New speed cameras being tried in Lower Hutt?

**Kinje** · 15th January 2009, 13:39

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4818874a11.html

New speed cameras on roads today

Motorists will be under the scrutiny of new hi-tech digital speed cameras from today.

The new cameras mean motorists will receive tickets through the mail faster and images will be of better clarity.

Forty-three cameras are being introduced nationwide in the next month, with three earmarked for use in Wellington, Porirua and the Hutt Valley.

The cameras were due to be introduced before Christmas but were delayed while protective surrounds were fitted to computer equipment. Despite the delay the news remains all bad for speedsters.

This was demonstrated by Senior Sergeant Martin Barber putting one of the new Australian cameras through its paces on the motorway north of Johnsonville yesterday.

During the past week, Mr Barber has put the Wellington region's six non-sworn police camera operators through the final stages of technical training.

He, like the manager of police calibration services Inspector Ron Phillips, is enthusiastic about the new high-clarity digital camera system.

Mr Phillips said that under the previous wet film system the operator had no idea of the quality of the photographs until the images were processed days after being taken.

"Under the new system the operator will be able to see the photographs as they are being taken and change the exposure to the ambient light."

The system will enable non-sworn police camera operators sitting in camera vehicles to enhance pictures showing number plates on the spot before filing them on DVD and lodging the pictures with the Police Enforcement Bureau at the end of each shift.

Speed cameras were introduced in 1993, boosting government coffers by about $350 million in the past decade.

A police spokesman declined to comment on the prospect of more tickets being issued as a result of better-clarity pictures.

**Badjelly** · 15th January 2009, 14:23

Originally Posted by Kinje

A police spokesman declined to comment on the prospect of more tickets being issued as a result of better-clarity pictures.

Whew, it's a good thing he didn't comment on that. It might really have let the cat out of the bag. As it is, no one suspects a thing.

**Anarkist** · 15th January 2009, 15:10

Fond, fond memories of a speed camera van and a tray of eggs.

**Hawkeye** · 17th January 2009, 15:26

Originally Posted by Kinje

The system will enable non-sworn police camera operators sitting in camera vehicles to enhance pictures showing number plates on the spot before filing them on DVD and lodging the pictures with the Police Enforcement Bureau at the end of each shift.

So they will have the ability to 'play' with the photo's BEFORE filing them on DVD!

**pete376403** · 18th January 2009, 21:53

At least with the old film cameras there was a negative that would be unquestionable - with digital and photoshop the pic can be anything the operator wants it to be.
Not suggesting the police lack integrity or anything like that, but suppose they wanted to "prove" a certain vehicle (and person) was in a particular place at a particular time? Obviously not worth the effort for a simple speeding ticket but if they really wanted to nail someone, eg - "...the suspects car was cuaght by a speed camera speeding away from the crime scene..."
People have been stitched up on less.

I recall reading an article in an UK mag where they took a digital photo and changed the rego plate and bike colour without too much effort.

**Zippity** · 18th January 2009, 22:14

The smart radar van operator has a pair of binoculars so that he can look through the front windscreen to get your number plate as you breeze smugly by

**Max Preload** · 18th January 2009, 22:48

Originally Posted by Zippity

The smart radar van operator has a pair of binoculars so that he can look through the front windscreen to get your number plate as you breeze smugly by

If the operator was actually smart, he wouldn't be sitting in a van for a job. In any case, it's simply his word against yours which, as a non-sworn Police employee, doesn't mean a great deal.

**MaxB** · 18th January 2009, 23:36

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

So they will have the ability to 'play' with the photo's BEFORE filing them on DVD!

In other places when the fine and demerits get big enough the number of contested tickets goes up. I can see defence lawyers zeroing in on the non-sworn operators and looking into every aspect of the operator's past life searching for anything that calls their honesty into question.

Our courts can barely cope as it is. Alowing non-sworn staff to tutu with the pictures is a dumb idea.

**Winston001** · 18th January 2009, 23:54

Originally Posted by candor

The cameras, either at fixed locations or mobile ones housed in a parked van, have been used to issue more than 4.4 million tickets in the past decade, netting at least $350 million.

4.4 million tickets??!! Over ten years?? Sod all IMHO. I'm astonished there are so few considering the billions of kilometers travelled by NZ vehicles over ten years. Hell I've helped out with at least 5 myself.

**Zippity** · 19th January 2009, 21:56

Originally Posted by Max Preload

If the operator was actually smart, he wouldn't be sitting in a van for a job. In any case, it's simply his word against yours which, as a non-sworn Police employee, doesn't mean a great deal.

Actually, you are wrong on both counts

I have spoken to and watched one of the operators in action and he did have binoculars.

Suggest you go read the speed camera legislation.

Hopefully, you were one of the smug riders that got a ticket

**Max Preload** · 19th January 2009, 23:00

Originally Posted by Zippity

Actually, you are wrong on both counts

I have spoken to and watched one of the operators in action and he did have binoculars.

So what? So you got hoodwinked by the company line he fed you - big fuck'n deal. The cretin in the van having binoculars doesn't mean his evidence is infallible should one choose to contest any alledged infringement. He likely wouldn't even turn up to give that testimony.

Originally Posted by Zippity

Suggest you go read the speed camera legislation.

How about instead of me wasting my time looking for something that doesn't exist, you waste your time and prove it does. Since I'm such a nice guy though, I'll give you a helping hand - click here. I'd like to see where in the legislation it mentions the plebian operator recording the registration of any vehicle as being evidence of an infringement offence in the absence of proof to the contrary. Good luck with that! I don't see any mention of the van-dwelling oxygen thief themselves being approved vehicle surveillance equipment either.

Originally Posted by Zippity

Hopefully, you were one of the smug riders that got a ticket

Sorry to spoil your day, but nope. I've never had one on a bike and likely never will - I'm far too cunning. However in the event I did, you can be damned sure I'd contest it if the photo was from the front. I've had one in the car in '98 when they were running the hidden camera trial in the Waikato since that's the only way they can get observant drivers.