Take care , for foreign plated vehicles in Spain

[(RIP) orbit]

Speed cameras are used in Spain to detect drivers exceeding the speed limit. As of August 2010, some cameras (on the AP-7 in Castellón, on the A-7 in Murcia, on the A-31 in Alicante and on the A-52 in Zamora) are equipped to alert the nearest traffic officer in the event a foreign-plated car is caught exceeding the speed limit. The officer receives a photo of the offending car and has the authority to pull the vehicle over and impose a large on-the-spot fine. If the fine is not paid the car may be immobilised. More such cameras are planned to be installed.

source Angloinfo


http://costablanca.angloinfo.com/countries/spain/driving.asp

 

[Greg Masters]

Thanks for posting that.



Greg

PS Not that I ever speed, of course ...

 

[Mr K]

That sounds like some pretty radical technology they have there: A speed camera that can send a picture to the nearest traffic cop?

 

[Aloonatic]

Not that I'd personally speed....But if my "mate" was to be a tad over the limit would they be looking for someone by frontal description?

And for his information....how much does the cheapest throwaway jacket cost?

 

[chad]

Speed cameras are used in Spain to detect drivers exceeding the speed limit. As of August 2010, some cameras (on the AP-7 in Castellón, on the A-7 in Murcia, on the A-31 in Alicante and on the A-52 in Zamora) are equipped to alert the nearest traffic officer in the event a foreign-plated car is caught exceeding the speed limit. The officer receives a photo of the offending car and has the authority to pull the vehicle over and impose a large on-the-spot fine. If the fine is not paid the car may be immobilised. More such cameras are planned to be installed.

source Angloinfo


http://costablanca.angloinfo.com/countries/spain/driving.asp

good man

 

[Wapping]

That sounds like some pretty radical technology they have there: A speed camera that can send a picture to the nearest traffic cop?

'tis easy (if it's true).

Cop sets up all singing, all dancing camera, somewhere along a highway.

He then drives to a nice shady lay-by, dons his shades, reclines his seat, flicking at the flies that settle on his moustache..... and waits.

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bW-jSa9_k3M?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bW-jSa9_k3M?fs=1&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

The all singing, all dancing machine snaps a picture of foreign johnny tooling it along the highway. It beams the picture to it's sister in the cop's car. This pings into life, disturbing our hero from his siesta.

He dons his hat, straightens his jacket, opens his note pad and licks his pencil.

"Gooood dias, Meester... you are going a leeetle fast, no? No? Si, we have a snappy-snap. That is fifty meeeelion of the euro, for me, senior. 'ave a nice day in Espania"

 

[Mr K]

For this to work you need:

A speed camera that takes pictures.

A speed camera that reads number plates and can identify non-Spanish plates.

A speed camera that can track all local traffic cops and select the nearest one.

A speed camera that can transmit images to mobile vehicles.

Traffic vehicles with the ability to receive pictures, either on a display or to print them off.

The ability to predict where the target vehicle will go - Which way will it turn at the next junction.

..or a sytem which links all the above together.

I think it's just a scare story because the real cameras are useless against foreign speeders....I mean, it's much cheaper and easier to set a cop with a radar gun over the brow of a hill, isn't it?

 

[DavidJames]

For this to work you need:

A speed camera that takes pictures.

A speed camera that reads number plates and can identify non-Spanish lates.

A speed camera that can track all local traffic cops and select the nearest one.

A speed camera that can transmit images to mobile vehicles.

Traffic vehicles with the ability to receive pictures, either on a display or to print them off.

The ability to predict where the target vehicle will go - Which way will it turn at the next junction.

..or a sytem which links all the above together.

I think it's just a scare story because the real cameras are useless against foreign speeders....I mean, it's much cheaper and easier to set a cop with a radar gun over the brow of a hill, isn't it?

In theory it is possible.

All camera's take a snapshot of the offending plate (we have average speed cameras that use this technology)

Using Optical Character Recognition technology software the system can determine the letter/numbers displayed. Assuming Spanish registration follow certain formats then the system could tell if it wasn't a Spanish car.

