Photo radar countermeasure

SandyC · #1 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 04:54 PM

Would wearing a helmet with a tinted visor be a way to get around photo radar while driving a car? We need a test subject, an adventurous free spirit, to put one on and flash a few strobes and let us know if anything comes of it.

Karl Bebout · #2 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 05:06 PM

To the sound of knocking on wood, I always find that I've got a terrible itch right in the top of my nose when ever I come upon photo radar and I've never gotten "the letter". If the driver can't be identified, who could they cite? The registered owner of the car does not have to identify the driver of his car, according to what I've read.

RedBarchetta · #3 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 05:10 PM

I have found keeping these at the ready or hanging from the sun visor is equally effective:

Seriously, would love to learn more about what is the actual law (and I'm sure it varies by State).

-Dean

Calbullet · #4 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 05:38 PM

the reason they enforce the front license plate law. they will send the citation to the registered owner of the car.. you get the ticket, unless the real driver admits to it.

csx4910 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 05:53 PM

Arizona is a bit different than Cali since they don't require a front license plate. Having had more than my share of these over the last 5 years I have a bit of experience with photo radar. If you had a helmet you would still get the ticket in the mail being the registered owner. They do require you in arizona to identify the driver and send in a copy of your license with the paper if you claim it isn't you. If you don't the ticket stays issued to the registered owner. If you ignore the ticket(which you can) they have 120 days to serve you personally. If you can dodge the process server, the ticket goes away. I tried that one and they served me at 118 days!!

They also are unable to enforce a ticket if you have a PO address listed as your address but I am hearing now they have closed that loophole by not letting you register anything to a PO Box address. The last remaining way to avoid a ticket is that in Arizona they have not changed the law yet that says they cannot issue a ticket (force you to identify the driver) if the vehicle is registered to a corporation and the vehicle has commercial plates. (I can personally attest to that one.) That is why I now have all of my vehicle registered under my corporate name. It is legal adn I figure the state's fault for not closing the loophole.

RedBarchetta · #6 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 05:58 PM

Not sure how much of this is true or applicable for your particular State, but it is entertaining reading on the subject matter:

http://www.highwayrobbery.net/

Danr55 · #7 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 06:08 PM

I just read this morning that Arizona is dumping the photo radar thing. It seems that it's costing more money than it's generating.

csx4910 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 09:05 PM

It seems like they have introduced a bill to do away with it but i wouldn't count on it just yet. With over a Billion dollar deficit in our state budget, i wouldn't put it past them to keep them on for a bit longer. What is interesting to me is the sotry I saw that says only half the people are paying theirs!

Bob Broberg SPF667 460BB · #9 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 10:26 PM

The Pima County Sheriff is dumping photo radar. His people calculated that out of 12,000 Photo Radar Flash Violations the county ended up with only $12,000. Yes $1 per flash. Half of the flashes couldn't identify car/driver. Half of what's left escaped prosecution. That left 25% to prosecute. After overhead, $1. Not worth it.

AZ Bob

tool time George · #10 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 10:36 PM

Hey guys up here in Winnipeg canada,photo radar is everywhere. We even have unmarked vans with cams moving all over the city,trying to nail us.As little a 4mph over and your done.Min fine is 150.
Only the registered owner gets the letter.Back in august my car was stolen and the thief collected 5 tickets for me.Can you believe I have 5 separate court dates in traffic court to deal with these. Thats messed up.
Apparently those plate covers work that cause over exposure or something.All I know is thats a 50 $ fine only.
We all should take off our plates race through the lights then put our plates back on.Run the buggars out of film.lol

Tails · #11 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 10:45 PM

Ya know those little white SUV's that park on the side here in AZ? I usually honk at em and give em the middle finger as I drive by..

Keep wondering when I'll get a ticket in the mail so I can frame it..

Tails

SandyC · #12 (**permalink**) 01-26-2009, 11:10 PM

I read an article in the local paper here in Chandler, AZ that the city pays the company who installs and maintains the cameras $19 per usable photo.

Also I understand the mobile vans painted in police colors with the cameras are actually operated and placed there by employees of the camera installation company and the vans are just painted that way to identify what they are and also to keep someone from stealing or vandalizing them.

Finally, the police are installing cameras to watch the cameras to identify camera vandalizers (or as some refer to them, freedom fighters).

RICK LAKE · #13 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 04:07 AM

Tails Dan don't come to NJ and stick out the finger of love.

