Mobile Speed Cameras

Mobile speed cameras are speed cameras set-up and operated by a police officer from a vehicle (usually a van or 4-wheel-drive) parked on the side of the road.

Being vehicle-based, the speed camera can be moved to other sites.

The speed detection device used is a slant (20°) RADAR (Radio Detection And Ranging) device, which can detect speeding vehicles travelling towards or away from the camera. 

Due to the RADAR operating on a 20° angle, there can sometimes be more than one vehicle in the speed camera photograph.  If there is any doubt as to which vehicle was the target vehicle, the Queensland Police Service has an ‘if in doubt leave it out’ policy.  This means they will not issue the infringement notice.

The first character in the datablock for mobile speed camera photos shows whether the device was operating in forward (vehicles travelling towards the camera) or away (vehicles travelling away from the camera) modes with an ‘F’ or ‘A’.
 

Mobile speed cameras are only used at approved sites.  Up to 9 speed camera sites can be located within a speed camera zone (1km in diameter in urban areas and 5km in diameter in rural areas).
Speed camera zones are nominated based on the following criteria:

• Crash history (at least two speed related crashes of all severities or serious casualty crashes that are non-intersection related within the previous five years); or
• Validated public complaints concerning speeding vehicles, knowledge of road-safety related problems, or roadwork sites.

Mobile speed camera sites can be on a downhill grade if serious crashes have occurred near that location and there are no other ways (e.g., public education or engineering) to prevent speeding there.

Speed Camera in Use signs may be located 5-30 metres past the speed camera in the target vehicles’ direction of travel, but they are not required under legislation.  If used their purpose is to warn motorists of the camera’s presence and advise them that their speed has already been checked, especially where the mobile speed camera may not be visible due to the roadside environment or workplace health and safety requirements.

Motorists should also be aware that there can also be some covert speed camera enforcement in Queensland, through the use of unmarked and unsigned speed camera vehicles.

Mobile speed camera operators must perform test shots and accuracy tests before and after a deployment to ensure the device is operating correctly, so if you see a speed camera flash but are not speeding this is probably why.  Accuracy tests are performed against another certified speed measuring device.

In addition to this, mobile speed camera units must be tested every 12 months for accuracy in line with the Australian Standards.

For further information on speed cameras please visit Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads website at:
http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/Safety/Road/Speeding/Speeding_speed_cameras
For further information on camera detected offence infringement notices please visit the Queensland Police Service’s website at:   http://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/roadSafety/infringement.htm or contact the Traffic Camera Office on 1300 360 610.