Q Police Union Speed Cameras ARE Revenue Raising

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Covert speed cameras snap 720 motorists on first day of operation

by Robyn Ironside From: The Courier-Mail April 03, 2010 12:00AM 20 c

COVERT speed cameras snapped 720 offenders on their first day of operation in Queensland – a haul described as "significantly" higher than marked vans.

On Thursday, three covert vehicles began snapped speeding motorists at seven sites throughout Brisbane and central Queensland.

Police Minister Neil Roberts said the result was "a significantly higher rate of detection than police would normally see with marked speed cameras".

"It's concerning to see such a high number of motorists are risking their lives and the lives of others," Mr Roberts said.

Covert motorcycles also operated for the first time on Thursday, patrolling the M1 and Gateway motorways, with four speeding fines issued, and eight tickets handed to drivers illegally using mobile phones, Mr Roberts said.

In total, 3371 offences were detected on Queensland roads on the first day of the Easter campaign – 85 more than the same time last year.



They included 88 drink-drivers, one of whom recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.368 per cent, or more than seven times the legal limit. The highest speed was 146km/h in a 100km/h zone at Beaudesert, while another driver was clocked at 116km/h in a 60 zone on the Sunshine Coast.

State Traffic Support Branch acting Superintendent Craig Hanlon said the results were disappointing.

"These people put themselves in danger and they put every other road user in danger. It's selfish behaviour on the part of these people," Supt Hanlon said.

"I'm sure people don't go out and intend to injure or kill someone but by doing what they're doing, they're increasing the chances of that happening."

But the Queensland Police Union claims speed cameras are being deliberately located in sites that generate a lot of fines to help justify their existence.

QPU president Ian Leavers said there was never any question the cameras would not succeed.

"All the sites that get a lot of detections have been taken offline for marked speed camera operations, so they can only be accessed by covert speed cameras," he said.

"Obviously they will be able to create a business case saying how successful they've been because they've been working these high-productivity sites."

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said "a range of selection criteria" applied to the placement of speed cameras.

"The QPS rejects the claim sites are based on getting a lot of detections," the spokeswoman said.