Laser Speed Cameras in the ACT. Tech help! - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Aussie Pete · 02-02-2002, 20:37

No I haven't been done over by one of these, but a friend has. I want to see if this can be beaten, so I'm asking anyone out there if information is available on cases that were fought / won, how these units work, and how accurate they are. The photo I have clearly shows two other cars in VERY close proximity to the target direction and the driver is adament that the speed was wrong. I have to agree because this friend constantly gets nagged by me to actually drive AT the speed limit, let alone 20km/h ABOVE the limit. They normally drive below the speed limit because frankly they don't like driving much at all.

Worst thing here is the 6 demerit points. This is an unfair cop so justice has to be found!

Falchoon · 02-02-2002, 20:54

http://www.afp.gov.au/page.asp?ref=/...ghtcameras.xml

XR_Strider_GuY · 02-02-2002, 21:55

Pete,
Sounds like a legitimate case to fight this particular speeding fine for your mate, hope all goes well for this one.

Aussiblue · 02-02-2002, 23:12

See http://www.fastguy.com/backgnd.html

" A laser gun projects a short pulse of invisible, intense, infrared laser light (as opposed to radar microwaves) at a specific vehicle. In order to measure the speed of the vehicle the gun uses the known speed of light to determine the range of the target by timing the flight if the pulse from the gun to the vehicle and back. By taking a series of ranges over a known time, normally just a few nanoseconds, and comparing the distance the target has travelled between the pulses, the speed of the vehicle can be determined. Although the laser beam is relatively narrow in comparison with radar beams it can still scatter due to atmospheric conditions and reflections. "

Given it is a narrow beam device it seems unlikley the wrong vehicle was hit.

As the site Falchoon quoted said" The speed cameras used in the ACT are laser operated speed measuring devices that are extremely accurate. The speed cameras are certified as being correct at regular intervals, so that certification can be produced in any subsequent Court matters. The speed cameras are only able to target one vehicle at a time. "

Good luck but my money's with the cops.

Aussiblue · 02-02-2002, 23:17

This site claims to be the world's most quoted authority: http://www.radartest.com/index.html

"Laser speed guns transmit short bursts of invisible light which bounce off a target vehicle and return to the laser gun. By timing the outgoing and return trips of the light bursts, it can compute the target's speed. The laser's biggest selling point is its narrow beam--only about three feet wide at a 1,000 feet--a feature that provides nearly foolproof target identification. (In comparison, a radar's beam is about 250 feet wide at 1,000 feet.) Laser guns must be used from a stationary position and are most effective at short range, usually targeting traffic at 700 feet or less. "