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You are here: Radar Home > Radar / Laser in WA

 

Everything you need to know about police radar, laser and speed cameras in Western Australia

 

 

 

 

1) What are the different types of police radar / laser & speed cameras used in WA?

a) What is the respective the tolerance / accuracy of each device?

 

b) What are the guidelines for use of this equipment?

 

c) How do these devices make mistakes?

i) Moving Radar errors and mistakes

 

ii) Laser (LIDAR) errors and mistakes

 

iii) Speed camera errors and mistakes

2) What products offer the best protection against these types of police radar / laser / cameras?

a) What are the laws governing the use of radar / laser detectors?

 

b) Can the police determine if you are using a radar detector?

3) What are the penalties / demerit points and speeding fines for WA?

a) If I know I wasn't speeding, how can I challenge / beat a speeding fine

4) What are the road fatality statistics for Western Australia?

 

5) Summary for police radar, laser and speed cameras in Western Australia

 

 

What Radar / Laser speed measuring devices are used in WA?

 

Firstly, it needs to be explained that there are four different RADAR bands (frequencies) used throughout the world plus LASER (which is completely different to radar).

 

The four radar bands include:

 

X-Band (10.275GHz up to 10.775GHz) - not used anywhere in Australia

K-Band (24.050GHz up to 24.250GHz)

Ka-Band (33.400GHz up to 36.000GHz)

Ku-Band (13.175GHz to 13.675GHz) - not used anywhere in Australia

 

 

Radar (short for radio and ranging) works by transmitting a pulse of electromagnetic (EM) energy, also referred to as RF energy at a moving object.  Using the Doppler principle the radar gun ‘listens’ to the change in pitch of the radio waves as they reflect off the moving vehicle and thus determines the speed.  Similarly, when a train blows its whistle as it passes you – you can hear the change in pitch of the whistle, as the train moves past. 

 

The radar beam starts out as a small diameter pulse when it leaves the radar gun, but grows quite rapidly as the distance increases from the gun.  At a distance of 300 metres, the radar beam is now 100 metres tall and 200 metres wide! If 6 cars were simultaneously hit by a radar beam (six vehicles driving down the freeway), 6 pulses would come back to the radar gun, and the radar gun would detect (and report the speed of) the largest signal of the 6 signals present.  To overcome this shortfall, the latest radar units with Digital Signal Processing (DSP) can identify the strongest and the fastest targets to try and help the police officer identify which vehicle's speed is being displayed on the radar gun.

 

Because the radar beam is so large when traveling down the road, a radar detector can be located almost anywhere in or on the vehicle, and it will detect the radar signal.  Radar will penetrate glass, plastic, even people, but is reflected by metal and metallic objects.  Radio waves will only travel in a straight line, so you are relying on reflections of other objects to give you advanced warning if you do not have a line of sight with the radar gun.

 

Traffic radar uses a radar beam to measure speed. Think of the beam as a searchlight. It’s invisible because it’s made of microwaves instead of light, but otherwise it acts very much like a light beam. It travels in straight lines. It’s easily reflected. It scatters as it is passed through dust and moisture in the air. And — this is essential — it has to hit your car before it can determine your speed. Radar can’t see around corners or through hills. It can’t see you when you are behind another vehicle. When in the clear, how strongly your vehicle reflects determines at what distance the radar can detect your speed. Generally, larger vehicles reflect more strongly than smaller vehicles. Trucks are more “visible” at further distances than cars. The principle on which radar operates is absolutely reliable. Radar equipment, on the other hand, is only as good as the quality of its design and manufacture. Traffic radars tend to be unreliable. They’re cheaply made and therefore vulnerable to many interferences that cause false readings. And, compared to the military and weather radar which have rotating antennas, traffic radars are vastly simplified. This simplification means that traffic radar cannot tell one car from another. The operator has to do that, and since the operator can’t see an invisible beam any better than you can, he frequently doesn’t know which vehicle’s speed is being read. This is a source of many undeserved tickets.

 

As a defense against radar detectors, many police radar units can be operated in the Instant-on mode, also called the Pulse mode. This means the radar is in position, but it is not transmitting a beam. So it cannot be detected. When the target is within range, the radar operator switches on the beam and the radar calculates the speed, usually in less than a second. This calculation happens too quickly for the target (you) to respond in time.  Still, you can defend against Instant-on by recognizing it when the operator zaps traffic ahead of you.

 

As well as radar, there is also LASER (also known as LIDAR, - LIght Detection And Ranging), which operates at a frequency of 904nm ‡ 33MHz. A police laser (LIDAR) gun emits a highly focused beam of invisible light, in the near infrared region of light, at 904nm of wavelength, with the beam being around 50cm in diameter at a distance of 300m from the laser gun. Unlike RADAR which determines a vehicle's speed by measuring its Doppler shift, police laser (lidar) calculates speed by observing the changing amount of time is takes to "see" reflected pulses of light over a discreet amount of time.

 

Because the laser beam's diameter is so narrow, if a laser gun is aimed at the license plate, the beam is so small, that most times, none of the laser signal would actually “spill over” up to the windshield, where your detector is mounted.  Thus, a radar detector with laser detector mounted on the windscreen would not even detect the laser beam targeted on the license plate (or headlights or bumper for that matter). This means the beam of a laser gun is accurate enough to target a single vehicle out of, let’s say, six vehicles driving down the freeway. The laser gun can target and detect that single vehicle in less than ½ second after the trigger is pulled, while the surrounding vehicles would not detect the laser beam as it passed right beside their vehicle! 

 

Other than radar and laser, there are other ways of calculating a vehicle's speed being:

  • Vascar - This is not a radar or laser, system; rather it is a glorified stopwatch that relies on the policeman's honesty and accuracy. They are mounted in the police car and are often used when following the target. When the target car goes past a landmark (usually a white marking across the road), the timer is started and when the car goes past the second landmark, the timer is stopped. It is hooked up to the patrol car's speedometer to give a target speed reading. It relies on the button being pushed at the right time and the pacing distance to be long enough to overcome any timing errors. The only countermeasure is careful observation, or a GPS unit if it's a regularly used Vascar area.

  • Piezo-electric strips - pressure-sensitive strips embedded in the roadway (a set distance apart if speed is to be measured - typically 1-3 metres).

  • Inductive Loops - embedded in the roadway detect the presence of vehicles, and with two loops a set distance apart vehicle speed can be measured.

  • Arial Speed checks (similar to Vascar)

None of these four are used in Western Australia, other than red light cameras, which use the sensors built into the road.

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In Western Australia, the police use the following speed measurement devices:

 

Hand-held radar:

The hand-held "Falcon" radar gun manufactured by Kustom Signals Inc and operates on K-band at 24.150GHz.  This unit is not as widely used as previously, since the introduction of laser hand-held guns.  You may find these in use in rural areas, more so than the city, and they are used by Multanova operators to check the calibration of their cameras (against the Falcon radar gun). WA has 31 of these in service.

