Speed cameras on passing lanes

[kevie]

seen a couple comments on this topic on other threads ... but ..... have a thread running on facebook regarding it. and seems to me the practice is only prevalent in the Waikato.

i was told they arent allowed on passing lanes, but the police seniors I have spoken to just reply "They are there in the interests of road safety and reducing speed"

my reply was very similar ... no wait ... was the same as our reply to Nick smith at the BIKEOI >>>> "BULLSHIT!!"

I have sent the following mail to the police to guage their opinion on 1/ the practice of speed cameras on passing lanes and 2/ the practice of them 'hiding' .

Letter to the NZ Police 02-January-2014
A question no-one will reply to without beating around the bush:
What is the policy on speed cameras on passing lanes??
I was told by a Highway officer that they are not permitted within 250 metres of a passing lane, but your police in Hamilton only reply with "speed cameras are located in the interests of road safety"
Your website only says "A speed camera must not be deployed within 250 (two hundred and fifty) metres of the finish of any passing lane." no mention of the policy regarding actually being ON the passing lane, although many of them would be placed closer than 250 metres from either the start or finish of the lane.
I don't have issues with speed cameras, BUT I do have real issues with speed cameras ON passing lanes, I drive a truck and trailer unit and we take a LOT or road to get past us and the quicker the cars do it the safer for them as they are alongside us for a lesser time,but often see oncoming cars warning of the cameras/cop up ahead, (don't voice comment on this in your reply, we all know its illegal, but we all know its a regular practice) so .... on the passing lane the cars don't pass (as a result of the speed camera on the lane) this causes driver frustration and then after the lane they are attempting to pass me at places that are a greater risk resulting in me seeing some very near misses.
I believe the practice of passing lane camera cars should be banned and ceased.
They DO NOT contribute to safety in those locations and are only perceived as gathering revenue and therefore results in degrading peoples opinion of the police who already have serious problems with public opinion and respect!!!
So far it only appears to be a practice in the Waikato area, I have voiced comments on this topic on social media and no-one seems to say that it happens in other regions.

Two other points to note needing your comment is:
1/the practice of them parking on vehicle entrances, one farmer commented to me that several times he has been on his tractor pulling a trailer and had to stop, blocking the lane to get the camera van to move so he can get into his property ... again ... a serious safety breach by the camera.... they should NOT be parked in vehicle entrances.... we aren't !!
2/ Visibility of the camera, they hide behind tree lines, signs etc and the motorist is 'upon them' before they see the camera car, not a safety breach but it is a moral one and I think a police policy breach as well and doesn't add to the opinion of policing.
I appreciate (from what i can gather) the police don't gain revenue from these cameras, but they do cop the flack and diminished opinion of the police from them, after all, you are the ones administrating these cameras so at the end of the day, responsible for their behaviour.

Please reply with the Police policy/regulation on this practice ... (are they permitted to be there or not)
and what is the policy on them being behind trees signs etc and NOT visible until the traffic is right on the camera.
Also what is being done about stopping these practices in the future.

NOTE : I have a couple forum discussions running on this topic on the net and this email and resulting reply WILL be reposted on these forums, a point to note ... the respondents opinions of the practice(s) and the resulting opinion of the NZ Police is unfortunately not a good one..... the onus is on YOU to be seen to be doing the best for the community and doing the right thing as many times the perception is "A rule for the police and a rule for everyone else", the public don't object to speedsters and dangerous drivers being penalized, BUT they do have issues with what is seen as entrapment and practices that are seen as nothing more than revenue gathering.

Thank you, awaiting your reply

[skinman]

good luck
I went to hamiton a couple of days ago & the cameras I saw were in areas where the motorway was 4 laned & straight, probaby the safest piece of road you will drive on. No cameras in the 50 or 70 zones where the morons who do 80 on the open road continue to do 80 through the towns. making the roads safer...yea right

[BigAl]

Be interesting to see what response you get if any, as we all know the cameras are solely for revenue which is the reason for the 4k tolerance drop.

[R650R]

Congratulations, you just got yourself put on the no fly list... The reply will be "We note your concerns... camera policy is available at... from time to time due to operational needs cameras may operate outside these guidelines..."

I have no problem with them being on passing lanes, principley because it will nab those slow tossers who speed up to 120 when they get there.
I've seen them park on the HB passing lanes at Titiokoura and close to the Dillons hill, Elands and Te Haroto ones also. There always in the same spots so no big deal.
As for hiding that's nothing new when it comes to cops and traffic enforcement, really I don't see the point in complaining.
Enjoy the going while its good, cause its really going to suck big time when GPS and ANPR systems become widespread which cant be too far away...

[slofox]

I hate being on the wrong side of the road. It feels wrong and I prefer to be there for as short a time as possible.

So when I pass, I get by with as little fucking around as possible. Which means that at times, I exceed the posted limit. For what is usually a couple of seconds.

Whilst this might involve me in financial inconvenience, I figure that if that is the cost of keeping my arse intact, then so be it.

Better a fee than a ruptured knee...or worse.

This is the case no matter what kind of vehicle I am on/in.

So sue me already.

[pritch]

I hate being on the wrong side of the road. It feels wrong and I prefer to be there for as short a time as possible.