It's $250 if the cops see you and they all in my area now have video in the cars running full time.

This state is broke and looking at every way to get money from the tax payers.

Rick L.

jberg · #14 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 04:45 AM

Urban legend from here:

- Few guy drag old Massey ferguson tractor and trailer one night (note here in north is bright in midle of nigt in summer time) there were one of those radar/camera compo stand.
- Then tractor dirver + few guy who sitting in open trailer hair fixed to point straight back using ~10 can of hair spray etc.
- Then other guy drive hayabusa using second line about 250km/h and passing tractor (just where camera use to take pic) using second line
- Radar cath bike but camera take pic of MF+trailer

- Legend tell that this picure whit 250 km/h marks of MF whit trailer and all guys whos hair point sraight back (like they realy go 250km/h...) hanging on the wall of one police station.

Sorry a bit hard to translate this story but I bet you get the point ;-) I think that there is similar stories all around world where those radars are used.

Btw. Here those (new one) take pic of all cars and then check average speed between radars so it won't help if you just slow down there where those are...

Bill Bess · #15 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 07:21 AM

Hey, what about that spray can stuff they advertise for $29.95 in the back of the car mags. They say it makes the lic. plate very bright and the photo cameras can't get a good picture. Any users out there?

Bill

Dan Stryffeler · #16 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 07:37 AM

Bill,

'Mythbusters' did a whole show on the products advertised to beat photo radar (including the spray stuff), their findings were that none of the products were effective...

There was a pretty good article in Car&Driver about the photo-radar scam (will see if I can find it later and post) - bottom line; when the radar didn't produce enough revenue for the company managing it, they invoked a clause in the contract to shorten the time span between the yellow and red lights to cause more red-light runs, ugh!

- Dan

Jerry Clayton · #17 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 08:14 AM

The camera companies really make most of their money by selling the license plate paint/covers

Maricopa · #18 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 09:56 AM

Ever since I discovered that the cameras are always on and recording 100% of the time I make sure and flip them off as a I go by....at the posted limit of course.

Bryan Wilson · #19 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Stryffeler

Bill,

'Mythbusters' did a whole show on the products advertised to beat photo radar (including the spray stuff), their findings were that none of the products were effective..

- Dan

The Mythbusters did eventually beat the speed camera. They did it with speed using a jet dragster doing about 300 mph no photo recorded.
cheers,
Bryan

Mulv · #20 (**permalink**) 01-27-2009, 01:31 PM

Here is this topic yet again.
I went to the town meeting in Scottsdale about two years ago where the fixed cameras were to be debated by the citizens. I know that you will be pleased to hear that 11 old people caused the cameras to be permanent. There were only 3 of us who showed up to debate with reason against the cameras but the majority ruled. It is great to piss and moan about the law but the usual apathy caused this to happen, nothing else. There were only 14 people at the meeting and I took my wife or there would have been only 2 to debate this stupidity.

I did , however , learn a ton of things about the cameras and the company that installs , maintains and sends the citations from them for free. They get more that 40% of the "revenue". I kid you not, that is how it was described.
Facts:
The Scottsdale Loop 101 cameras took 225,000 pics in the first 6 months. They issued 15,000 tickets.

If you exceed 135 mph , the camera will not get you. They told of many of these. Wheelies on Motorbikes also cause the plate to be unreadable.

The most common reason for the pics being rejected? "Duckers" their term once again.

License plate covers are not legal and they will start handing out tickets based on the "Non Obscured Arizona" law. Those things make it difficult to read the state name - good enough for the police. I do not have endless time to go to court, so I have no license frames or covers.

If you avoid being served, good for you, they will still convict you based on the photo they mailed to you. This happened to one of my employees in 2007 who was pulled over for crossing the solid line in a merge lane on the 202 (another stupid law and big no-no) . His license had been suspended in absentia for over 8 months. He did not know. They towed his car and left him on the side of the 202 where I came to get him about 30 minutes later. It cost $800 to get his pickup truck back. Anglo Saxon, by the way before the comments....

The Vans with cameras are more easily dealt with. My Valentine One absolutely gives me sufficient warning to slow down. I have not had one ticket from radar since I bought it.

The talk about the deficit has merit in the discussion, however since it is only $125- a person, why don't I offer to pay my $250- and let's move on. Any reason you all could not pay $125 per person in your house?