 

Dash Mounted radar (aka moving radar) set up in police cars:

The KR10-SP again manufactured by Kustom Signals Inc in the USA was the first dash mounted K-band radars used in WA police cars.  The KR10 can be used in stationary and moving mode, and can be used in "instant on" mode or "constant on" mode.  One antenna for front only or two antennas for front / rear can be used.

 

The newer Golden Eagle by Kustom Signals Inc is the latest dash-mounted radar used by WA police.  Like the earlier KR-10, this K-band radar has "instant on" mode as well as traditional "constant on" and can track vehicles moving in either direction to the patrol car.  WA police have 191 car mounted radars in service (1/4/08)

 

 

 

Hand-held laser (aka lidar):

The first laser gun to be used in Western Australia was the LTI 20-20 Marksman.  Laser operates using light pulses (as opposed to RF or microware energy like radar) and due to the small diameter of the laser beam, is an excellent "pointing tool" for targeting individual cars in heavy traffic.

 

 

 

As per most states in Australia, the older LTI 20-20 Marksman has been replaced with the LTI 20-20 Ultralyte.  There is approximately six different versions of the LTI Ultralyte available, and the exact model for each state is unclear.  It is stated in most literature that it is the LTI Ultralyte 100 LR that is used.

 

 

 

 

 

WA Police have recently expanded their LIDAR arsenal with the LTI Ultralyte compact.  This device's tell-tale design without the pistol grip is marketed for police departments "who experience budget restraints, yet still want the benefits of laser speed enforcement".  WA police have 290 hand-held lasers in service (1/4/08)

 

 

 

 

Mobile Speed Cameras:

The Multanova 6F speed camera is the main type of speed camera used in Western Australia, although a red-light camera can also calculate your speed, because it takes two photographs over a known period of time (one second).  Unlike most other Australian states, who use fixed speed cameras, the Multanova 6F is a mobile speed camera, able to be deployed at any location by its operator (usually in a white utility with enclosed rear).  The Multanova 6F speed camera operates at 34.3GHz (Ka-band) and at a small power output of 0.2-0.5mw.  Only the best radar detectors with a "Ka-narrow" setting can give adequate warning.  There are 19 multanovas in service in WA (1/4/08)

View how a Multanova works here

 

 

 

20th April 2007 (source)

New high-tech speed cameras which could see the number of speeding tickets double are being tested on Perth’s streets as police consider several new models that will also allow speeding motorcyclists to be caught for the first time. Police advertised a tender last year for cameras that would finally be able to photograph speeding vehicles from behind in an attempt to put an end to the free ride for motorcycles, which have only rear number plates. But the new cameras, tested on the Mitchell Freeway on Wednesday, could also double the number of cars that are checked because the cameras supplied by one of the leading bidders can detect and photograph vehicles going in both directions. Cameras supplied by German company Vitronic can take speed measurements across four lanes of traffic in both directions using laser technology which is understood to have been developed for military use. It can take digital photographs from the front and the rear, which can then be reproduced on the speeding ticket. While the tender closed in December, police would not comment on the process yesterday and have previously stated they hoped the new cameras would be on the streets by July. They expected the cameras to cost $75,000 each, though it is not known how many will be bought. Figures released by former police minister Michelle Roberts in 2005 showed police estimated more than 18,000 speeding motorcyclists were photographed by speed cameras each year. The tickets were all written off until last year when police introduced a companion system which used a video camera next to speed cameras to capture footage of speeding motorcyclists. State Government plans to force riders to fit front identifiers to their machines have been hampered by researchers who have not been able to come up with a number plate that would suit the many different motorcycle styles.

 

New speed camera blitz will reap $200m in fines
13th April 2008 source: The West Australian

Dozens of speed traps, including new speed cameras on police cars, 88 extra mobile radars and 24 fixed cameras along Perth’s freeways, would be introduced under a State Government road safety blueprint, reaping an estimated $200 million a year from more than two million fines for WA motorists.

Details of the plan for a massive increase in the number of infringements issued each year, from about 440,000 to more than two million, is contained in a Government-commissioned report likely to form the basis of the State’s new 12-year road safety strategy.

“The expected fine revenue from speeding motorists detected by the recommended speed-enforcement operations, at least in the short term, is estimated to be $204 million per annum,” the 2006 Monash University accident research centre report said.

By comparison, last year WA drivers paid $17 million in speed camera fines.

As well as 24 fixed cameras on freeways, which would generate an estimated 427,356 fines a year, the report also recommended 43 new vehicle mounted cameras and an extra 88 “mobile radar units”.

About 1.1 million fines a year would come from mobile speed cameras and laser detectors on metropolitan roads and 495,000 fines from mobile speed cameras and radar units on rural roads.

“Processing of the estimated 2.043 million speeding tickets per year from the recommended package will require a substantial increase in police personnel as well as about $4 million capital investment in the back office infrastructure to triple its offence processing capacity,” the report said.

The Office of Road Safety said the report, by Professor Max Cameron, was being reviewed and an update prepared before speed enforcement recommendations were included in the 2008-2020 road safety strategy.

But Professor Cameron confirmed yesterday that the updated version “won’t be much of a departure from the package”.

It would also include an additional recommendation for point-to-point speed cameras on open roads after the ORS asked him to examine the new technology. “That might mean that some other forms of speed enforcement is not done as much, but probably it won’t be fundamentally different,” he said.

Professor Cameron also confirmed there was still no crash-based evaluation of WA’s Multanova program and that the report was based on the effectiveness of speed cameras in the Eastern States and overseas.

Police confirmed yesterday they had 19 Multanovas in operation, 191 car-mounted radars, 31 hand-held radars used to check Multanova effectiveness and 290 hand-held lasers.

The report said the package would provide an annual saving of $186 million in social costs, with the estimated cost to operate the package less than 10 per cent of the fine income.

Independent MP Dan Sullivan said yesterday that motorists should prepare for a speed enforcement strategy that was based on increasing speed cameras and revenue.

“This report is conclusive proof that the State Government is more interested in using speed cameras to raise revenue rather than reduce the road toll,” he said.

ORS acting executive director Jon Gibson said that the Enhanced Speed Enforcement Steering Committee would use the updated report “together with additional advice and research from Australia and around the world” to form its recommendation to the Government.

Police Minister John Kobelke said he expected to receive a draft road safety strategy for consideration midyear.

 

Liberals breach six-year-old camera revenue promise

source: http://www.news.com.au

THE Liberals have broken a key promise they made six years ago to put all speed and red light camera revenues into a special road safety fund.

Under Colin Barnett’s leadership at the 54th annual Liberal Party conference six years ago, the Liberals promised to legislate – if they won power – to direct all speed camera and red light fines into the Road Safety Council’s Road Trauma Fund.

But yesterday’s state budget showed the Liberals would direct only a portion of the millions of dollars they collected each year in speeding fines to the fund.

