Police are to use a new Speed Gun

Dave

COPS are to use speed guns that can trap unwary drivers more than A MILE away.

The move provoked fury last night among motorists who already feel victimised.

They claimed the high-tech gadget was yet another sneaky way of making money from them.

The long-range ProLaser III uses laser and video technology to record offenders.

It is designed to foil people who slow down for conventional roadside cameras then accelerate afterwards.

ProLaser will zoom in on cars at a distance of 2,000 metres.

And the video quality is so good that it closes a loophole sometimes exploited by unscrupulous motorists.

Their faces will be recognisable so police can tell who was at the wheel.

Manufacturers of the ProLaser III boast: "Drivers simply don't have a chance".

The £8,000 cameras have the potential to raise millions for local safety partnerships which operate them and could lead to thousands of motorists losing their licences.

In 15 per cent of areas cops will not even have to put up warning signs.

Paul Smith, of campaign group Safe Speed, said: "We think speed cameras are making things more dangerous because drivers are looking for cameras not hazards."

"There is financial motivation for the safety partnerships because each year they increase their empire so each year they need more revenue to support the growth of their empires."

Edmund King, of the RAC Foundation, said: "There is a role for cameras if they target areas where accidents are happening."

"Where we do have a problem is where technology is replacing traffic police. "

Recent research from the Transport Department on the cause of accidents showed excessive speed was number seven in importance.

"Number one was inattention, which might be drivers looking out for speed cameras."

Dorset will be one of the first counties to introduce the ProLaser III next month.

But the local Police Federation was concerned the cameras would further erode public confidence in the force.

Clive Chamberlain, the organisation's Dorset representative, said: "One of our primary objectives should be to provide public reassurance by high visibility policing."

"I don't know how much an even more covert camera will do towards enhancing this objective."

The Dorset Safety Camera Partnership denied it was another money-spinning scheme and claimed it was designed to save lives.

Project manager Johnny Stephens said: "Our overriding priority is to reduce the number of casualties on Dorset's roads."

The cameras are made by Kansas-based Kustom Signals Inc.

The firm says the 3lb units are light enough for police to use with pinpoint accuracy and without becoming tired.

Ifa Trodd, managing director of UK distributors Traffic Safety Systems Ltd, said: "The ProLaser III represents the latest technology in laser speed detection technology and has a high performance."

Source: The Sun

bagmans911 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 26, 2004 Posts: 31

This will further alienate an already disgruntled general public. Clearly the police and the government do not care about general opinion, speed accounts for only 7% of all deaths on our roads, but probably pays for our roads! Roll on the day the police ask me for any help!!!
I must search for a good laser detector!!
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IPAQ 3970, Fortuna Clip-on BT, TT3, Lexar 32X 256mb SD card.

Privateer · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 2:48 pm Post subject:

Tim Buxton · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 4:13 pm Post subject:

Privateer · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 4:24 pm Post subject:

Hi Tim,

I think it’s still a grey area. If you’ve deliberately installed it to beat the laser guns then the police may try to “have you” but if you’ve got it to open an automatic garage door then it’s harder to prove.

You can’t transmit radio (i.e. radar) under one of the wireless acts, but there is currently no act (as far as I know) that deals with transmission of light (laser). The police may try to use the “obstructing a police officer” but a lot of the laser crews are civilians.

The above is just what I’ve picked up on other forums and websites so if you do install a laser diffuser then you do so at your own risk – don’t blame me! Thumbs Up

Regards,
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Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D

Garry Platt · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 4:52 pm Post subject: My two Euros:

If you can't do the time don't do the crime. (more like 1 Euro really.)

Pat Boy Slim UK · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 5:27 pm Post subject:

Id like to see police be made accountable for the resons for some camera installation sights.There has been two camera's been put up recently by my house and there never been an accident that i can remember but is well known for cars speeding . Accident black spot ? No ,Extra income for the police ? Oh yes !

s3dbw · Regular Visitor Joined: May 07, 2004 Posts: 203

The Bell laser detector mentioned earlier may actually stand a better chance against this type of system

1. If it is used at greater distance, the beam scatter is greater, therefore more chance of detection

2. If used as a handheld, it is subject to human motion, ie it takes marginally longer for them to get a good steady lock to confirm the speed, giving marginally more time to react to any warnings. Generally the police dont take the first reading, they like to confirm what a hardened criminal you are!

