Photo Radar Cameras

The number of photo radar cameras is increasing each year. The main reason is because law enforcement officers can't be at many places at once so they try to catch up with this using high-tech help. Those devices are mainly mounted beside or over a highway/crossroad as well as are installed in an enforcement vehicle to detect traffic regulation violations.

Types of violations recognized by police cameras:

• Bus lane enforcement cameras use a sensor in the road which triggers a number plate recognition camera which compares the vehicle registration plate with a list of approved vehicles and records images of other vehicles

• Red light enforcement cameras are, in most cases, placed in all corners of busy crossroads to photograph law breakers in the act.

• Speed limit enforcement cameras - fixed or mobile are used to monitor compliance with speed limits in certain area

• Stop sign enforcement

• Automatic Number Plate Recognition System (ANPR) - can track the movement of vehicles for any purpose

Legal issues

As many states and countries there are, that many legal issue arises as a result of using cameras by law enforcement. In most of them if you get a speeding photo you can always state that it was not you and you do not know who was driving you vehicle during that time - in that case you must pay a ticket but at least you don't get issued demerit points. Second option is to fill in a form stating that it was not you driving a vehicle at certain time and give law enforcement department details of the person who was using your vehicle at that time.

Many questions arise on whether photo radar is legal. What if the camera captured the wrong car and made the innocent driver to pay the fine? Unfortunately those questions still remain unanswered. Those who agree with photo radar cameras say that it is a good way to catch more drivers who don't care about the law as well as to reduce the number of accidents in areas under police surveillance.
Those who are against it say that the use of these surveillance cameras at these crossroads violate the constitutional rights of all motorists. The constitutional right that a person is innocent until proven guilty does not apply in this case. It is rather you are guilty until proven innocent.

How to avoid getting caught

• Brake just before a speeding camera just to drive past its sensor below the speed limit
• Use GPS devices to inform you of the threats. You can delete or add new cameras to your GPS device as you drive through certain area
• Use Radar Detectors!
• Use Laser Jammers and Radar Jammers to transmit signals from measuring devices. Warning - illegal in many jurisdictions.

Even though there are many devices on the market that make you fell safe and in control when driving make sure that you always USE YOUR HEAD in the first place.