According to the budget the digitisation of the speed and red light camera fleet was expected to increase driving infringement revenue by $52.8 million in 2010-11 to $72.8 million thereafter.

What this is saying is (once again) the government is BANKING on the fact that their additional speed cameras will bring in MORE revenue. How can the government possibly claim that speed cameras are there to reduce the road toll when they are budgeting for them to INCREASE their revenue? Shouldn't their road safety initatives be celebrating their cameras making LESS money (people slowing down and thus not being fined)??

But the government says it expects to put only about $17 million a year into the trust fund – pocketing the rest.

The RAC said yesterday’s budget was a ``fundamental breach of trust by the government.’’

``In Opposition the Liberal Party was very loud in calling for all speed and red light fine revenue to go to the Road Trauma Trust Fund,’’ RAC spokesman Matt Brown said.

``In government they have reverted to the cynical tactic of milking speed and red light fines to prop up consolidated revenue.’’

The government announced yesterday that it will spend $30 million to buy digital speed and red light cameras as part of a towards zero road safety strategy.

The RAC says the new cameras will see WA motorists paying a huge $198 million in additional speed and red light fines.

``The cash grab will net The State Government a massive $541 million in speed and red light fines over the forward estimates period,’’ Mr Brown said.

``While the government rakes in the extra cash, spending on road safety initiatives is being radically cut back.’’

In 2003, then Shadow Road Safety Minister Katie Hodson-Thomas said: ``We are not going to win the war against road deaths, unless we change our priorities.

``Putting more money into road safety programmes will enable the Road Safety Council to do more preventative work to raise awareness and bring about a real change in driver culture.''

Police Minister Rob Johnson said the 2003 promise was not a 2008 pre-election pledge.

“The Road Trauma Trust Fund is only one small part of total Government funding to road safety. Recent figures show the total Government spend on road safety at about $280million, including funding to police enforcement,’’ he said.

“WA Police are currently preparing a business case regarding speed and red light cameras and the options for any eventual mix and numbers will be clearer once that business case is completed.

Wait - did we just read that right? The WA police are preparing a BUSINESS CASE for more speed cameras? That's right folks, as we've heard straight from a copper's mouth: "policing" is a business, one that is run on financials, not community best interest.

“The business case will also examine potential alternative public and private providers for speed camera and infringement processing related services.

Yet another example of politicians promising one thing, and delivering the opposite. If any "normal" business operated with these tactics, the ACCC would be all over them demanding answers.

Here are some of the community responses to the above:

"Lies, Lies,Lies, Colin and just remember these are the very people whom within a short time of gaining office announced that they would be doubling the amount of speed cameras. Whilst in opposition they screamed and yelled they are just revenue raisers and that the previous government had no intention of improving road safety. Well now the TRUTH is out and its obvious BARNETT is definately a two faced HYPOCRIT, who says one thing then just does the other and all to suck more money out of the public, because Barnett and his government are a disaster when it comes to economic management and we have to pay for their sheer incompetence. Whats next Col ? you going to start selling off public assets again are you ? just like last time we had a Liberal government. The Colin Barnett fire sale starts soon."

"The great Col Barnett Cash Grab is on, didnt take this money hungry Liberal long to show his real colours did it ? Huge Tax increases in yesterdays budget, a huge deficit coming that we shall all have to pay for, along with our children and now Barnett wants to Rip another $541 million out of the already suffering taxpayers with traffic infringements. But remember folks this is the great Liberal economic managers at work, what i want to know what is so great about hiking taxes, how does that make you a great economic manager ? any idiot can do that stunt, just ask Col, he is an expert at it."

"I have long held the opinion that there should be separate departments of the treasury, directly into which revenues raised via particular methods go, i.e. revenue from speeding, traffic and 'red light' infringements goes directly into one Department, which then disburses funds ONLY into improving roads, promoting driver awareness and other related initiatives. The same principle should be applied to revenue from the Medicare levy, with all net funds being ploughed back into the public health system. Having a single pool into which revenue from all sources flows makes it way too easy to divert too much of Government funds (i.e. OUR money) into non-essential, often utterly wasteful, initiatives instead of toward the medical, educational, judicial and quality of life welfare of Australian citizens, whatever their income or social status. But I'm not so naive to think that such an outcome will ever eventuate because it would be much harder for our Government to fund military expeditions against those who had not declared us as enemies, or to host irresponsibly expensive international sporting events, or insert your preferred wasteful Gov't sponsored initiative here"

"HAHAHA are they surprised the government is revenue raising? They must have been living in a cave on the moon, we all know they want to pocket the money from mums and dads 5km over the ever declining speed limit. Now they have ordered $30mill worth of additional cameras with 700 people to support them...... All under the farce of "Road Safety"."

"Watch this space, they will privatise it shortly. Add more camera's to get good growth projections, then turn it over to private industry for a %age. That gets them rid of a pesky promise, and the successful company will just happen to favour a political party for it's donations. That way, they get the drip feed for general spending, and an election war-chest for themselves. If you don't believe me, check out what happened in Victoria under Kennett. And the company that got the contract had no restrictions on the number of camera's they could use. Very shortly a dozen exceeded 90 and the public got fleeced. One photography business where you cannot lose money."

"Any doubts about Barnett's govt intention on how to balance the budget - check out the Moronic Robotic Dipstiks (MRD) for the latest 110 kph roads that have suddenly become too dangerous to drive on above 70kph - look out for the revenue raising rozzers down around Mandurah leading onto the new Bunbury Hwy from next week - look out for a balanced budget courtesy of the hapless motorist next year. Brought to you by yet another dorrington of an idea."

"I was at a road safety conference a few weeks ago and Police were talking about removing the 5kmh (I think thats correct) tolerance that is in place for speeding. Pathetic, isn't it?"

"Bec & heterochromia (& other dorringtons of similar mind) - if nobody speeds & the revenue falls then Manic Roads Dept will rampage through metro area further lowering speed limits until we all do. Open your eyes, it is already happening - every week dick honeypot announces yet another set or three of revenue raising, speed limit lowering, adjustments that have no obvious justification and they refuse to answer any questions as to why the changes - some them by 20kph - have been made!! They rarely if ever signpost the road in advance of the change. If you don't read the paper you have no idea - if you don't happen to notice that a sign has been changed on the road you have been safely traversing at 90kph for 30 years without anyone having an accident and overnight became a 70kph road complete with multanova - well you hoon - tough!!! Colin is laughing all the way to a balanced budget."

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How accurate are these devices?

 

The assumption being made here, is that the speed measuring equipment is being used according to the manufacturer's guidelines (see below).

The Falcon hand-held Radar gun is accurate to ± 2km/h as it is used only in a "stationary mode"

 

The Kustom Eagle dash mounted moving radar is accurate to ± 2km/h in stationary mode and ± 3km/h in moving mode

 

The LTI Ultralyte Laser (Lidar) gun is also accurate to ± 2km/h and cannot be operated in moving mode.

