Speed Camera Timing Error Causes £70,000 Loss

RobBrady

A simple mistake in the timing mechanism of a New Zealand "state-of-the-art" speed camera has meant that NZ$150,000 (over £70,000) in speeding fines have had to be cancelled.

In order for a speed camera to legally issue fines, it has to be accurate. However it was found that the although the Ngauranga Gorge camera had updated itself when daylight saving hours ended on April 5th, the following day it reverted back to the original time.

Consequently, the time-stamps on 1778 photos taken between April 5th and May 8th were wrong by one hour.

Drivers spotted the irregularity and complained - 473 drivers will get refunds and the remainder will have their tickets cancelled.

The assistant commissioner for road policing commented: "It's a priority for police that all the notices we issue are fair, accurate and correct. Therefore it was an easy decision for us to waive these notices and refund anyone who has already paid."

The Ngauranga Gorge camera was the only one that was affected.

In another technicality case last August, a New Zealand lawyer got his speeding ticket cancelled when he successfully argued that the fact that police had to zoom in on the speed camera photo to be able to read the number plates on his car amounted to evidence manipulation.

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Robert Brady

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