Once the system identifies a speeding foreign car it sends an automated message to the police system via the mobile 3G network. It doesn't need to go to a specific car, it can go to any car, but it will let the car know where the offence happened so they can keep an eye out for it. Alternatively, it is broadcast to a specific system that is in all cars, but the users only switch it on when they are in position to capture offenders.

Simple.

 

[Mr K]

In theory it is possible.

All camera's take a snapshot of the offending plate (we have average speed cameras that use this technology)

Using Optical Character Recognition technology software the system can determine the letter/numbers displayed. Assuming Spanish registration follow certain formats then the system could tell if it wasn't a Spanish car.

Once the system identifies a speeding foreign car it sends an automated message to the police system via the mobile 3G network. It doesn't need to go to a specific car, it can go to any car, but it will let the car know where the offence happened so they can keep an eye out for it. Alternatively, it is broadcast to a specific system that is in all cars, but the users only switch it on when they are in position to capture offenders.

Simple.

It's all possible, but rather expensive.

I suppose "we" have ANPR equipped traffic plod which flags passing tagged vehicles.....

 

[Number 6]

Sounds like bollocks to me.

 

[Roberto]

Well, consider it this way, if the camera was configured to flag plates that it just doesn't recognise then it wouldn't have to recognise if it was Spanish or not..

That would be a possibility.

Or as Number 6 eloquently spells out, it could also be, "Bollocks"

 

[(RIP) orbit]

So maybe some of the Spanish members who still have uk plates could take some time out and hammer down on the AP-7 in Castellón, or the A-7 in Murcia, or the A-31 in Alicante and check it out. The one thing I do know having lived in Alicante for 22 years is that Traffico are hell bent on cracking down on the large number of foriegn reg cars + bikes belonging to people who live there but never changed plates, and thus have questionable legality etc re MOT,s insurance and never paying local road taxes. the Spanish vehicle insurance data base is linked to all Traffic cars , so a guardia civil can scan your car just by being behind you and instantly know if your insured , or wanted for any other offence,

quote Mr K

"The ability to predict where the target vehicle will go - Which way will it turn at the next junction"

Those motorways do'nt have a lot of exits so easy to be be parked up and just wait for the speeder to come to them

further link here https://www.tispol.org/news/articles/new-technology-helps-spanish-police-deal-speeding-foreigners

 

[Dickieboy]

That sounds like some pretty radical technology they have there: A speed camera that can send a picture to the nearest traffic cop?

For this to work you need:

A speed camera that takes pictures.

A speed camera that reads number plates and can identify non-Spanish plates.

A speed camera that can track all local traffic cops and select the nearest one.

A speed camera that can transmit images to mobile vehicles.

Traffic vehicles with the ability to receive pictures, either on a display or to print them off.

The ability to predict where the target vehicle will go - Which way will it turn at the next junction.

..or a sytem which links all the above together.

I think it's just a scare story because the real cameras are useless against foreign speeders....I mean, it's much cheaper and easier to set a cop with a radar gun over the brow of a hill, isn't it?

Sounds like bollocks to me.

+1 to all of the above

Spain has some efficient traffic cops but really crap information technology, anyone seen the bother of getting a landline installed in a new property over there, beggars belief.

 

[red1]

It's a number recognition system that works with any plate, Spanish or non-Spanish.

It's certainly not specifically aimed at non-residents.

It works like a normal speed trap but is un-manned at the camera point.

The number recognition gear is set up and a klik or so down the road the Spanish Trafico just flag you down, pull you over and slap a fine on you.

 

[Loiq]

I would have thought that expat vehicles stick out like a pair of bulldogs bollocks, cos the driver is on the wrong side of the car, it's not high tech really... anyone with a pair of binocularse could see that.. even...

The old mexican's cops could spot that and are just clearing up the books by detecting crime, catching naughty boys and writing tickets. It's more performance related pay than high tech.

lots of the vehicles I saw down the costa's had no UK road tax so probably no MOT or insurance... they should just fine the owners a heap of dough and impound it there and then.

