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Long Lens of Law... New Speed Camera Snaps Drivers from Half Mile
By Nathan Rao - Friday February 3, 2012
The Concept II is fitted with laser equipment to target a suspect car / GETTY

MOTORISTS will soon face a new speed camera that is so accurate it can tell if they are using a mobile phone or driving without a seatbelt from nearly half a mile away.
The ultra-sophisticated devices are the latest generation of hand-held speed detectors used by traffic officers.­
Police are currently testing them out before they become a powerful new weapon in the war on road users flouting the law.
Known as the Concept II, the ­hi-tech device is fitted with laser equipment that sends out infra-red light pulses to target a suspect car.
The laser technique is already widely used by police in Britain, but the ­Concept II comes with an especially powerful high-definition lens.
It can hone in on the interior of a car and tell police via sharp images if a driver is unbuckled, using a mobile phone or eating a sandwich at the wheel – all from a range of more than 656 yards, or about 0.4 of a mile.

The Concept II can process photographs and store hours of video evidence to DVD – enough for details of almost 4,000 separate offences.

Dorset Police is carrying out trials after buying two of the cameras for £25,000. It comes after the force launched a zero-tolerance campaign against motoring offences.
The initiative, which costs £800,000 a year to fund, is part of a joint ­venture with local councils known as ­Dorset Road Safe.
But critics have slammed the ­proposed use of Concept II as a means of “maximising” offences to make extra money.

Ian Belchamber, who represents an anti-speed camera campaign group in the South-west, said: “Dorset Road Safe is under a lot of pressure to keep the money rolling in.
“Dorset’s driver awareness courses for offending drivers is the most expensive in the country. So there is a huge incentive to maximise the number of offences. It doesn’t surprise me at all that they will look to new methods and the latest technology available in order to reach that goal.”

A spokesman for Dorset Road Safe said that Concept II cameras would help boost detection rates among motorists who think they are above the law.
The spokesman added: “Although the cameras have a much greater range, we would look to operate them at a maximum of 400 yards to detect speed, seatbelt and mobile phone offences.”
Traffic officers were testing them from the back of their speed camera vans, but were not yet using the video evidence to prosecute offenders.
The zero tolerance campaign had helped to cut road accident injuries by 18 per cent, the spokesman added.

Making a quick buck? Police force's £12,500 laser speed camera that catches drivers using a mobile phone from half a mile away
By Rob Waugh Last updated at 4:15 PM on 2nd February 2012

Concept II camera can if see if drivers aren't wearing their seatbelt
Critics say Dorset police are just trying to raise extra money
Police have unveiled a laser speed camera that is so accurate it can tell if drivers are using a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt from nearly half a mile away.
Officers say it will help in their zero-tolerance approach to motoring offences.
But critics say Dorset police are using the equipment to 'maximise the number of offences' simply to raise funds.
The camera has a traditional laser scanner, like normal speed guns, but also has an HD camera controlled via a 6.4-inch touchscreen
Dorset police will begin using the hi-tech laser cameras in their speed camera vans (pictured)

The £12,500 Concept II is fitted with laser speed-detection equipment and a powerful camera that can capture motorists in the 'act' of using a mobile phone while driving or not wearing a seat belt.
The resolution is sharp enough to pick out an unbuckled belt at ranges of up to 600 metres, records image and video evidence to DVD.

The rural force has launched a zero-tolerance campaign against motoring offences such as using mobile phones while driving, after incidents including a man playing a harmonica at the wheel of his car.

Project manager Brian Austin said: 'Bizarrely, officers at one of the sites in Dorchester were stunned to see a driver pass them while playing a harmonica using both hands.
'He claimed that he thought he was driving while playing the harmonica quite successfully.'

Officers will be able to use the pictures as evidence to secure a conviction.
Dorset police have bought two of them at a cosdt of £25,000 which will be used from current speed camera vans. The police say that they aim to use the cameras at ranges of around 400 metres.
A single Concept II laser speed camera can store hours of hi-def video - enough for details of almost 4,000 separate offences.

The rural force has launched a zero-tolerance campaign against motoring offences, after a number of incidents - including catching a man playing a harmonica at the wheel of his car.

Interior of a Dorset police speed camera van: Officers are already testing the hi-tech new laser cameras
Project manager Brian Austin said: 'Bizarrely, officers at one of the sites in Dorchester were stunned to see a driver pass them while playing a harmonica using both hands.
'He claimed that he thought he was driving while playing the harmonica quite successfully.'

Ian Belchamber, of the anti-speed camera campaign group Dorset Speed, claimed the new cameras were another tool for making the Dorset Road Safe more money.
He said: 'Dorset Road Safe is are under a lot of pressure to keep the money rolling in.
'Dorset’s driver awareness courses for offending drivers is the most expensive in the country so there is a huge incentive to maximise the number of offences.
'It doesn’t surprise me at all that they will look to new methods and the latest technology available in order to reach that goal.'

Traffic officers are now testing out the Concept II cameras in the back of their safety camera vans but are not yet using the video evidence.
A spokesman for the Dorset Road Safe said the Concept II cameras will help boost detection rates among motorists who think they are above the law.
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