 

The Multanova is accurate to ± 3km/h up to 100km/h then ± 3% at speeds over 100km/h.  It's has three power settings which are :

  • "Near" which gives a detection range of approx 7 meters (single lane roads)

  • "Means" which gives a range of 15 meters (used for dual lane roads)

  • "Far" which gives a detection range of approx 40 meters (multi-lane roads)

The power output used by these three settings is 0.2mw to 0.5mw

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What are the guidelines for use of this equipment?

 

Contrary to what the government or police would have you believe, the accuracy of these "speed measuring devices" can be somewhat doubtful, particularly if the manufacturer's guidelines for use are not strictly followed.  Police officers, and mobile speed camera operators are trained in the proper use of these devices, but that isn't to say these guidelines are always followed.  It is estimated that 10% of all LIDAR infringements are incorrect and up to 30% of all moving radar speed readings are also incorrect!

 

The Australian standards AS 2898.2-2003:

"Radar speed detection - Operational procedures" - can be purchased HERE

 

The Australian standards AS 4691.2-2003:

"Laser-based speed detection devices - Operational procedures"

- can be purchased HERE

 

Guidelines for the use of Multanova speed cameras (source)

  • Image Speed Measurement Devices are not to be operated at the base of any steep incline unless otherwise directed or authorised by the Assistant Commissioner, Traffic and Operations Support (or his delegate)

  • Image Speed Measurement Devices are not to be placed within 100 metres of the approach or departure side of a change of speed zone unless otherwise directed by the Assistant Commissioner, Traffic and Operations Support (or his delegate).

  • The speed camera tolerance in Western Australia is set ridiculously low. The Assistant Commissioner of Traffic believes that drivers should only be given 3 km/h tolerance which is the in built error factor in the Multanova speed camera.

  • Speed cameras should not be placed in the vacinity of a traffic sign, metal fence or objects moving in the background such as trains, that can reflect radar signals and give false readings.

  • Speed cameras that use side angle projection of the radar beam (Multanova), must be setup parallel to the traffic flow. Why? Because of the "Cosine Error Factor" which will cause the speed reading to be inaccurate - Either reading too high or too low, depending on how far off parallel the camera is pointing. This is why all speed cameras shouldn't be setup on curved roads, only straight roads. (An interesting point to clarify - "How is a camera setup parallel to the road? From some video footage seen of a speed camera setup, its done by "thumb" (rough enough is good enough!). So much for accuracy!

  • Speed cameras must be tested before and after setup. (Only to show if there is a gross error with the device.) All speed cameras must be certified every 12 months as being accurate. ( The question arises -"Is every 12 months good enough after roughly 3 - 4 setups per day in WA for example?" That's roughly after every 1500 x 2 = 3000 pickup and drops in the back of a car!)

What does all this mean? It means that there are requirements for the correct placement and setup of speed camera devices such as the Multanova and Gatso speed cameras - rules that must be followed for setup, placement and testing! But are they?  Most Australians support speed enforcement, and reduced road fatalities.  The negative sentiment arises when innocent people know a speed camera / radar or laser has made a mistake, and what's worse, is the government and police will do anything to cover up these shortfalls.  Thus it can cost thousands of dollars to prove you were in fact innocent. 

 

Prime example:

 

Vanessa Bridges was booked by a speed camera in Victoria for doing 158km/h in her Datsun.  The trouble was, her Datsun was tested immediately afterwards and was found to have a top speed of 117km/h

 

Faced with this evidence, the police still did not retract the fine!

 

"We're not dropping the fine at all", and I even ended up receiving a letter in the mail saying that, "Oh, yes, the letter of rejection has been accepted and your court date will be advised shortly."

So, it was very stressful and I was basically treated like a criminal, and it was horrible - absolutely horrible"

 

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How do Police Radar, Laser & Speed Cameras make mistakes?

Moving Radar mistakes:

The Texas Department of Public Safety produced a comprehensive manual based on the Federal tests. It cautions operators, "...the radar does not generate 'false' readings. Anytime a reading appears, the radar has sensed a signal. The radar operator must be familiar with situations that can produce 'error' readings." If the operator does not detect the error, a ticket will be wrongfully issued.

Here are the radar "errors" detailed by the Texas manual:

 

1. Antenna Positioning Error
The radar beam travels in a straight line, neither bending around curves nor following the contour of hilly terrain. If the antenna is not properly positioned, it may seem to clock an approaching car when, in fact, it's clocking another car in the background.

2. Look-Past Error
Even if the operator aims his antenna properly, radar is still subject to "look-past" error. This is caused by the radar looking past a small reflection in the foreground to read a larger reflection behind. This error is all the more insidious because poorly-trained operators assume it can't happen.

 

Texas instructors warn, "It is a widely-held misconception that the reflected target signal received by the radar antenna will always be that of the closest vehicle to the antenna. There are times, due to traffic conditions, that the closest vehicle is not returning the strongest signal."

 

The Texas instructors confirm this problem with radar, saying "It is not unfair to say that the reading you register could be a larger, better target three-quarters of a mile down the road."

 

3. Vehicle Interference Error

Texas tells its radar operators that this "...situation becomes more critical if difference in patrol speed and interference-vehicle speed is five to ten mph. A target vehicle moving 61 mph may be recorded at 66-71. These borderline speeds are more difficult to detect with the eye."


 

4. Cosine Error
Cosine error produces a result similar to Interference error except no moving traffic need be present. A stationary object adjacent to the road, such as a building, or road machinery, or even a sign, makes a more efficient reflector than horizontal pavement. Therefore the radar uses that reflection as the basis of patrol speed.

 

If this reflector were positioned straight ahead on a collision path, the patrol speed estimate would be close enough. But the further the object is located off a direct line to the target, the lower will be the estimate of patrol speed. This is a simple trigonometry problem relating to the cosine of the angle between the target and the ground reflector, hence the name Cosine error. Since Cosine error always makes patrol speed seem smaller than it actually is, it always acts to raise the reading of target speed.

 

 

5. Double-Bounce Error
Microwaves are easily reflected. That's what makes radar possible. But the operator must be aware of the difference between an ordinary reflection and a bad bounce. Big objects such as trucks are very efficient reflectors, and it's possible for the radar beam to bounce off several moving trucks at once, always producing erroneous readings.


6. Beam-Reflection error
Because microwaves are so readily reflected, Texas instructors recommend caution, even in mounting the antenna within the patrol car. They say it's possible that a reflective path can be set up through the rear-view mirror that will produce radar readings on vehicles behind the patrol car when the radar is aimed forward. And those vehicles behind can be either coming or going, since radar does not distinguish directions.

 

7. Road-sign error
The ready reflectability of microwaves means that road signs are also source of errors.

 

8. Radio-Interference Error
According to the Texas course, "UHF radio now in use can force radar to read various numbers when you transmit, or just key the mike. Citizens band radio transmissions from within the patrol vehicle can cause ghosting (false readings)." It recommends that no radio transmissions be made while clocking target vehicles.