 

[Harv]

I have a house South of Barcelona and the local ex-pat web site had this posted on it the other week.... not sure if it is genuine or not...

Spanish Traffic Authority starts to target foreign drivers


Speed traps in Spain are being adapted to read foreign number plates.

The DGT Spanish traffic authority has announced a new system to fine foreign drivers who exceed the speed limit. Previously many drivers in foreign number-plated cars escaped punishment.

The new system has been installed on four speed traps where there is a high number of foreign drivers – the AP-7 in Castellón, the A7 in Murcia, the A-31 in Alicante and the A-52 in Zamora.

It’s understood that special adaptors on these speed traps are designed to catch foreign motorists, that some have been operational since the start of the summer, and the rest will be so this week.

When the speed trap detects a foreign number plate breaking the speed limit a photograph is taken and then related to the DGT centre in León where such fines are processed. At the same time local Trafico agents in the area receive an automated message with details of the infraction so that they can personally inform the driver of the vehicle.

According to the Deputy Director of the DGT, Federico Fernández, it has been shown that between 30% and 40% of the speeding drivers in the summer have foreign number plates.

The news comes amid a debate in the media in Spain as to whether traffic fines are effective in saving lives, or a just another way for the Government to raise funds.

 

[Steptoe]

Spain has some efficient traffic cops but really crap information technology, anyone seen the bother of getting a landline installed in a new property over there, beggars belief.

One major flaw in your assumption.
The spanish telecom worker is only thinking of his siesta and shagging the donkey and a bottle of san miguel when he gets home.


On the otherhand the trafficococo officer has a huge financialo incentivo to ensure this system workeio. Ola Mr roasta beefio esta miiiiiillionoio euro por favor.

 

[Gipsy]

Having read this thread I'm pretty sure that I was pinged by a system very similar if not identical to that described.
Elvie and I were riding back through Spain after the Jerez Moto GP, when I was pulled over by the Guardia, and they showed me a photograph of my bike with speed superimposed. We had been warned of something ahead by a couple of oncoming cars flashing their lights, so had been on the lookout for a camera/car setup. In retrospect the only hidden cover available was a bush at the side of the road, certainly not big enough to hide a car, but it would have sufficed to hide a camera unit. We were at the time in the middle of nowhere on the way to Ruidera on a road that the Romans could have built. Having ridden for a considerable distance after the warning car headlights, without seeing anything suspicious we were starting to crank up the speed again and then I was pinged. On the spot fine of 70 euros, with a computer printed receipt!
I was gutted to have been pinged, but more because I felt my observation skills had lapsed, rather than because of the money.
Now I'm left wondering what sort of unit I should have been looking for, but it seems uncannily like the set up described in the thread.

 

[Wapping]

On the otherhand the trafficococo officer has a huge financialo incentivo to ensure this system workeio. Ola Mr roasta beefio esta miiiiiillionoio euro por favor.

St Eptoe is right.

The ability of Spanish police to fine motorists varies between whether their victim is a Spaniard with a locally registered vehicle or a tourist.

In essence, if it's a tourist the police can issue an on the spot fine / impound the vehicle / take the culprit to a cash machine. They cannot do so for a local. Hence the attraction in spotting foreign vehicles, so much more time and cost efficient.

Seems like a good idea to me; perhaps UK plod should take it up, too.

 

[Decster]

St Eptoe is right.

The ability of Spanish police to fine motorists varies between whether their victim is a Spaniard with a locally registered vehicle or a tourist.

In essence, if it's a tourist the police can issue an on the spot fine / impound the vehicle / take the culprit to a cash machine. They cannot do so for a local. Hence the attraction in spotting foreign vehicles, so much more time and cost efficient.

Seems like a good idea to me; perhaps UK plod should take it up, too.

you might make 70euro from the victims but you can be sure that you'll lose thousands when they dont return