Autoblog

ACLU sues LAPD and Sheriff's Department over license plate scanners

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:00:00 EST

Both the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles Police Department have become big fans of cameras that capture license plate numbers and check them against information in registration and criminal databases. The Sheriff's Department uses 47 fixed cameras and has 77 squad cars with the equipment, the LAPD has gone from having 12 cruisers with the cameras five years ago to 100 now - and the cameras snag images of more than a thousand plates a minute. The LA departments aren't alone, either, with 71 percent of police departments nationwide said to be using the technology, and New Hampshire the only state to ban it.

Authorities tout how the information helps find stolen cars and help solve investigations, but the American Civil Liberties Union has an issue with the police holding onto the plate images of innocent people. The LAPD is understood to retain the information for five years, the LASD keeps it "indefinitely." According to the Los Angeles Times, the ACLU of Southern California and the Electronic Frontier Foundation filed a Public Records Act request for one week of the data generated by the camera and was denied, with the law enforcement agencies arguing that the information constitutes "investigative material" and thus it doesn't need to be released. That led both organizations to sue, worried that storage of information gathered on innocent citizens is a violation of their privacy.

ACLU attorney Peter Bibring says he would like the information to be destroyed after two weeks. Before that happens, he'll need to convince a judge that long-term databases containing the real-time whereabouts are a threat to a citizen's privacy. It'll probably be tough to do: police can perform manual checks at will, people have essentially no right to privacy in public spaces, the technology is ubiquitous, with border crossings and even the IRS using it, federal grants helping departments purchase the cameras, and information now going beyond state authorities and being checked against national registration and criminal databases. The ACLU has openly questioned the cameras for years, but this isn't only about the 'surveillance state,' it's about the record-keeping state.

ACLU sues LAPD and Sheriff's Department over license plate scanners originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iON introduces Speed Pro action camera for motor and marine sports [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: CES, Etc., Technology, Videos

Meanwhile, back at the Consumer Electronics Show, iON camera announced its new Speed Pro camera that it says is specifically tailored to high-speed motor and marine sports. Retailing for $299, the Speed Pro offers up to a 170-degree viewing angle and mounts to affix it to cars, motorcycles and boats and other vehicles. Recording at 1080p the field-of-view drops to 127 degrees and the only frame rate option is 30 frames per second. At 960p and 30 fps you get the full 170 degrees, at 720p you can choose 30 fps or 60 fps for its 150-degree field-of-view. Still photos are captured at 5MP and remote control of the camera requires the purchase of the $99 Wi-Fi PODZ.

Alongside the Speed Pro, iOn also announced the $249 Air Pro 2 with an upgraded 14-megapixel sensor and 180-degree lens, and the $349 GPS-equipped iON Adventure with its lens on the side of the body, dual SD card recording and a motion-detecting sensor designed for adventure-seekers that move a little more slowly.

Samples of Speed Pro footage can be found in the two videos below that feature World Rally Championship driver Petter Solberg. Closer to home, you can see them in operation if you visit the Miller Motorsports Park in Salt Lake City, Utah where the iON has been named the exclusive action camera supplier. The press release below lays it all out in words.

Continue reading iON introduces Speed Pro action camera for motor and marine sports [w/video]

iON introduces Speed Pro action camera for motor and marine sports [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Jan 2013 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DC cop battles city to return $1.8M in unlawful tickets

Michael Harley — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Earnings/Financials

Like many thousands before him, Sergeant Mark Robinson of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department was cited for speeding while driving through the District's Third Street Tunnel last fall. But unlike most of the other motorists, Sgt. Robinson contested the ticket and won a refund.

Robinson, a 22-year veteran of the police force, probably considered his citation insignificant compared to the thousands of other speed camera-related tickets he was in the process of fighting. As it turns out, the officer was already embroiled in a campaign to dismiss questionable violations that the District had been handing out illegally. As the law is written, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regulations require a secondary accuracy ensuring measurement when cameras are used to enforce speed limits (e.g., painted lines on the road to measure distance traveled) - there were, inexplicably, none in the Third Street Tunnel.