 

9. Fan-Interference error
When the antenna is mounted inside the patrol car, the Texas course says, "Radar will have a tendency to read the pulse of the fan motor (air conditioner, heater, or defroster)." The instructors go on to say, however, that the fan reading will disappear when a target comes into range, and that the fan will not distort the speed reading of the target car.

 

However, in the case of moving radar, they say, "Sometimes a steady fan speed will override patrol car speed reflected from the roadway." When this happens, the false speed reading produced by the fan will be substituted for patrol speed in the moving radar's calculation of target speed. Since the calculation consists of subtracting patrol speed from closing speed, if the fan reading is less than patrol speed, then the speed displayed for the target will be incorrectly high.

 

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Speed Laser (Lidar) mistakes

Police LIDAR can also make errors if not operated according to the manufacturer's guidelines.

 

1. Stationary - Laser cannot be used in moving mode, they must be used whilst stationary.  Similar to radar, laser cannot be used in the rain, snow, or high dust environments.

 

2. Interference - If for any reasons intended signal returns are interrupted, it may not be able to determine target velocity. Bright lights (such as Halogens) beaming directly into a laser aperture may desensitize or entirely masks target's echoes. The brighter and closer the light source the greater the chance of interference.

 

3. Cosine Error - Is the angle from 0* perpendicular to the target vehicle. The greater the cosine angle the greater the error. However, cosine error is always in favor of the motorist, one of the speed readings will be will be proportionally less than the actual speed of the target vehicle.

 

4. Sweep Error (also known as pan or slip error) - Is manifested when the laser is aimed at one part of the vehicle, say the license plate, and due to the motion of the operator, the laser also targets a side mirror during the same trigger pull. Sweep Error adds to the real speed of the target vehicle. See videos below.

 

5. Reflection Error - On very hot days with low humidity a visible mirage/reflection of the target vehicle is created. In many cases, when the laser is aimed at the target vehicle the infrared beam also receives readings from both the target vehicle and the mirage causing a Sweep Error.

 

6. Overexposure Error - When a laser gun receives an extremely powerful reflective signal, such as a sun flare off a vehicle, the computer's timer can't see return of the 904 nanometer signal it sent. It can't compute a speed reading. In general, the laser gun is looking for the strongest return reflection of its own emitted beam for speed computation.

 

LTI 20-20 exposed as unreliable (source)

Daily Mail, 15th October 2005.

 

Experts and two investigations by the BBC's Inside Out program and The Daily Mail have revealed that the police's favourite speed gun, the LTI 20-20, is flawed and can produce incorrect and unreliable speed readings. The device is used in some 3500 speed traps around the UK, but motorists have been prosecuted for speeding when they're adamant that they weren't over the limit. However, the main expert witness called by the CPS to defend the equipment in court is the boss of the UK importer, Frank Garratt, a former police officer and now a millionaire.

 

In tests the speed gun recorded a wall speeding at 44mph. (Yes, a brick wall, that's not a misprint) Other tests showed a bicycle doing 66mph and a parked car doing 22mph. The Daily Mail reports that even when the camera is set up following the police's own guidelines and the manufacturer's handbook some of the readings were wildly off the mark.

 

The newspaper wrote "The Mail can expose the scandal of a speed enforcement industry in which the collection of fines is considered paramount - whatever the consequences for innocent drivers caught in police traps by faulty readings." Lawyers told the paper that motorists are now rebelling by refusing to pay fines and fighting their cases through the courts. One solicitor, Barry Culshaw from Southampton, is representing 15 clients who all claim to have been a victim of faulty LTI 20-20 readings.

 

Another discovery, writes The Daily Mail, is that vital video film, often taken as secondary evidence, is often mysteriously withheld from accused motorists by the CPS. On at least 10 occasions the CPS has suddenly dropped the case against a motorist when ordered by a judge to hand over the revealing footage. 

 

Dr Michael Clark is Europe's leading expert on laser technology and a former directory of a company making laser detection equipment for traffic lights and car parks. He's also a fierce critic of the speed gun and has acted as an expert witness on behalf of many motorists since he defended himself after being caught for alleged speeding.

 

Dr Clark says the gun is defective because its wide beam can easily pick up the wrong vehicle and if not held firmly on the target (which is a difficult task itself) it can produce an erroneous speed result because of "slippage".

 

Reflections from road signs and from other cars, even stationary ones, can also make the laser device misinterpret the true speed of the vehicle. The LTI 20-20 works by sending out a beam to measure the distance of the target from the officer operating it and also how long it takes for the beam to reflect off the target and bounce back. The operator looks through the sights and sees a red dot which he aims onto the target and presses a trigger. Critically the beam must be held firmly at the same point on the moving vehicle. But if slippage occurs and the beam moves up, down, or along the vehicle the gun will measure an inaccurate reading.

 

In tests in the USA, it was shown that if the beam slips from the windscreen of a car down to its grille on the bonnet it can add 8mph onto the vehicle's measured speed. If it slips along the length of the car - which is possible when a vehicle comes around a corner into the speed gun's sights - a whopping 30mph can be added on to the reading.

 

The BBC's experiments with the LTI 20-20 were dismissed by both the UK importers and ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) saying it was impossible for the gun to make any errors and that the BBC used an American version of the gun which they claim has less reliable software.

 

However, that claim was been rejected by the Daily Mail who obtained a UK version of the gun - a LTI 20-20 Ultralyte certified by Tele-Traffic, the UK importers based in Warwick.

 

Dr Clark points out during the experiments that the gun uses a multi-mode laser which uses 3 beams, not one. Over a long distance the beams widen so if it's targeted onto one vehicle it can unintentionally hit another vehicle nearby by mistake. Dr Clark said "A policeman can't tell from 400 meters away - or even at a longer distance in many cases - exactly which car he is marking." To demonstrate his point they parked a car at the side of the road and drove a white van past it at just 3mph. The laser gun was pointed at the car from 371 meters away which, according to the handbook, is easily within its capabilities.

 

As soon as the van drove past the parked car the laser gun picked up the moving van. It was impossible to target just the parked car along and as a result the car was recorded as travelling at 3mph, even though it was really stationary. The experiment was repeated with the van doing 26mph and the gun clocked the parked car at 26mph.

 

Another problem is reflection from other vehicles. They pointed the gun at a different parked car and slowly drove the white van past. It recorded the parked car doing 22mph. Dr Clark explains "The beam sometimes catches the reflection of a nearby car. It zig-zags to this car before carrying on to the target vehicle and returns by the same route."

 

In their final experiment they pointed the gun at a brick wall with no moving vehicles in the area. They moved the beam along the wall instead of keeping it perfectly still on a single point to create the slippage effect. The gun was confused and showed a speed of 44mph. Dr Clark said "This shows how a traffic officer can mistakenly pick up a reading from a wall by the side of a motorway or even an empty road if he doesn't target a vehicle properly. Of course there's no record to prove if an officer had targeting the vehicle properly or not. Assumption of accuracy is always taken for granted even if the officer had unwittingly made a mistake.

