EDITOR – I too have been caught speeding up Field’s Hill by the two average speed cameras on three occasions that I know of.
Yes, I am breaking the law. However, I too have three fines of 91km/h, 91km/h and 92km/h which I find strange, that they are all the same. The one day was a Saturday morning at 9.10am, when there will be almost no traffic, the speed there was 92km/h. The other two both at an average speed of 91km/h were on a Tuesday at 8.35am and on Wednesday at 10.44am. I am not sure how these can all almost be the same. Annoyed resident has three fines of the almost same speeds and I have friends that received fines for 91 or 92km/h.
I will not be paying these fines and will spend my day in court to argue the following: how is it that the speeds are almost the same? The fines I received only have one image and not two. I will want to see the calibration certificate and I am not so sure that the poles that the cameras are mounted on are not affected by a strong wind.
I googled the average speed over distance requirements and this is what I found: the prosecution guidelines for ASOD camera systems form part of the Prosecuting Guidelines for Speed Measuring Equipment and Traffic Light Violation Monitoring Equipment.
The requirements for speed measuring equipment include: An accredited laboratory shall calibrate or verify all speed measuring equipment, all time or time interval measuring equipment. This must happen every 12 months. A land surveyor, an accredited laboratory, or suitable qualified person shall validate all distance checking markers for validation of speed measuring equipment. No prosecution may be instituted where the speed measurement was taken within 300 metres of the commencement of the speed limit zone. Only speed measuring or traffic light violation monitoring equipment installed in a permanently secured housing may be used for automated operations for prosecution of speed violations.
The requirements for average speed limit prosecutions over extended distances include: if equipment is used to capture an image of a motor vehicle to calculate the average speed of such motor vehicle over an extended distance, at least two images with description of location must be recorded – one at the start location and one at the end location. The date of offence and the time of offence must appear on the images. The information on the images and the information on the National Register of Vehicles should correlate with regard to the make and type of vehicle. The distance between the start location and end location shall be determined by a suitably qualified person. Speed limit signs, together with average speed enforcement information signs, must be displayed at the approach of an average speed over distance enforcement section.
Perhaps all motorists that have been fined should all ask for their day in court, I know I will be doing so.
Glenn Fisher
Hillcrest
