Latest news with #speedcameras
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Ministers told to crackdown on illegal number plates that are invisible to speed and ANPR cameras
Experts will today meet with minsters to tell them to get tough on illegal number plates sold online that allow speeding drivers and criminals to evade prosecution. The Government is being urged to clampdown on the rise in availability and use of so-called 'ghost number plates'. These plates have a reflective coating, which prevents them from being identified by by speed cameras and roadside ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras that enforce low emission zones, bus lanes, car parks, traffic light infringements and other forms of traffic management. Unscrupulous businesses online are also flogging self-adhesive laminate covers that can be stuck to existing plates rendering them invisible to enforcement cameras. The British Number Plate Manufacturers Association, which represents companies producing the vast majority of plates in the UK, wants tougher regulation of the sector to crackdown on illegal suppliers. Its chairman warned the products are 'enabling serious criminals and terrorists to move around the roads undetected'. As well as selling ghost plates, online retailers are also brazenly offering transparent films and reflective sprays that obscure a plate's letter and number combination under infrared light. Sprays are advertised by sellers on well-known online retailers for around £4. Some are also selling plates with subtly altered characters to disrupts camera software's ability to recognise them accurately. As well as listing on popular retail sites, companies offering these products are incredibly easy to find online - a quick search for 'ghost number plates' on a major search engine returns three different companies selling them. While highly sophisticated and used to enforce speeding and various types of traffic management - including enforcing clean air zones including the London ULEZ and Birmingham CAZ - infrared cameras are not foolproof and susceptible to illegal plate modifications. Reflective coating bounces the infrared light back to the camera to make plates unreadable to the high-resolution imaging software. Altered fonts, misaligned characters and non-standard designs intentionally confuse a camera's optical character recognition (OCR) software. Poor lighting, heavy rain and dirt and mud can also limit ANPR detection. According to the RAC Foundation, approximately one in 12 number plates is either obscured or damaged. However, others have reported that around one in 15 could be deliberately modified or altered for evasion purposes. In a letter sent to the Government ahead of Tuesday's parliamentary roundtable event, the BNMA claimed sellers who are not registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and therefore not following its rules are bringing the plates to market unchallenged. It warned that this has led to a rise in use of ghost plates as well as 'cloning' - when criminals purchase duplicate registration plates to those of a vehicle of the same make and colour they have spotted on the road or while scouring used car adverts. BNMA chairman Michael Flanagan said: 'Far from being the tightly regulated industry it should be, number plates are increasingly being sold by unscrupulous below-the-radar suppliers using non-compliant, untraceable materials. 'They rarely ask for the documentation that the DVLA require. 'This is a criminal offence and enables serious criminals and terrorists to move around the roads undetected. 'Motorists deserve to know they are buying a legal, compliant number plate from a legitimate supplier. 'Now is the time for Government to tighten the regulations.' RAC head of policy Simon Williams, who will also attend the roundtable with MPs today, added: 'Given the proliferation of number plate recognition cameras used for various types of enforcement, it simply isn't right that criminals can get away with these offences by easily purchasing illegal ghost plates. 'Together with the modern motoring menace that is cloned number plates, where blameless drivers have to prove their innocence for motoring offences they didn't commit, it's apparent these are serious and growing problems that need solutions.' A photo promoting another spray sold on Ebay with apparent 'high-tech flashing shielding' urges motorists to 'end your traffic ticket troubles now' and 'avoid the risk of being caught speeding' Licence plate sprays that 'block infrared signals and visible flashes emitted by speed cameras' are also being sold on Amazon Ghost plates cost less than a third of a speeding fine Sarah Coombes, Labour MP for West Bromwich, has already backed the calls. In February, she introduced the issue under a Ten Minute Rule Bill, which allows backbench MPs to make their case for a new bill within the set timeframe. She called for increased punishment for those caught with a ghost plate or using sprays and films, saying it should be hiked from a £100 fine and no penalty points to an on-the-spot £1,000 ticket and six points on an offender's licence. Earlier this year, she appeared on Good Morning Britain to showcase just how effective the products are as she continued her campaign to tackle the problem. Sarah Coombes (pictured), Labour MP for West Bromwich, laid down a Ten Minute Rule Bill in February to increase penalties for being caught with a ghost number plate to a £1,000 fine and six points 'There are a select minority of people who think they are above the law and that by using a ghost plate they can get away with running red lights, drink-driving, speeding and much worse,' Coombes said earlier this year. 'It cannot be right that these drivers are not facing the consequences of their actions and are creating so much danger for everyone else.' During the reading, she said the plates are 'widely known' on social media and online, where they can be purchased for as little as £30, which is less than a third of the cost of a speeding fine. Ahead of today's meeting, which she will host with industry experts, the DVLA and police forces, Coombes said: 'Dodgy number plates are no longer a fringe issue. They're everywhere and they're undermining the rule of law on our roads. 