I know we are talking small margins here, but every edge helps!! I reckon the way we are going, it wont be long before roof mounted ECM pods become a manufacturer's optional extra

oisky · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 9:19 pm Post subject:

Sitting on the fence... I think that if you break the speed limit, you can't complain about getting caught (yes, I regularly go over like everyone else - and risk being caught as well) But I also think that the money raised from cameras should go to charity! Maybe people wouldn't complain as much then?!?

BoPeep · Posted: Wed May 26, 2004 9:34 pm Post subject: Laser Jammer

Hi Everyone,

This should probably go in the 'For Sale/Wanted' forum, but seeing as it is relevant to this thread I thought I would mention it here.

I saw this on the UK Speed Traps Website:

legless · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 04, 2004 Posts: 6

We could all try wearing Tony or 2 Jags masks. I'm sure Cherrie (?) wouldn't mind the income!!!
Rolling Eyes

Darren · Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 7:56 am Post subject:

I'm not sure how much of the original story is just media hype or speculation here. The ProlaserIII has been deployed and in use with Traffic units in 12 forces for nearly two years now and has none of the alledged photo/video capabilities. It is simply a handheld laser speed measurement unit little different to others in day to day use.

A 2000m range is not uncommon for these units although accurate targetting and measurement is difficult at this range even when mounted on tripods and so common practice is to identify potential targets and capture a speed reading when at closer range.

Typically, by the time you have seen the patrol car (with the passenger targetting you out of a window or door) or a van then if you were speeding to any extent you will have been captured before you have time to hit the brakes. Laser detetctors may receive some scatter from vehicels ahead giving you an opportunity to reduce your speed or you may have been initially targteeted at long range, get the alarm, hit the anchors and with luck have reduced your speed sufficiently for you to no longer be of any interest.

As for the LR100 laser diffusers, two cases have made it to court wth convictions in both cases. If you have one fitted and come to the attention of police as a result of them being unable to capture a speed measurement expect trouble, they now know the symptoms of a diffuser on their equipment and are out to prosecute Police

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Darren Griffin

timtim · Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 8:04 am Post subject:

Paul Smith, of campaign group Safe Speed, said: "We think speed cameras are making things more dangerous because drivers are looking for cameras not hazards."

Like many on this thread, I'm getting tired of people whinging about speed cameras being unfair. DON'T SPEED. To answer Mr Paul Smith - how can drivers being observant make things more dangerous???! If the drivers you speak of are so busy looking out for speed cameras, then don't you think they'll spot hazards as well? Stop it!

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It seems I don't know anything after all

Dave · Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 9:17 am Post subject:

OZ · Regular Visitor Joined: Mar 17, 2004 Posts: 165

self rightuous bigots make me laugh. Dont speed they cry, i will run round London naked if these people dont go over a limit everydayand if you say you dont then i will say you are a liar.
Like it or lump it WE ALL speed be it by 50mph or 1mph, it's no good saying -but i was only doing 31mph.
I wish that these people who say dont speed, then there is no problem, get busted a few times for being a tiny amount over the limit get banned and lose their income because they cant drive, i will say good bloody job and dont whinge to me.
Just remember cretins so you shall reap, what you sow.
No one says speeding is right, it's the way the revenue raising devices are used.
I spend all day on the road, as i have done for years and yes i speed, i would be a liar if i said i didn't but have i got points on my licence- NO, more by luck than judgement i would say.
Lastly speed is not the be all and end all of the carnage we see on our roads, there are many mitigating factors the most prolific is driver attitude, if the authorities could find a way to monitor this then we would all be off the road with a criminal record, oh dear what a nasty lot us humans are!!.

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