According to some investigative work by The Washington Times, 14,167 tickets were issued on that stretch of road bringing in a whopping $1,814,150 worth of revenue. As the money was collected outside the guideline of the law, Sgt. Robinson maintains that the city is obligated to refund the fines.

Yet, as expected, police administrators and the city have thus far ignored Robinson's pleas and have done nothing. Instead, he's been labeled a whistleblower and some officials have suggested that "corrective and/or disciplinary action" be brought up against him. Sergeant Mark Robinson may have triumphed in one small battle, but his uphill conflict with the District is ongoing and far from over.

DC cop battles city to return $1.8M in unlawful tickets originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drift HD Ghost camera ready to bring the fight to GoPro [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Technology, Videos

Some of the protagonists placed on the tiny battlefield of action sports cameras are the JVC Adixxion, Sony Action Cam, Ion Air Pro, Contour +2 and GoPro Hero3 HD. The first three are in their infancy, the Contour recently upgraded to next-gen status and the big-daddy Hero3 about to ship as a third generation, specs-busting model.

Also just refreshed is the $400 Drift HD Ghost, bettering the previous version by the addition of a new seven-element lens covered by Gorilla Glass 2 and built-in Wi-Fi that, with a coming DriftMobile app, lets you control the camera with your phone. Its two-way remote - that works from 30 feet away - has an LED that lets you know when the camera is recording, the illumination color-coded to indicate the mode: video, photo, time-lapse or photo burst. There's also a feature called Flashback, which captures footage to memory in five-minute chunks; if you hadn't hit record but want something the camera caught in the last five minutes, you can save the footage. It also has a built-in two-inch LCD screen and is waterproof to nine feet.

The Ghost will do 1080p, 960p, 720p and WVGA, the 1080p frame rates in either 25 or 30 fps, 720p going up to 60 fps. But specs without footage don't mean much, so you'll find some video samples below. Make sure you turn up the quality.

Continue reading Drift HD Ghost camera ready to bring the fight to GoPro [w/video]

Drift HD Ghost camera ready to bring the fight to GoPro [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Florida to redesign license plates because traffic cameras have hard time reading them?

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

A lot of companies are making (or at least trying to make) money these days selling devices that improve drivers' odds of beating traffic cameras. As it turns out, though, having a Florida license plate on the back of your car could be the best defense against paying traffic fines like red light camera tickets and toll violations. According to new reports, some Florida plates are proving hard for traffic law enforcement cameras to read. With as many specialty license plates as the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles offers, it's even more surprising that the state's standard white plate with raised green letters and numbers is actually the culprit.

As the story goes, there's something about the coloring of the license plates and the similarity of some of the characters thereon - or probably a combination of the two - that have made about 2.8 million automated traffic violations go unpaid since the offenders' plates were difficult to capture in the automated photographs.

The remedy for the situation is apparently a redesigned license plate that does away with the raised lettering and prominent display of oranges. The plates in question are to be replaced by a flat plate with white background and black, block lettering for optimal contrast. Some of the proposed plate designs are pictured above. According to the Associated Press report on ABC Action News, there are about 18 million vehicles registered in the state with most of them licensed with the standard plate.

It sounds like the State of Florida could make a decision on a new plate design soon, but rollout will likely not occur for another couple years. The switch to new license plates could cost the state an estimated $31 million, but this cost would theoretically be offset by the additional revenues brought in from increases in traffic and toll violation citations.

Florida to redesign license plates because traffic cameras have hard time reading them? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In D.C. suburb, even the speed cameras have cameras

Seyth Miersma — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

Say this about the residents of Prince George's County, Maryland: they really don't like speed cameras. According to the Washington Post, disgruntled citizens have shot at a camera with a gun, set one on fire and even, allegedly, fired glass marbles in a speed camera's direction.

The solution? Another set of cameras, naturally.

In a meta moment of governmental decision making that we think that Xzibit meme-makers are bound to enjoy, officials in the Washington, D.C. suburb are positioning cameras to monitor wellbeing of the speed cameras.

