Mobile speed cameras

[banana]

What is the range of mobile speed cameras? I often pass them and naturally never do above the speed limit� but I do wonder what their range/scope is.
Do they have a 'line' like a laser or is it more like a fan?
How far away can they 'see' a vehicle?
How can they tell who is speeding without guidelines on the road?

[sft42]

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/speedandspeed
cameras/fixeddigitalspeedcameras/howdofixeddigitalspeedcameraswork.html gives details on fixed cameras....mobiles work on similar principals.

[sft42]

aaahhh...found more info.....With changes in policy to make cameras more visible, more effort and resources are being put into mobile units. Mini-Gatso : Similar to the Static Gatso but much smaller are operates out of the back of parked car, van or tripod mounted so is not easy to spot. Very accurate. Mobile Gatso : Take the form of the Grey Box type statis camera but sit on a trailer type base with wheels that can be moved from place to place to prevent motorists from slowing at a know point. Teletraffic : Police camera teams use this as a vehicle based system which can be set up to detect speeding traffic from a distance of upto a mile using laser technology. The device is aimed on a vehicle number plate and which is then recorded on video film with the associated speed. Often seen on Motorway bridges. Handheld Radar : Typically used by an out of view roadside officer, who will take a reading and then another officer will pull you over. With a 500M range, all radar systems are virtually instantaneous in reading, some only take a reading every second but that is instant. Limitations : Works better on larger vehicles rather than motorcycles and small steamlined cars.

[sddsddean]

Mobile cameras are operated by a laser, so the officer inside, aims at a particular vehicle to get the speed. According to weather and dependant on line of sight, they are effective up to 1 mile. Beware when passing one. Most people assume that they can speed up when they are past them (assuming the camera is pointing out of the back doors), but it is not unknown for the operator to spin the camera round and get you out of the windscreen as you accelerate away! They are also used to pick up other offences i.e. insecure loads, inappropriate overtaking etc. There are other vans which have little letter boxes in the back doors. These are used for spotting Road Fund licence dodgers.

[hertz]

Try the Association of British Drivers' web site, and look under Speed Cameras. There is some interesting info there, biased towards the hatred of the things! Even so, there are some good reasoned arguments why they are just a money-spinner rather than a road safety tool. http://www.abd.org.uk/