another police 'weapon'

montyv8 · 23-04-2006, 04:08 AM

I have no idea how long these have been in use so please forgive me if it's old news....

was out cruising a while back with a few guys on the clipsal friday. the police presence, including defect stops was getting a bit daunting, so we did one last run through the city then headed home. on the last trip down Hindley street (i'm in adelaide) we spotted parked up near macca's an unmarked Hiace van, no side windows, a cop sitting in the passenger seat and a small camera sitting on the roof above the rear door. we had no idea what it was.

went out cruising again tonight (hey, its what i do lol), turn into hindley off west terrace, and theres the van. theres a cop standing next to the drivers door, so i pull up and ask politely what the camera is for. He told me the name (A.S.?.?), and that they use it for checking rego's as you drive past. it runs it thru the computer, and if something comes up he calls his buddy parked up the street a bit, and they bust your ***...

sorry if that was a boring read lol....

Hally · 23-04-2006, 07:11 AM

Monty,

They have had this type of camera in NSW forabout 6 onths now. It is the only bit of covert traffic management devices that I don't have a problem with and is good use of technology.

If you have ever been in an accident with an un-registered drive you will be aware of the rubbish you need to go through to get your claim through insurance (in my experience anyway).

The other bonus with this type of camera is that it can pick up stolen cars also.

WizBang · 23-04-2006, 07:39 AM

We got one in the west too and they seem to be working well from what I hear

AWD Chaser · 23-04-2006, 07:40 AM

That's right. Fantasic peice of technology. I would hate to be hit by a car with no CTP.

They have these setups fitted to some cop cars that just cruise around in the US. They pick up about 10 stolen cars a day aparently! (But that was America)

Casper · 23-04-2006, 09:25 AM

FINALLY!!! Effective, NON REVENUE use of technology. I like it.

The MaDDeSTMaN · 23-04-2006, 09:51 AM

We've had those here in Victoria since about July last year I think it was.

agony · 23-04-2006, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

FINALLY!!! Effective, NON REVENUE use of technology. I like it.

Second that!!

This way at least the people doing the wrong thing get busted not the ones minding their own business.

montyv8 · 23-04-2006, 01:15 PM

yeah i totally agree its a good idea, i'm not against them at all

i'd hate to be involved in an accident with someone with no reg/insurance.....

Ultimate · 23-04-2006, 01:17 PM

Nah thats cool idea. Cool machine

Walkinshaw · 23-04-2006, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

FINALLY!!! Effective, NON REVENUE use of technology. I like it.

$10 its also a speed camera Shane. bastards.

(good use of tech actualy. Being set up in hindly street I'd say they were looking for cars with uncleared defects)

Redrum · 23-04-2006, 01:38 PM

I remember seeing them trialled in Mebourne last year or so. Good technology for getting unreg cars etc. Prob too expensive for wide spread use though......

nugget378 · 23-04-2006, 01:43 PM

Cant the camera's on overpasses over expressways do a similar thing, I know they record truck number plates to compare travel times over longer distances, It would be good if they used them for tracking stolen cars, even if not caught then and there at least it would give the direction being travelled and area last seen in, would have to make it easier to recover them

Wokkas · 23-04-2006, 06:06 PM

Seen the same thing set up on the Jetty Rd circuit too. Van sits just down from Brighton Rd, and there's a copper waiting just round the corner near the post office (just past where all the bikes are always lined up).

That being said, I can't believe how little police attention the Hindley St- Rundle St- Anzac Hwy- Jetty Rd areas get. Not that I'm complaining.

:

I believe the Safe-T Cams on the highways are capable of detecting the same thing.

JC · 23-04-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by au3 chaser

That's right. Fantasic peice of technology. I would hate to be hit by a car with no CTP.

They have these setups fitted to some cop cars that just cruise around in the US. They pick up about 10 stolen cars a day aparently! (But that was America)

They have them right here in Canberra too. They still have the same effect as speed cameras though - everyone ends up doing 20 to 40km/h UNDER the limit as they go past! morons.

But yes, they are very effective at removing unregistered cars and unlicensed drivers.

JC · 23-04-2006, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walkinshaw

$10 its also a speed camera Shane. bastards.

No, not a speed camera, they have no capacity to record speed at all. They take a photo of the rego plate, it runs through a character recognition program, and in less than a second searches the state database of unregistered vehicles etc to see if the rego matches. They can do 2 lanes of traffic at once - and even up to 4, depending on volume of traffic (at least the ones in Canberra we were shown can). The unregistered cars database is updated overnight so is always fresh.

AUIII XR8 MAN · 23-04-2006, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

FINALLY!!! Effective, NON REVENUE use of technology. I like it.

I'm sure they are trying to find away.

Good to see they are targetting a drifferent type of traffic offender.

EDManual · 23-04-2006, 09:10 PM

simple way to drive an unregistered car is to use a number plate from a car that is registered....

Or steal a number plate.....

or copy a number plate you have seen....

This would only catch stupid unregistered drivers. I know, if I was going to drive an unregistered car for some reason, I would use a plate that is actually registered. Not that I would do that.

Auslandau · 23-04-2006, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDManual

simple way to drive an unregistered car is to use a number plate from a car that is registered....

Or steal a number plate.....

or copy a number plate you have seen....

..........making quick mental note for the next cruise :Reverend:

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EF, What else? · 23-04-2006, 09:38 PM

Good idea, but a small point, its possible that the governments will start mounting these everywhere, along with a speed camera accompanying it, and use each other to justify their placement.

svo347 · 23-04-2006, 09:47 PM

Everything from unpaid fines,suspended drivers and unregistered vehicles..
There have been 2 articles now in the west Australian newspapers & from memory out of 15,000 plates that were scanned, there was 700 odd infringements given.
whilst they stopped you for whatever reason, They checked out your cars road worthyness.can bring up any details of the car the registered owner fines owing etc etc..
Big brother is watching

The MaDDeSTMaN · 23-04-2006, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDManual

simple way to drive an unregistered car is to use a number plate from a car that is registered....

Or steal a number plate.....

That's why my number plates are attached with anti-tamper screws, they're special screws that only screw in and are a real pain to unscrew. Having worked in a servo in the past I know just how common number plate theft actually is.

T_Terror · 24-04-2006, 12:41 AM

Actually a big part of the reason for their use is to catch out drivers with unpaid fines.

deesun · 24-04-2006, 04:32 PM

: But its always good to keep people informed about these things. As long as it is kept to doing what its doing then good on them. Unpaid fines,unreg cars,unlicenced/unpaid drivers, stolen plates all the above.

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=30062