 

ACPO state that the gun shouldn't be used at distances more than 500 meters, but Dr Clark says that it's being used in some cases at double that distance.

 

Despite the recent media interest in these issue the shortcomings of the gun was discovered nearly a decade ago in 1996 in the US state of New Jersey. The state temporarily banned the gun after a court witnessed someone targeting the gun on a wall of the courtroom and it measured 4mph. The lawyer, Joe Maccarone, defending a motorist accused of speeding called on an expert from NASA. The expert said that at just over 300 metres there was only a 60% chance of a human operator hitting a 12 foot wide target with a laser gun. Cars are only 6 foot wide so the chances of hitting something other than the target are very high indeed.

 

Hand-held laser mistakes videos:

 

If you have been given a ticket from a laser gun when you were positive you weren't doing the alleged speed, then

YOU MUST WATCH THIS VIDEO!

 

 

 

Part Two

This video also shows how "reflection" can also create errors in speed readings, as well as the slip error as featured in the first video

 

 

 

This video from a speed laser hobbyist also shows how a slip error can generate an erroneous reading.

 

 

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Speed camera mistakes:

Once again the police and the government would like to have us believe in their "utmost confidence in the accuracy of speed cameras".  Of course they would, as a proven fault could cost them millions of dollars in repaid fines (like what happened in Victoria) and a loss of revenue.  But how accurate are the Western Australian Multanova 6F speed cameras?

 

"As the police officer was not in a position to estimate accurately the speed of the vehicle with the naked eye and did not take meaningful notes, his evidence, apart from the evidence from the Multanova , was not sufficient to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the motor vehicle owned by the defendant was speeding on the date in question.

 

Multinova readings are admissible if the surroundings reveal that the evidence is both accurate and enjoys circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness. The circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness were not supplied by the police officer's visual observations. The onus was on the crown to prove that the Multanova was capable of accurately measuring the speed of the defendant's vehicle, while it is not necessary for the Crown to establish through expert evidence how the particular speed detection device works scientifically, there must be relevant and appropriate evidence on the record from which the court can conclude that the device was functioning properly at the time of the alleged offence. The tests performed on the instrument to ensure its accuracy must be approved tests and these tests must satisfy the trier of fact that the instrument is capable of accurately measuring speed. Something other than simply turning the instrument on and relying on it to test itself is required. The fact (assuming that such a fact was established) that the "self-test" performed in this case is all that is required by the manufacturer does not mean that the test is an "approved test". The "self-test" was insufficient to satisfy the required circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness." (source)

 

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What is the best defence against each of these speed measuring devices??

 

Simple! - "Don't speed" - I hear echo amongst the narrow minded.  That's fine, and we agree whole heartedly, but "Don't speed and you won't have to pay a fine" assumes three very important things:

 

1) The speed limit is clearly indicated (Kwinana Freeway road works with two different posted speed limits on either side of the road ring a bell?)

 

2) Your car's speedometer is accurate.

 

3) The radar, laser or speed camera that measures your speed was accurate.

 

So what happens when you are driving down the road, sitting on 80km/h (according to your speedometer) in an 80km/h stretch of road, but you cop a speeding fine?

 

We will analyze each WA speed measuring device and discuss the products available:

 

Hand-held radar:

The "Falcon" hand held radar gun (made in the USA) operates on K-band.  The police officer points the "gun" towards the approaching vehicle and squeezes the trigger.  In this "instant on" mode you have little warning if you're the only car on the road.  The ideal situation for early warning is if a motorist in front of you is targeted first, and the radar beam travels past his car, it is detected by your radar.  Most detectors (cheap included) will detect the K-band radar at long range.

 

 

Dash Mounted radar:

The dash mounted Golden Eagle by Kustom Signals is similar to the hand-held radar above, operating on K-band.  When the police officer is driving down the road "shooting" at on-coming traffic he is doing it in two ways; "constant on" or "instant on".  In constant on, the radar beam is constantly transmitting down the road.  When an oncoming car enters the radar's beam, a reflected signal is returned to the gun, and a speed is displayed on the unit.  Again, any decent radar detector will give advanced warning in this scenario.

 

In "instant on" the radar unit is powered on, but not transmitting.  When the approaching vehicle is within range, the radar gun is then switched on (transmitting) and the target vehicle's speed is displayed within a second.  "Instant on" radar can be deadly, especially, if you're the only car on the road.  For this reason it pays to keep a "rabbit" in front of you so he or she is targeted first and you can detect the police radar in advance.

 

What about a radar jammer?

Some people have queried the possibility of a radar jammer.

Your most important question in purchasing a so-called radar jammer should be "does it work?"
 
You may have seen them advertised on other websites and some magazines: the passive radar/laser jammers (also known as radar scramblers).  Some passive jammers are Phantom, Phantom II, Phaser or Phazar, the Phantom III and The Black Widow.

Passive radar Jammers DO NOT WORK!  These "jammers" are usually manufactured by a company called Rocky Mountain Radar (RMR). We have tested many of their units and we have yet to find one that works as advertised.

Know what to avoid before you purchase such a passive jammer, consider reading the "Jamming Testing Report" by Radar Roy first to find out why we do not sell and/or recommend them.

Active Radar Jammers - Not Much Improvement! You may have also heard of the active radar jammers with the name of Phantom RCD XP or The Scorpion. These do work to a limited degree.

Active radar jammers like those named above, only jam X, K with any success and have difficulty jamming Instant on radar.  Their effectiveness against Ka radar is even less, especially at close range.  Read a test report on active radar jammers here.

 

Hand-held laser (lidar):

Laser guns are another "deadly" device in that they can calculate your speed in less than a second.  Although most radar detectors include a laser sensor, they usually offer little more than a "ticket notifier" when they go off.  Having said that, there ARE circumstances where a laser (detector) can and has, provided adequate warning...

 

although these are few and far times in between.  Click on the video to the left (allow pop-ups) to watch just how quickly a police laser gun acquires vehicle's speeds.

So what is the best defenses against laser?  Well, as far as a detector goes, the best at detecting laser is the Valentine One.  Granted we just finished convincing you a detector is useless against laser, but the Valentine One, will give you the best chance of detecting "off-axis" laser from the car in front of you being targeted.  For proof that the Valentine is the best unit at detecting laser, you can read Bob's (The Veilguy) Laser Detector test:

"That being stated, these results suggest that, especially in close-range laser encounters, the Valentine 1 is the top performing laser detector, by a wide-margin, followed by the Escort 8500 X50 and more closely, the STi Driver, and the Beltronics RX65 Pro.."

We conducted out own laser jammer test and came to the same conclusions.