'I know this Government is committed to making our roads safer for everyone. Tightening the law on number plates will be a huge step in the right direction.' A DVLA spokesman added: 'DVLA is committed to ensuring all number plates are displayed correctly and legally. We work with the police and Trading Standards to take action against suppliers who do not comply with the law. 'A legitimate supplier will always ask to see ID and entitlement documents before selling a number plate. Where this doesn't happen, members of the public can report this directly to their local Trading Standards.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Middletown set to become first CT city approved to use red light, speed cameras
Middletown is set to become the first city in Connecticut to use automated red light and speed cameras. The city's application to use the cameras — which has to be approved by the Connecticut Department of Transportation before a municipality can install them — received the go-ahead on May 23, paving the way for the automated enforcement to be used on three city streets, including two near schools. 'It is designed to reduce the dangerous conditions within our community overall, and at the selected locations specifically,' Erik Costa, chief of the Middletown Police Department, wrote in the application to the state. 'These dangerous conditions contribute to traffic collisions, serious injuries and deaths involving pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and vulnerable roadway users on our roads.' Middletown is the third municipality to receive approval for use of the cameras and the first city in the state to get the green light. Town officials in Washington received approval of their application in December, and an application in Marlborough was OK'd earlier this month. According to the DOT, applications remain pending in Greenwich, Hamden, New Haven, Stamford, Stratford and Wethersfield. The devices could be in use in Middletown as early as July. For the first 30 days, written warnings will be issued, the DOT said. After that, fines can be as high as $50 for the first offense and can jump to as much as $75 for the second and subsequent offenses. The money that is generated must be used 'for the purposes of improving transportation mobility, investing in transportation infrastructure improvements or paying for the costs associated with the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices,' according to the DOT. In Middletown, the three sites where the cameras will be installed include on Route 66 between Woodgate Drive and George Street; Westfield Street between McCormick Lane and Bailey Road; and Country Club Road between Higby Road and Knox Boulevard. The Middletown Police Department includes a two-officer Traffic Unit which is responsible for 42 miles of roads and is 'unable to address all traffic concerns,' the city's application states. 'Controlling speeds through an automated enforcement system will help address certain increased safety concerns.' The speed limit on Route 66 is 35 mph, but police regularly report drivers going more than 70 mph, according to the application. 'Westbound vehicles are on a steep decline as they enter a densely populated area with an apartment complex and active business district,' Costa wrote. 'Additionally, the straight roadway feature entices motorists to accelerate through the area, leading to high-speed vehicles causing near miss crashes for motorists attempting to ingress and egress the residential and commercial driveways located along this path.' A speed study conducted on Route 66 found that, on average, a little more than 30,000 vehicles use the road each day. According to city's speed camera application, a little more than 75% of motorists were found to be going more than 10 mph over the speed limit. Westfield Street falls within a school zone near Spencer Elementary School. The road has a 20 mph speed limit and sits within a residential neighborhood. 'The sidewalks and crosswalks positioned along the roadway are regularly utilized by school children,' Costa wrote. Westfield Street is a heavily traveled road often used by motorists accessing Route 217 and Route 66, the application states. It also sees a heavy uptick in travel during drop-off and pick-up times at the school. A speed study found that an average of about 15,443 drivers use the road each day, with just under 50% of them going more than 10 mph over the speed limit, according to Costa. Country Club Road was chosen as one of the sites because it's a 'winding roadway with minimal shoulder space,' Costa wrote. 'The road landscape and layout make it dangerous for law enforcement to effectively enforce speed limits or conduct safe traffic stops,' Costa added. The road is often used to get to Interstate 91 and Route 3, and by commuters traveling to and from Meriden, according to the application. 'Northwest traffic on Country Club Road leads into the mountains leading downhill and then uphill through the Higby Mountain area,' Costa wrote. 'Vehicles traveling southeast enter two consecutive blind curves that limit sightlines leading to high-speed vehicles and near miss crashes for motorists attempting to ingress and egress the many residential driveways located along this path.' Country Club Road is also used to get to Moody Elementary School and local soccer fields. 'This speed control area is a long straightaway, flanked by s-curves on either end,' Costa states. 'High speed acceleration in this straightaway leads to safety concerns as vehicles navigate the S-curves, parks, school, and cross traffic within this area.' A traffic study on Country Club Road found that it averages about 1,213 motorists each day, with a whopping 99% of drivers going more than 10 mph over the 25 mph speed limit, according to the city's application.