So far, one of the new cameras has been installed, with some dozen more planned. Officials contend that the loss of a speed camera is expensive - sources cite a replacement cost of between $30,000 and $100,000 for each unit - as well as creating a safety hazard in the community. No figures were provided for the cost of installing the speed-camera-monitoring camera, however.

In D.C. suburb, even the speed cameras have cameras originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi reinvents the rearview mirror for its Le Mans racers

Noah Joseph — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Safety, Technology, Audi, Racing

Every year at every auto show we see concept cars that envision replacing the rearview mirrors with digital cameras. They're usually the exterior mirrors and not the central one above the windshield, but whatever the case, and however much sense they seem to make, government regulations prevent them from being put into production. But Audi has found another use for the idea: its racing cars.

The latest R18 Le Mans prototype features, among other more considerable advancements, an AMOLED screen in the closed cockpit that's hooked up to a video camera, housed in carbon fiber and protruding ever so slightly from the tail fin. The system allows the drivers - who are put under enormous strain over the course of an endurance race - to clearly see the traffic coming up behind (or that they've just passed), which is apparently of great benefit considering that these mid-engined, closed-cockpit LMPs have no room for a rear window through which a conventional mirror would peer.

While they were at it, Audi moved the gear indicator, some warning lights and the tire slip gauge to the high-mounted central display. The side mirrors are still there on the outside, so the system doesn't eliminate that drag (for now), but it operates independent of the sight-limiting vibrations that can occur at the high speeds an LMP can reach, and of the weather conditions that can cause reduced visibility from spray in the wet.

Though it may take some time, if Audi wins on Sunday, it could end up selling this technology in its road cars on Monday.

Continue reading Audi reinvents the rearview mirror for its Le Mans racers

Audi reinvents the rearview mirror for its Le Mans racers originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 May 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHTSA ready to submit rearview camera mandate to Congress [UPDATE]

Chris Shunk — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:34:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Technology

About 100 children and over 200 adults die every year because drivers accidentally back over them. It's a sad statistic that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration feels can be prevented if all new vehicles come standard with backup cameras.

The New York Times reports that NHTSA plans to announce this week that rearview cameras will be mandatory on all vehicles by 2014. The compulsory cameras and interface for viewing what the camera sees is estimated to set new car buyers back an additional $160 to $200, but the government feels the cost is worth it if it prevents some of the 17,000 Americans that are harmed in backup accidents every year.

Clarence Ditlow, director for the Washington-based Center for Auto Safety, tells The New York Times that while the government acknowledges that in terms of pure numbers, the cost of the program is high and the amount of lives saved is small compared to some other safety implementations. But those numbers look a lot more doable when considering how devastating roll-over deaths are to families. "When you have a parent that kills a child in an incident that's utterly avoidable, they don't ever forget it."

What do you think, should rearview cameras become legally required? Have your say in Comments.

UPDATE: Ward's Auto reports NHTSA has delayed submitting its recommendation to Congress, likely to hold more discussions to hear and address concerns from the auto industry.

NHTSA ready to submit rearview camera mandate to Congress [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GoPro launches new motorsports HD Hero2 camera, promises wifi BacPac

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology

There's a new way to GoPro and it's called the HD Hero2. It updates the original HD Hero with features like faster image processing, a lens that's "twice as sharp," 11 megapixel photos and better low-light imaging. More importantly, and much more in demand, are a better on-camera user interface and a slate of wifi remote products to be released in the winter, including a wifi BacPac, that will allow you to control the Hero2 with your phone, tablet or computer and instantly stream footage.

You'll find it at GoPro.com and Best Buy for $299.99, and you'll find a press release with all of the new features after the jump. Oh, and for what it's worth, the original GoPro Hero has dropped in price to as low as $199.99 for those looking to save a Benjamin.

