New Zealand regarding speed radars and I stumbled upon the NZ police Operating Speed Measuring Devices guide.

I found this but quite interesting

I've now just noticed that the guide has expired at the start of this year. BUT, is that guide gospel, ie could be used against speeding tickets from passing or is it simply just a guide.

As it happens, I looked at that same web page recently as a result of getting one too many speeding tickets recently . . .

I had also noticed that the page had expired, and contacted Police HQ in Wellington. The webmaster said that the page could be considered current until it gets replaced, and he didn't know when exactly that would be.

That was three months ago.

**grusomhat** · 15th December 2009, 19:20

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

As it happens, I looked at that same web page recently as a result of getting one too many speeding tickets recently . . .

I had also noticed that the page had expired, and contacted Police HQ in Wellington. The webmaster said that the page could be considered current until it gets replaced, and he didn't know when exactly that would be.

That was three months ago.

Alright, good to know. And handy that you contacted them. I wonder how that passing lane thing works. Would be interesting to contest a ticked using that.

**mctshirt** · 15th December 2009, 19:33

You might want to read the 2009 version first
http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/defa...nforcement.pdf

**grusomhat** · 15th December 2009, 19:41

Originally Posted by mctshirt

You might want to read the 2009 version first
http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/defa...nforcement.pdf

Thanks, doesn't seem to mention it. And I just realised the first one refers to speed cameras which probably negates any use it would have.

**CookMySock** · 15th December 2009, 20:29

Originally Posted by grusomhat

what bands need to be activated on a radar detector?

Just Ka band. This is the mobile non-automatic speed measuring equipment used in patrol cars.

This does not protect you from stationary automatic (camera flash) speed measuring equipment. Seriously, if you cannot spot them with your eyes, then get new eyes. They stick out like dogs nuts. They are very very low-powered, and often you get very little warning with them, compared to the Stalkers' massive beam on energy in the sky.

Stalker on Ka band is a whole different story. I drove to Auckland and back today, and easily 50% of the Ka detects I got, I could NOT identify the patrol car, so if you are going to ride like a dick, you must be scanning Ka band or else they will see you long before you see them.

Disclaimer: I generally travel dot-on or just under the speedlimit, but sometimes I pass, and sometimes I bust 70k limits ever so slightly when entering them, so I'd like to know if I'm being watched before I pull some passing manoevre. Oh, and its fun playing spot the pig when the detector goes off, much more fun than I-spy.

Steve

**grusomhat** · 16th December 2009, 07:26

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

Just Ka band. This is the mobile non-automatic speed measuring equipment used in patrol cars.

This does not protect you from stationary automatic (camera flash) speed measuring equipment. Seriously, if you cannot spot them with your eyes, then get new eyes. They stick out like dogs nuts. They are very very low-powered, and often you get very little warning with them, compared to the Stalkers' massive beam on energy in the sky.

Stalker on Ka band is a whole different story. I drove to Auckland and back today, and easily 50% of the Ka detects I got, I could NOT identify the patrol car, so if you are going to ride like a dick, you must be scanning Ka band or else they will see you long before you see them.

Disclaimer: I generally travel dot-on or just under the speedlimit, but sometimes I pass, and sometimes I bust 70k limits ever so slightly when entering them, so I'd like to know if I'm being watched before I pull some passing manoevre. Oh, and its fun playing spot the pig when the detector goes off, much more fun than I-spy.

Steve

Sweet, I'm not much of a speeder so the radar detector is more for a little peace of mind when pulling out and passing. I'll still do all my usual, is there a police car around checks first.

The main reason for having it though is for exactly what you mentioned near the end. Why should they get to be invisible? knowing your surroundings is all about knowing everything around you, including the cops!

**Berries** · 16th December 2009, 21:07

Originally Posted by grusomhat

BUT, is that guide gospel, ie could be used against speeding tickets from passing or is it simply just a guide.

It is just a guide and you couldn't use non compliance as a defence. I think the reason for it is that the camera is not as clever as the Stalker. Overtaking vehicle doing 140km/h. FLASH. Photo comes out showing two vehicles side by side. Which one is speeding ? The camera doesn't know so straight away there is some doubt.

Single vehicle doing 140km/h in passing lane. FLASH. You're nicked, guide or no guide.

**bogan** · 16th December 2009, 21:09

Originally Posted by Berries

It is just a guide and you couldn't use non compliance as a defence. I think the reason for it is that the camera is not as clever as the Stalker. Overtaking vehicle doing 140km/h. FLASH. Photo comes out showing two vehicles side by side. Which one is speeding ? The camera doesn't know so straight away there is some doubt.

Single vehicle doing 140km/h in passing lane. FLASH. You're nicked, guide or no guide.

thats why they take two sequential photos, easy to tell which is going quicker then

**Woody2** · 16th December 2009, 21:15

Originally Posted by slofox

All except X band I would say...the new speed cameras use K and at an unusually low frequency - "they" reckon some detectors will not detect this frequency. I have yet to find out about my own...

I use a detector in the cage and you don't get much warning for the new speed cameras using K band. Agree with DB it's fun spotting the cops when the detector goes off - particularly the mufti cops, a lot more of those around lately,

**Berries** · 16th December 2009, 21:21

Originally Posted by bogan

thats why they take two sequential photos, easy to tell which is going quicker then

Ah, so my policeman friend was attempting to entrap me. Bastard. I know there is a 250m guide where speed limits change just to avoid any arguments over speeding up/slowing down near to the signs. I can't imagine they would give you the same leeway at the end of a passing lane though.

**grusomhat** · 17th December 2009, 00:32

Originally Posted by Berries

Ah, so my policeman friend was attempting to entrap me. Bastard. I know there is a 250m guide where speed limits change just to avoid any arguments over speeding up/slowing down near to the signs. I can't imagine they would give you the same leeway at the end of a passing lane though.

Half right! There's 250m when entering a slower speed zone. There is NO guide for leeway for people speeding up before the sign.

**CookMySock** · 17th December 2009, 07:16

Originally Posted by Berries

It is just a guide and you couldn't use non compliance as a defence. I think the reason for it is that the camera is not as clever as the Stalker. Overtaking vehicle doing 140km/h. FLASH. Photo comes out showing two vehicles side by side. Which one is speeding ? The camera doesn't know so straight away there is some doubt.

Single vehicle doing 140km/h in passing lane. FLASH. You're nicked, guide or no guide.

Yes and no. There are a lot of restrictions on what the operator can and cannot do with the stalker, as it is "non automatic" speed measuring equipment. Not so with the fixed "automatic" unit, so while the stalker will give more detail, it is much more subject to its' published limitations and that of its' inexperienced operator. Ie, it can separate two targets, but it cannot tell its' operator which is which. A larger truck following a smaller motorbike - which one is the primary target and which one is the higher speed target?

Steve