States eye new high-tech speed cameras

AT least one Australian police force is considering the introduction of next-generation speed cameras that were revealed in the UK last week and can detect drivers speeding, talking on mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts from up to half a kilometre away.

The high-tech laser speed cameras, named Concept II and priced at almost $20,000 each, are mounted on a roadside tripod and can record video evidence of up to 4000 offences to DVD.

NSW police confirmed to The Daily Telegraph it was considering the purchase of a number of cameras, which employ advanced laser technology to record high-resolution images from further away than ever.

According to UK-based designer and manufacturer Tele-Traffic UK, the “customer-configured speed detection and enforcement system” will change the traffic enforcement landscape forever.

“It allows the operator to set a threshold speed limit, below which speed enforcement is not required,” says the Concept II manual.

“Having captured the data, it will mark the DVD recorded images both visibly and invisibly in a recoverable format.

“Once mastered, it will provide pictorial evidence of speeding between 20m and 500m – dependent upon the lens configuration.”

UK police in Dorset last week began using two of the cameras from speed camera vans at ranges of about 400 metres.