Drivers Slowing Down/Mobile Units Lowering Speed Threshold?
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 15 years
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I've noticed on the San Tan 202 in Arizona over the past month that drivers have slowed down considerably. I myself set my cruise control to about 69mph (speed limit is 65) and the majority of the traffic is going about the same or a bit slower. Of course there are a few who continue to zip along at a higher speed. But on three or so occasions I've noticed that the mobile speed radar units have flashed vehicles that were definitely not going 75mph but maybe 70 +/- 2mph. This by watching these vehicles pass me or from following other drivers and see the mobile units flash them. I'm pretty confident they weren't doing 10 or more mph over the limit. I'm wondering since people have slowed down to less than 10mph over the speed limit that the state or county is losing money because they aren't issuing as many tickets and so to help compensate they're flashing people doing 5 or 6mph over the speed limit. I heard on a news report awhile back that an officer can give a speeding ticket for whatever amount a driver is over the posted limit as it is at the officer's discretion to issue a ticket. I wonder if this applies to the mobile radar units as well.
No 10 mph grace for mobiles
It's my understanding that the 'fixed' freeway cams are set to allow a 10 or 11 mph grace speed before taking a photo. That doesn't apply to mobile units which can be set for whatever the operator feels is appropriate.
One thing I have 'not' seen is how Arizona handles citations when two cars are traveling side by side when they hit the mobile camera (fixed cams have sensors in the individual lanes). Can the mobile cam differentiate between vehicles to determine whether one was passing the other, both were speeding or ???? Just wondering what would happen if someone were doing the limit or below in one lane and someone else blew by them but both happened to hit the camera simultaneously.
Nuvi 760 & 660, Streetpilot, GPS III, GPS 10X
I've wondered...
It's my understanding that the 'fixed' freeway cams are set to allow a 10 or 11 mph grace speed before taking a photo. That doesn't apply to mobile units which can be set for whatever the operator feels is appropriate.
One thing I have 'not' seen is how Arizona handles citations when two cars are traveling side by side when they hit the mobile camera (fixed cams have sensors in the individual lanes). Can the mobile cam differentiate between vehicles to determine whether one was passing the other, both were speeding or ???? Just wondering what would happen if someone were doing the limit or below in one lane and someone else blew by them but both happened to hit the camera simultaneously.
I've wondered the same thing. Most, if not all, mobile units use radar which cannot distinguish the speed of one vehicle from another. That is usually left up to the police officer to figure out. A mobile unit would not be able to figure that out on its own. Who really knows what kind of integrity the reviewing officers/trained employees really have, either. For all we know, they could just as easily send a ticket to both vehicles if two were caught side-by-side in the photo, but only one was actually speeding. Since I don't know all the logistics involved in the mobile speed cameras, I can't draw any conclusions, but it sure makes me curious.
Speed Camera's
Some use radar, some use induction loops and some use anpr, which is a plate reader. Those using radar, you would have to know if they are using K-Band, Lasar etc. to know what they are picking up and their accuracy.
I was under the impression
I was under the impression that the mobile radar vans follow the same protocol as the fixed units.
You may have seen 3 flashes because they were trying to calibrate the camers. They have to calibrate more often than the fixed cameras.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/21626 - red light cameras do not work
Which One Did It Flash?
One thing I have 'not' seen is how Arizona handles citations when two cars are traveling side by side when they hit the mobile camera (fixed cams have sensors in the individual lanes). Can the mobile cam differentiate between vehicles to determine whether one was passing the other, both were speeding or ????
I had this exact thing occur about two weeks ago on the San Tan 202. I was in the center lane with my cruise control set to 68mph. A white SUV passed on the left maybe doing 72-75mph. The SUV got in front of me as we were going through a curve and a mobile radar unit flashed. My concern was did it flash the SUV, me or both of us? The SUV was going faster than me. I haven't received anything in the mail yet and am a little anxious on that one. How would fight that one?
OK.....so where the heck am I?