Continue reading GoPro launches new motorsports HD Hero2 camera, promises wifi BacPac

GoPro launches new motorsports HD Hero2 camera, promises wifi BacPac originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reason #3 you know you're a car enthusiast

Zach Bowman — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Technology, Videos

Technology can be a wonderful thing, especially when it allows us to peer into the nether regions of our vehicles. We've already seen some pretty interesting views of a vehicle's suspension at work both on an autocross course and during a drag strip launch, but we've always been fairly curious about how a front tire copes with the demands of braking and turning throughout a lap around a demanding road course.

Now we can quit our wondering. Lee Alexander took the time to strap a Replay XD to the suspension of his Radical Ventures Stohr DSR while bombing around Road Atlanta. The shot gives us a great view of just how much a tire deforms under track abuse, and getting to watch the rotor cycle through extreme temperatures is pretty fantastic, as well. Hit the jump to check out the clip for yourself.

Continue reading Reason #3 you know you're a car enthusiast

Reason #3 you know you're a car enthusiast originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Swiss motorcyclist gets speeding ticket while crashing

Zach Bowman — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Motorcycle

If you're a follower of the right-foot-down school of highway consumption, you've probably seen what happens when drivers spot speed traps. They slam on their brakes, traffic bows up and inattentive drivers go careening toward the rear of your vehicle. That principle applies globally.

Motorcyclist Boris Maier was riding near Bern, Switzerland when he was ticketed by a speed camera for traveling 107 km/h in an 80 km/h zone. Unfortunately for him, he was also off his bike at the time.

According to police, Maier was cruising at a significant rate of speed when he saw the camera and crammed the rear brake. The bike began to slide and both rider and machine were jittering off the pavement before Maier could say, "gravity."

It's an unfortunate situation all the way around, though the story isn't completely dark and dreary. Had Maier been traveling just 3 km/h faster, he would have been subject to an immediate revocation of his license, which means that he went above and beyond the call of duty to bring his speed down in time. We say cheers to Maier. Here's to riding another day.

Swiss motorcyclist gets speeding ticket while crashing originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continental developing stereo cameras to cut down pedestrian injuries

Aaron Richardson — Mon, 09 May 2011 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Safety, Technology

Continental has developed a stereo camera system to help cut down on the number of serious injuries and deaths related to people being hit by cars. According to Continental, in Germany, nearly half of all accidents that cause injury or death involve pedestrians.

Continental's system utilizes two high-resolution cameras working in stereo to detect pedestrians the driver might miss. If the system detects someone stepping in front of you, it automatically performs an emergency stop. The stereo camera not only detects pedestrians, but can determine how far away they are, and how tall they are. Single cameras can see the person, but can't accurately estimate their distance from the car or height.

If sudden braking isn't an option, or the pedestrian is too close for braking to be effective, the system can look within its field of vision to find a course of evasive action. The system is still in development, but the ability to accurately and reliably detect pedestrians pushes it that much closer to production. Read the full press release from Continental after the jump.

Continue reading Continental developing stereo cameras to cut down pedestrian injuries

Continental developing stereo cameras to cut down pedestrian injuries originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW Group design chief Walter de'Silva reskins the Leica M9

Noah Joseph — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology, Volkswagen, Design/Style

Leica M9 Titanium by Walter de'Silva - Click above for image gallery

Walter de'Silva has worked his magic on countless Alfa Romeos, Seats, Audis and now, as head of design for the entire Volkswagen Group, is responsible for styling even more brands and their products than just about anyone in the industry. But he can now add one more to his resume: a Leica camera.

The iconic German optics company brought de'Silva in to give its compact M9 camera a bit of a make-over. Rising to the task, de'Silva refitted the camera in titanium, gave its screen a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, trimmed it in Nappa leather, a diamond-texture surface and even reworked Leica's famous logo, centering it above the lens like a hood ornament. A gun-holster-like shoulder harness completes the package as de'Silva follows in the footsteps of fellow car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, who designed for Canon and whose ItalDesign studio de'Silva's employers recently acquired.

Only 500 examples of the limited-edition, de'Silva-designed Leica M9 Titanium will be produced, fetching a suitably car-like $31,300 apiece. Zoom in on the images in the gallery below for a closer look.