But as aforementioned, just detecting the laser won't be enough.  The most cost effective solution is with the use of Veil anti-laser paint.  Veil will give you additional seconds warning time when used in conjunction with a good laser detector.  You can read more about Veil in our laser jammers section.

 

The best defense against laser is by the use of an active laser jammer.  Unlike most active radar jammers, active laser jammers do work.  An active laser jammer will prevent a speed being displayed for a brief time whilst you adjust your speed if necessary.  The best laser jammers for the Australian model LTI Ultralyte according to the Guys Of Lidar 2007 test are the Laser Interceptor and the Blinder.  You need to look at the results for the Ultralyte 100pps as these are the laser guns used in Australia.  The Laser Pro Park finished fifth in the test against these laser guns.

 

Multanova Speed Cameras:

The Multanova 6F speed camera operates on Ka-band at 34.3GHz at such a low power level, you require a VERY GOOD detector to achieve any advanced warning, especially when the radar is pointed at the rear of traffic, taking your photo after you have driven past.  The best radar detectors for Multanova speed cameras are ones that either through their fixed or user-adjustable programming, can specifically look for the Multanova's 34.3GHz signal of the Multanova.  This is referred to as "Ka-narrow band" or "Ka-narrow sweep".  Instead of scanning the entire Ka-band of 33.400GHz to 36.000GHz (a range of 2600MHz or 2.6GHz) the detectors with "Ka-narrow" scan a much lower range of around 200MHz.

 

Think of it like your car's FM radio. If you started at the very bottom of the FM band range, its about 88FM and the top is something like 106FM. Let's say you wanted to pick up an intermittent radio station at 96.1FM

If your radio had to always scan from 88FM all the way up to 106FM when the only station you could possibly pick up was 96.1FM then you see the wasted time in scanning the whole FM band (think Ka-band) for that one signal.

Now lets say you had a FM radio that you could program to only scan from 95.9 to 96.3 FM. Obviously it would detect a 96.1FM signal a LOT faster than one that was scanning the entire range (think Ka super wide band) .

Keeping with this analogy, Australia has a FM radio "band allowance" of 88FM up to 106FM. But lets say USA has an FM allocation of 82FM to 115FM. And if we bought a car radio from the USA and the only intermittent radio station we could detect was 96.1FM, and by design the radio had to scan the entire band, you can see why detectors made for the USA do not perform so well against Multanovas in Western Australia (or anywhere else)

So if we can program our detector to only scan small slices of the Ka-band range, we dramatically improve the sensitivity on low powered, weak signals like the Multanova.

 

This is similar to how the "Ka-narrow" setting works on radar detectors, such as the Bel 990i, the Bel 975r, Bel 966r, Bel (Target) Euro 550, Euro 330 and the Valentine One.  Popular radar detectors such as the Bel RX65, Bel STi (Bel XR) and Bel XR950 do not have this "Ka-narrow" programming therefore do not perform as well against the Multanova cameras as those detectors that do.  This is why we struggle to see how the so-called "Aus tuned" Beltronics detectors sold in Australia really are tuned for our conditions!

 

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How does each radar detector perform detecting WA radars, lasers & cameras?

 

(none)

 

Summary for best radar detector for WA:

 

 

You can read the detailed test reports in our reviews section, but against all Western Australian threats, the Valentine One in combination with Veil anti-laser paint is the best combination for protection against all current radar, laser and speed cameras.

 

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What are the laws governing the use of radar detectors in WA

In Western Australia there are NO laws banning the use of a radar detector, however you may be fined for obstructing your windscreen if you have it mounted in the middle of the windshield. 

 

It is unknown why radar detectors have not been banned in WA (whereas they have in all other Australian states), although we suspect some members of the WA parliament have the foresight to see radar detectors save lives - because after all, isn't that what speed cameras are all about?

 

Below is an excerpt from parliament.wa.gov.au

 

HON FRANK HOUGH (Agricultural) [11.13 pm]: I will be reasonably brief. It was mentioned in a weekend newspaper that radar detectors in motor vehicles may be banned in Western Australia. I think the reason radar detectors may be banned is to extract more revenue from the cash cow Multanovas. I have a copy of a report on radar detectors in the United Kingdom, which highlights a few facts and figures about the use of radar detectors and the correlation between radar use and accidents caused by speeding or unsafe driving. It is an important report. It states, in part -

    The use of radar detectors became legal in the UK on 29/1/98 when a Mr David Foot won an appeal when a High Court judge overturned a conviction for using a detector.

The United Kingdom is now in line with most European states, including Germany, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Greece, Italy and Portugal, in allowing the free use of radar detectors. The United States has in the vicinity of 15 million radar detectors in cars. They can be bought from such stores as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Mori poll research of 19 May 2001 reported that United Kingdom radar users are involved in 24 per cent fewer accidents. As a result of that survey in the United Kingdom, motoring organisations, such as the Royal Automobile Club and the Association of British Drivers, are now supporting their use. The statistics resulting from the Mori poll support an earlier United States survey by Yankelovich, Clancy and Schulman, which disclosed a figure of 23 per cent fewer accidents and motorists driving almost 60 000 more miles between accidents. My car has a radar and so do the cars of many other members.

 

Hon Ken Travers: You do not speed anyway.

 

Hon FRANK HOUGH: I do not speed, but the radar detector has a tendency to keep me awake. It beeps at various times and makes me aware of my speed. Radar detectors are a very good thing.

 

Many British police officers, when questioned, said that they support the use of radar detectors. They argue that radar detector users are regularly made aware of both their speed and the police presence, which in turn has a moderating or calming influence on other traffic. Radar detector users are more regularly confronted with their own speed through the false alarm condition of a detector. My radar detector goes off regularly. It makes me look at my speed. When there is a car in front, or a service station or a shopping centre with electronic doors, the radar detector continually beeps. However, when the car passes a Multanova or a radar speed detector, it has a slightly different tone. At times when I have passed a radar speed detector, fortunately I have been within the speed limit.

 

The Government should look at radar detectors. The Mori poll survey supports this. After purchasing a detector, 76 per cent of users agree that they have become more conscious about keeping to the speed limit; 59 per cent agree that they have become safer drivers; 78 per cent agree that they are more aware of the speed limit in the areas in which they are driving; and 81 per cent agree that they have become more aware of speed generally. I could go on and on about this, but I will not.

 

Hon Kim Chance: Only for another five minutes and four seconds.

 

Hon FRANK HOUGH: I do have five minutes but I will not use them.

It worries me that this is becoming another area of cash-cow-type income for the Government. I guess that one could refer to it as a road tax. Radar detectors are important. If one drives in the country or at night, the radar detector keeps one aware of what is going on. It would be a crying shame for this State to ban or outlaw radar detectors.

 

If the Minister for Police is considering banning radar detectors, I suggest that she do her homework with great care to make sure that she gets her facts right. Rather than look at another income opportunity, she should look at the safety factors that are very clearly reported, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States; that is, that radar detectors do help motorists and make them aware that keeping within the speed limit is important.

