NCJ Number
132322
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 39 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1991) Pages: 38-39,44-45
Date Published
1991
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Special photo radar equipment to meet the split second requirements of law enforcement includes cameras, memory cards, laptop computers, and computer programs.
Abstract
Photo radar systems are packaged in several ways. One stationary system is on a tripod and is placed at the roadside to photograph motorists coming toward the radar camera. Another system can be installed on a nonmoving vehicle parked beside the road. The most popular system is mobile and uses the police vehicle's speedometer along with photo radar components to photograph overtaking vehicles or vehicles in front of the police car. In a typical mobile installation, the antenna is installed behind the vehicle's radiator grill, and an auxiliary flash unit is placed on the front of the vehicle. The radar unit picks up vehicles entering its broadcast beam and electronics calculate the speed with which the vehicle travels through the beam. Almost instantly, an impulse is transmitted to the camera and a photograph is taken of the violating vehicle. If two cars enter and leave the beam at the same time, this is reported as an illegal reading and no photo is taken. Photo radar is used in about 40 countries, although it has been slow to gain acceptance in the United States. One reason involves the legal changes necessary to permit photo radar. Nonetheless, citizens in California and Arizona approve of photo radar and indicate that it makes them drive slower. Other reports of photo radar use and associated statistical evidence also demonstrate that photo radar is efficient and effective.