Gallery: Leica M9 Titanium by Walter de'Silva

[Source: Leica via The New York Times]

VW Group design chief Walter de'Silva reskins the Leica M9 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Image Adjustment: Hasselblad launches H4D Ferrari Limited Edition

Noah Joseph — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Ferrari, Design/Style

Hasselblad H4D Ferrari Limited Edition - Click above for high-res images

In fields as competitive as automobiles and photography, there can be few absolutes. But if you ask a pro photog or a camera buff who makes the best equipment, you're likely to hear the name Hasselblad. Ask the same of an automotive enthusiast and Ferrari stands more than a decent chance of being your answer. The two have undoubtedly met thousands of times before as Maranello's finest road and race cars have appeared through Hasselblad viewfinders, but now the Italian automaker and Swedish photography outfitters are teaming up in a different way.

The special edition Hasselblad H4D camera you see above is pimped out in Rosso Fuoco - a shade of red considerably more subdued than Rosso Corso or Rosso Scuderia but no less Ferrari - with a Prancing Horse shield to match and a special glass-topped compartmentalized case. Only 499 examples will be produced, following the classic Maranello formula of one less than they think they can sell. No word on pricing, but considering that an "ordinary" Hasselblad H4D fetches in the neighborhood of $20,000, we're hesitant to ask. Details in the press release after the jump, with further details to be announced later this month.

Gallery: Hasselblad H4D Ferrari Limited Edition

[Source: Hasselblad]

Continue reading Image Adjustment: Hasselblad launches H4D Ferrari Limited Edition

Image Adjustment: Hasselblad launches H4D Ferrari Limited Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen Amarok camper conversion ready for adventure

Zach Bowman — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Truck, Europe, Volkswagen

Volkwagen Amarok with Bimobil camper - Click above for image gallery

If you had your heart set on a Volkswagen Amarok before the company made it clear that the truck wasn't heading to North America, prepare to have your wounds lightly salted. A company by the name of Bimobil has gone through the effort of creating a camper conversion for the handsome pickup. Instead of the drop-in style units that we're used to seeing here in the states, the Bimobil piece actually replaces the Amarok's bed altogether. From what we can tell, owners can easily detach the camper once they get to a suitable location in the event they have to go to town for important supplies. You know, like beer. Or a snake-bite kit.

Our Google Translator isn't much help in discerning exactly how much Bimobil is asking for the swank digs, nor what other special features the camper boasts. Even so, we're thinking that there are few better ways to vacation than from the back of a pickup. Besides, how awesome does this thing look? If you happen to speak German, you can head over to Bimobil's website and dream a little dream of mobile living. Otherwise, content yourself by having a look at our gallery below.

Gallery: Bimobil Amarok

[Source: Bimobil via German Car Blog]

Volkswagen Amarok camper conversion ready for adventure originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Irony: Red light cameras a safety impediment

Dan Roth — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Safety, First Drives

Red light cameras are nothing more than a surreptitious tax. Oh sure, they're sold to municipalities as a safety benefit, but what else would you say if you wanted to be paid to install, administrate, and monitor your little ticket-writing bots? The cities and towns that put the cameras greedily snap up the extra revenue generated by dangerously short yellow lights and overzealous cameras. Patrick Bedard has been poking holes in the theory that traffic cameras are the salve for behind the wheel idiocy, and a recent study by the University of South Florida Public Health agrees that the cameras actually cause accidents. Other studies also back up the findings that drivers are quicker to slam on their brakes at yellow lights when they spot the cameras. While it should not play out with a rear ending, nobody maintains a safe following distance, or even pays attention. In some cases, the rate of red light running is low enough that the cameras cause a spike in incidents, proving that the cure can sometimes be worse than the sickness.

