Are there "mobile" speed cameras aka photo radar?

 

We were driving in Cape May, NJ, and innocently came upon one of those "your speed" and speed limit radar units. It was more of a large readerboard. Anyway, after showing our speed, it then said, "Photo Radar in Use."

If it were photo radar, can a camera capable of taking a picture similar to a red light camera be setup so easily? It literally is towed by a truck and placed there, I believe...

Quick answer

johnnatash4 wrote:

We were driving in Cape May, NJ, and innocently came upon one of those "your speed" and speed limit radar units. It was more of a large readerboard. Anyway, after showing our speed, it then said, "Photo Radar in Use."

If it were photo radar, can a camera capable of taking a picture similar to a red light camera be setup so easily? It literally is towed by a truck and placed there, I believe...

Sure can. They even put them in vans and SUVs they drive from place to place.

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Yes Indeed!

In Arizona, DPS is using white vans, just smaller than a suburban. Each has a stalk on top with a camera mounted on the stalk and various strobe flashes around the vehicle.

Did you see any flashing strobes as you went by?

nope

No, luckily, my speed read 43, and the limit is 45.

By the way, do those vans have a display that show your speed? Or do they simply take the picture. The one we saw had a readerboard showing the speed....

I can't believe that I'm on this forum, have the red light/speed cam POI file, and didn't even know that! In the past, when feeling a little crazy, I've sped up to make the number go up. Nothing ever happened so in that case it was just a speed reminder, not photo radar....

No Display

johnnatash4,

There is no speed display on the mobile cameras here in Arizona. They do according to law post warning signs at assigned intervals previous to the enforcement zone.

In a few of the local municipalities there are static display signs that post your speed and they are located before the fixed location cameras. But the state contracted vehicles used by the Department of Public Safety only have the cameras and lights and no speed display.

If you look around at some of the previous threads you will also see discussion about the radar used by these vehicles. It is extremely low emitting, hence radar detectors usually pick up the signal just about the time motorists are passing the mobile radar.

The best way in Arizona to avoid state speed cameras seems to be keep POIs updated and drive reasonably close to the speed limit.

No display

There is no display on mobile Speed cameras here in the Cleveland area.

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The police have been using moving radar for a long time, so I imagine it's possible to incorporate photo radar into a moving car or van.

I follow photo radar discussions here and in other forums and I've never heard of moving photo radar. Most places have pretty stringent rules as to how photo radar is used.

Where I live in Canada, they can only set up in school zones, playgrounds and roadway construction areas. They have no sign showing your speed.... If you should happen to speed by one, they 'notify' you by mail smile

From Point to Point

jwt873 wrote:

The police have been using moving radar for a long time, so I imagine it's possible to incorporate photo radar into a moving car or van.

I follow photo radar discussions here and in other forums and I've never heard of moving photo radar. Most places have pretty stringent rules as to how photo radar is used.

When you say "moving", are you thinking that the camera and radar are in operation while the unit is driving down the road? If so, I think you may have misunderstood what people were referring to when they say "moving". The "mobile" photo radar vans/SUV's are moved from one stationary point to the next. They are not in operation while moving from destination to destination. Honestly, I don't even think it would be possible to accurately issue tickets in that manner.

Police can use moving radar in their cars because the officer can visually pick out the faster car with the help of his radar. I'm pretty sure even the smartest of mobile photo radar units are not capable of this.