 

Contrary to what Australian police and most politicians believe, the majority of radar detector owners did not buy their radar detector as a "license to speed".  In fact the small minority of those drivers that did buy a detector for that purpose quickly realize their mistake by means a costly speeding fine.  A radar

 

We applaud Frank Hough for taking an objective view and looking at the benefits and safety of using radar detectors in other countries around the world.

 

Download the Mori report which (among many things) shows radar detector owners have fewer accidents.

 

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Can the police determine if you are using a radar detector?

 

Because there are no anti-detector laws, there are no police Radar Detector Detectors (RDD's) used in W.A.

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What are the Speeding Fines for WA? (source)

Less than 9 km/h   - $75    plus 0 Demerit Points      (was $50  0 Points)
10 km/h - 19 km/h - $150   plus 2 Demerit Points      (was $100 1 Point)
20 km/h - 29 km/h - $250   plus 3 Demerit Points      (was $150 3 Points)
30 km/h - 40 km/h - $350   plus 5 Demerit Points      (was $250 4 Points)
More than 40 km/h - $1000 plus 7 Demerit Points    (was $350 6 Points)

 

Offence captured by a red light camera: $150 plus three demerit points.

 

1st March 2008 - new fines for not wearing a seatbelt:

 

1/3/08 - Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving - $250 and 3 demerit points

 

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If I wasn't speeding, how can I challenge/beat a speeding fine?

 

If you have been booked for speeding, and you were, then you should face the music and cough-up.  But what if you weren't actually speeding?

 

Remember that when you are pulled over and booked for speeding, the incident is alleged… not proven! The following rules will ensure you do not make the mistake of answering the police’s questions the wrong way.

 

Quite often the first question a policeman asks you is "Do you know why I pulled you over"?  Here, the policeman is looking for an admission of guilt.  By answering him "because I was going too fast?" immediately incriminates you by admitting you were speeding (even if you weren't). 

 

The other question commonly asked by a policeman when he pulls you over is "Why were you speeding?" Again, he or she is looking for an admission of guilt.  Do not admit that you were speeding or may have been speeding. There will be no chance of defending yourself in court later on. Remember that you are not under arrest and your only obligation is to hand over your driving license and registration.

 

Remember the 3 rules when pulled over:

 

Rule number one is your answer to the question, "Why were you speeding?" Simply reply:

 

"I was not speeding Officer, I was sitting exactly on the posted speed limit"

 

Rule number two is your answer to the Officer if he persists in repeating question 1 by saying his equipment (Radar / Laser) has shown that you were speeding. Simply reply,

 

"I was not speeding Officer, if your equipment says I was then I would strongly suggest that it is faulty. Will you show me the last infringement notice you issued so I may compare to see if their speed was the same as the one you are claiming I was doing?"

 

In most cases, the policeman will show you your reading but refuse to show you his or her previous infringement fine, citing that he is not obliged to do so.

 

The third rule is perhaps the most important of all. Under the National Safety Committee guidelines for the use and implementation of Police Speed detection devices, the police are only supposed to be operating them in known "Black Spot" or high accident areas. Innocently ask the question to the policeman,,

 

"Why are you operating this speed detection device in this area? Is it a known black spot or high accident risk area?"

 

If you follow the above rules you will stand a good chance of winning your case in court should you wish to defend the infringement. The justice system is there for all of us, not just the police.  If you win it costs you nothing! For further information and consultancy about how to defend yourself against and a police Laser (lidar) gun , the mobile radar or a speed camera, contact speeding fine consultants

 

Remember that when you are pulled over and booked for speeding the incident is

alleged…. not proven!

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What are the road fatality statistics for Western Australia??

 

"In the last decade, Western Australia has gone from having the lowest fatality rate of any state in the country to having one of the highest – last year, only the Northern Territory had more deaths per capita than Western Australia." (source)

 

Yet the government claims speed cameras are working!

 

WA Traffic Fatalities

Metro

Country

Total

2007 (to 31/1/07)

8

23

31

2006

86

117

203

2005

64

98

162

2004

80

100

180

2003

84

95

179

2002

67

112

179

2001

70

95

165

2000

83

129

212

1999

84

133

217

1998

103

120

223

1997

83

113

196

 

source: http://www.police.wa.gov.au

 

Taken from www.police.wa.gov.au in regarding speed cameras...

 

Here are the figures for the number of vehicles speeding past a Multanova speed camera:

 

Year

Total Vehicles past

a speed camera

Vehicles over the

speed limit

% vehicles over

the speed limit

1992

1,920,709

1,191,172

62.20 %

1993

2,076,988

1,078,446

51.92 %

1994 

3,053,698

1,248,619

40.89 %

1995

6,279,314

2,141,972

34.11 %

1996  

9,183,396

2,551,785

30.69 %

1997

11,221,126

2,877,921

25.65 %

1998

14,977,344

3,291,089

 21.97 %

1999 

19,427,074

4,047,873

20.84 %

2000 

19,059,566

3,668,755

19.25 %

2001 

18,826,160

3,843,552

20.42 %

2002

19,489,762

3,221,010

16.53 %

2003 

20,435,584

3,265,324

15.98 %

Yes a 46% reduction in speeding - Was there a corresponding reduction in West Australian road deaths? Absolutely not! So speed is the major cause of deaths on our roads? Think again!

 

There are other forces at work here, the statistics prove it!

Speed cameras make millions of dollars for state governments all over the world. Like poker machines "the more you have, the more money you make" A great example of speed camera madness is Victoria , Australia's speed camera state.


Why the stampede to introduce more and more speed cameras?


In Western Australia the answer was simple. Speed cameras allowed the Western Australian Government to disband the entire "Police Traffic Branch" and combine the role with general duties police work. You see one speed camera can book more drivers in one hour than 100 police officers. Wow! What a saving on wages, police traffic cars, motor bikes and petrol. The trouble is this type of thinking is simplistic not to mention down-right stupid and ineffective.

 

The WA government has been pushing the "speed kills" and "speed cameras save lives" campaign for a while now.  Fortunately many west Aussie's see through this smoke screen and in 2007 the government may be finally waking up to the fact the big stick method isn't reducing the road toll.  We would like to see more police patrol cars back on the road and better driver education & training, not more speed cameras.

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Summary for police radar, laser and speed cameras in W.A.

 

The number one radar detector for Western Australia is the Valentine One - Why?

  • It will detect Multanova speed cameras earlier than any other detector (proof)

  • It has detect police laser better than any other detector in the world (proof)

  • It will detect dash-mounted or hand-held WA police radar earlier than any other radar detector (proof)

  • When programmed with the auto mute mode it is the quietest detector for false alarms (videos coming)

Combining the Valentine One radar detector (available in either the windscreen mounted version or the hidden remote V1 version) with Veil anti-laser paint offers the best protection for Western Australian police radars, lasers and Multanova speed cameras.

 

Disclaimer

 

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After reading the above article, do you still have a question?

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