[Source: Kicking Tires, Photo: Morning Chu Hi]

Irony: Red light cameras a safety impediment originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Mar 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infrared enforcement coming to carpool lanes

Siddharth Raja — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Technology

We've all been tempted to merge into the car pool lane when driving alone in heavy traffic, but either the shame of other motorists seeing you illegally use it or the thought of the police catching you in the act may have kept you honest. Now there's a way to legally use the lane, but it's going to cost you.

Private companies in the Washington D.C. area are considering building separate lanes for fee-paying drivers, but they'll need a method of differentiating paying solo drivers and carpoolers. One option is to install infrared scanners that can detect the number of people in a car. That means anyone thinking they could get away by putting a fake dummy in the passenger seat had better think again.

It's estimated that one out of every five cars using car pool lanes in Virginia has only the driver inside, which has this scanner idea receiving strong support from both authorities and private individuals. Privacy advocates are wary that the scanners could actually identify individuals' faces and be used by the government to monitor a person's movements, but the makers of the system are designing them so that faces are obscured.

[Source: The Wahington Post via Winding Road]

Infrared enforcement coming to carpool lanes originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: SSC Ultimate Aero TT record run caught on tape

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:34:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Supercars

click above image to view new pics of the SSC Ultimate Aero TT's record run

It was made (almost) official last week that Shelby Supercars' Ultimate Aero TT has been crowned the fastest production car in the world by the kind folks at Guinness - after they file the appropriate paperwork. Until now, all we've had are pictures of the 1183 HP, six-liter V8-powered beast looking menacing at speed, but thankfully SSC posted video of the record-breaking run on its site.

It's pure aural bliss, and although the camera work isn't the most compelling, the sound is enough to make you weak in the knees. Click on and enjoy.

Gallery: SSC Ultimate Aero TT

VIDEO: SSC Ultimate Aero TT record run caught on tape originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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British insurer says speed cameras are killing the points rating system

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 28 May 2007 17:11:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe

Britain's installation of more speed cameras and the swap to digital means they'll catch even more speeders. That's good for the treasury. According to British insurer Swinton, it isn't good for the points system that insurance companies use to set premiums -- there are too many people getting more and more points to make it a useful criteria. So Swinton says it will no longer automatically raise premiums if drivers get points due to speed cameras, saying "points alone can no longer be used as a yardstick for driver evaluation." Currently in Britain, getting 12 points means losing your license. With 6,000 cameras nabbing two million speeders annually, and mobile phone infractions earning three points, Swinton says "a few years ago insurers might have assumed that a motorist with six or more points on their license was a reckless driver, but that is no longer necessarily the case." With the suggestion that drivers with 6 points could be viewed as "standard," six could become the new zero. We can't wait for that kind of sense to make it this way. Allstate? You listening?

[Source: Daily Mail]

British insurer says speed cameras are killing the points rating system originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 May 2007 17:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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They do it different in Texas: Speed cameras banned statewide

Dan Roth — Wed, 23 May 2007 09:37:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, First Drives

Finally, someone's fighting back against the fleecing of the general populace. Famous for liking things big, Texas lawmakers have laid the smackdown on red light and speed cameras in a large manner. HB.922 states "A municipality may not implement or operate an automated traffic control system with respect to a highway under its jurisdiction," which means that cameras, automated radar or laser, or anything else designed to snag an image of a car, driver, or license plate and record its speed is now forbidden. The even larger racket of red-light cameras have had the brakes applied by HB.1052, which requires giving motorists notice of the devices at least 100 feet out.

These bills have passed through the legislature and are awaiting Governor Rick Perry's inscription. If the measures do make it into law, we hope that other states follow suit. Ticketing egregious speeders and actual red-light scofflaws is one thing, but the systems have been calibrated in a cynical manner to generate loads of revenue (and kickbacks) for the companies that sell and administrate the systems for municipalities. Rather than keeping people safe, random ticketing amounts to a tax, and that really sticks in our craw. We're pleased beyond words that Texas has taken up the motorists' cause, and we hope that the new legislation can stand as a precedent.

Thanks for the tip, Dylan!

[Source: caradvice]

They do it different in Texas: Speed cameras banned statewide originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 May 2007 09:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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