I have books here that state this is the safest way and I agree. After all it is called the wrong side of the road for a reason. The books also mention, however, that the local constabulary are unlikely to be interested in this explanation.

[R650R]

I have books here that state this is the safest way and I agree. After all it is called the wrong side of the road for a reason. The books also mention, however, that the local constabulary are unlikely to be interested in this explanation.

I agree with the both of you and might even practise that myself on private roads, but listening to talkback (that great bastion of reasoned discussion and enlightenment) the other day with the speed tolerance thing...
Apparently a lot of our nasty headons happen because of this. Most high power cars and bikes its easy to squirt past at 140 to pick a random number on a shorter than desirable bit of straight road, but the trouble is when someone else like you is coming the otherway over the rise at 140 also, you have a closing speed of 280 and that clear road disappears fast...
I think the real dangerous thing about passing in NZ is our silly yellow lines, often the rob you of momentum in a place you could have safely passed, then in spots where it isn't safe to pass people do, thinking its 'safe' as there's no yellow line telling them not to...

[James Deuce]

I heard on the news yesterday that the next big improvement for road safety wil be with sensor technology in cars. I think there will be a mass revolution if we are forced to spend thousands of dollars on safety technology which is only going to cost thousands more if it craps out.

No there won't. Right thinking people will accept it and anyone who objects will be lumped in with an anti-social or criminal element of society (beneficiaries for example).

[Berries]

I heard on the news yesterday that the next big improvement for road safety wil be with sensor technology in cars. I think there will be a mass revolution if we are forced to spend thousands of dollars on safety technology which is only going to cost thousands more if it craps out.

Get a bike.

[Akzle]

I heard on the news yesterday that the next big improvement for road safety wil be with sensor technology in cars. I think there will be a mass revolution if we are forced to spend thousands of dollars on safety technology which is only going to cost thousands more if it craps out.

you kidding? Kiwis are too passive and stupid to revolt. Look at how much shit they eat right now, from the thrones in the eebhive.
No, the worst theyll do is write a letter asking their betters if its *really* ok that they plebs are treated like shit.
And theyll moan about it on internet forums.

That oughta keep the morons occupied while jews keep going to the bank.
But hey, thanks for your concern, citizen, your feelings are important to us...

[R650R]

I heard on the news yesterday that the next big improvement for road safety wil be with sensor technology in cars. I think there will be a mass revolution if we are forced to spend thousands of dollars on safety technology which is only going to cost thousands more if it craps out.

It wont cost thousands more as the manufacturers will all be required by govt mandate to install it as OEM equipment. A generic mass produced GPS and always on Cell device implanted in the ECU will be an insignificant cost. It's already here anyway.
It started with certain trucking companies having an 0800 number linked to their insurer to get a discount, now some of them are using fulltime electronic surveillance of driver behaviour to get further 'discounts'. How ever soon everyone wants the 'discount' and before you know it the govt has made it mandatory. With the tap n go NFC in credit cards and cellphones taking off I forsee your drivers licence becoming an app loaded onto your cellphone which you will be required by law to carry at all times. On the plus side traffic cops will be made redundant and their jobs will be off shored to India where some data analyst on minimum sweatshop wage will issue you a ticket. The most annoying thing of all is you wont be able to hang up on those telemarketers straight away as that foreign voice just might be 'law enforcement' telling you that you only have 15 demerit points left!
No one will revolt or protest as the changes all happen one at a time and on que the media will label anyone that complains a nutbar, rentamob or conspiracy theorist. Try unplugging from the grid and you'll be labelled a terrorist and subject to even greater scrutiny... Reckon we're less than ten years away from this, kinda makes the 4km tolerance look like a sweet deal!

[Scuba_Steve]

seen a couple comments on this topic on other threads ... but ..... have a thread running on facebook regarding it. and seems to me the practice is only prevalent in the Waikato.

Na they do it here too, got 1 cunt that likes to sit on the one passing lane it is impossible to "legally" pass a vehicle doing 80km/h or a truck on

Is entrapment lawful by the authorities in NZ because if it is we are stuffed.

Not lawful but when has the law ever bothered NZ's biggest criminal gang? They're constantly breaking criminal law so I can't see entrapment bothering them much

I have no problem with them being on passing lanes, principley because it will nab those slow tossers who speed up to 120 when they get there.
...
Enjoy the going while its good, cause its really going to suck big time when GPS and ANPR systems become widespread which cant be too far away...

You should have a problem with it, it doesn't "nab those slow tossers who speed upto 120" it nabs you when you try & pass them, the "tossers" are safe from extortion.
We would enjoy the good if there was good to enjoy, the good's gone, we're at the bad & the ugly's soon to come

[haydes55]

Am I legally allowed to park my van directly behind a speed camera?

[Bald Eagle]

Am I legally allowed to park my van directly behind a speed camera?

As long as there aren't no parking lines or no stopping signs, go for it.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[Tazz]

Have seen one of the Blenheim or Picton cops doing this a couple of times over the last 2 years on the overtaking bay just outside of Spring Creek.
Camera is just the next annoying step unfortunately (although I wouldn't mind if they set it up to get those bastards that speed up to 120+ in the left hand lane so you can't pass then slow back down to 85-90km/h after )