CTV News
5 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Photo radar cameras in Barrie cut speeds, net $1.2M - and they're here to stay
The City of Barrie aims to make its speed camera program permanent with additional cameras. The City of Barrie aims to make its speed camera program permanent with additional cameras. City plans for more speed cameras after program brings in millions Nobody likes to find a ticket in the mail, but in Barrie it's been a game-changer. A staff report presented to council this week revealed the City's two-year automated speed enforcement (ASE) pilot project has made a measurable impact on how fast people drive, and has brought in over $1.2 million in revenue. As a result, city council voted Wednesday in favour of making the program permanent and expanding it. The report showed average speeds dropped at all 12 locations where speed cameras were studied. 'Not only does it bring down the speeds in the areas during the time that the cameras are active, but also to a high percentage of the time, the speeds actually continue to be reduced even after the cameras are gone,' said Ward 7 Councillor Gary Harvey. The program started with two cameras and the city intends to add two more as permanent fixtures in school and community safety zones with high pedestrian activity, specifically involving children. 'We're putting them in school and safety zones where our children are playing,' said Mayor Alex Nuttall. 'We should have these types of devices to ensure that if the habit of the public is to speed in school zones, we need to find a way to slow that down.' Of the revenue generated by the program, more than half-a-million will be allocated toward community safety initiatives. Council is also considering introducing red light cameras, a measure that's currently under review by staff. A final report is expected in the coming months for council's consideration.
CBS News
5 days ago
- General
- CBS News
California bill seeks to place speed cameras in road construction zones
A bill under consideration in the California legislature aims to prevent Caltrans worker deaths and injuries, by placing automated speed cameras in highway construction zones. Assembly Bill 289 by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) would establish a pilot program that would place cameras at up to 75 construction zones in the state. Haney spoke about the measure at a news conference off Interstate 80 near Davis on Wednesday, surrounded by construction workers. "This bill is about saving lives and it's about valuing the workers who risk their lives to build California's infrastructure," he said. Haney discussed the danger highway construction workers face on the job, noting that 9,500 crashes took place in the state's work zones in 2021, leading to 73 deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries. In 2023, there were more than 100 vehicle intrusions into highway work sites, which led to injuries and even deaths. "This isn't just tragic, it's preventable. And we have a responsibility to fix it and protect both workers and drivers," Haney added. Haney also noted the success of a pilot program that placed speed enforcement cameras in several cities, including San Francisco. "Speeds are going down, crashes are being reduced and behavior is changing," he said. According to the text of the measure, speeding drivers would face fines starting at $50 for driving 11 to 15 miles per hour above the posted speed limit, with increasing fines for higher violations. Drivers caught going 100 mph or faster in a work zone would receive a fine of $500. Haney said the bill includes fine reductions and payment plans for lower-income drivers. The bill prohibits the speed cameras from using facial recognition and limits data use. If approved, California would join 16 other states that have already placed speed cameras in work zones. Haney said Maryland and Pennsylvania, which already have the cameras in construction zones, have seen dramatic reductions in speeding and crashes. AB289 has passed out of three Assembly committees with bipartisan support and is headed to the Assembly floor.
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
These speed cameras raise awareness, but do not issue tickets
This speed camera flashes motorists exceeding the speed limit without ticketing them. (WSDOT pic) PARIS : Since April, the US State of Washington has been testing a novel system of 'educational' speed cameras on some of its highways, namely Interstate 5 in Skagit County and Interstate 90 near Liberty Lake. What makes these speed cameras unique is that motorists who get flashed exceeding the speed limit are not ticketed. Instead, they receive a letter informing them of the offense they have committed and the potential cost of a fine they would have had to pay, ranging from US$135 to US$432. Moreover, these offenses are neither recorded nor passed on to insurance companies. The locations of these first two speed cameras were not chosen at random, but based on accident data, targeting areas where speed has already been a major factor in serious or fatal collisions. In just a few weeks, over 8,000 drivers have already received this type of warning letter. This pilot programme is being implemented by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Its aim is to make drivers aware of the dangers of excessive speed and encourage safer behaviour on the roads. Indeed, speeding is often the cause of tragic accidents. In 2023, the state recorded 810 deaths on the roads, and there were 358 fatal or serious injury crashes where speeding was cited as a factor on state-run highways. The programme is due to run until the end of June 2025, at which point WSDOT will analyse the data collected and public feedback to decide whether it should be continued. At the same time, Washington State is increasing the number of speed cameras in active road construction work zones. Fines of up to US$248 for repeated violations are levied there, after an initial 'warning' incurring no charge.
