Too fast to be furious: Phuket speed cameras can't keep up

[webfact]

Too fast to be furious: Phuket speed cameras can't keep up
Phuket Gazette


Police have asked the company that installed the speed cameras to fix the glitch. Photo: Saran Mitrarat

PHUKET: -- Drivers on Phuket moving at reckless speeds of over 200kmh are outpacing the ability of the island’s new speed cameras to capture clear images of them.

“In Thalang, the cameras are set to photograph cars travelling in excess of 120kmh. However, the images of the licenses plates on cars going extraordinarily fast are too blurry to read,” Thalang Police Deputy Superintendent Sarayuth Meeboon told the Phuket Gazette yesterday.

“The company that installed the cameras is already taking steps to fix the problem.”

Despite the glitch, 15 to 20 tickets are issued daily to Thalang speeders on the straightaway in front of the Muang Thalang School.

Phuket's speed cameras, in four areas on the island (story here), are not all triggered by the same speed. The camera on the bypass road is set to capture cars travelling over 90kmh, said Lt Col Rungrit Rattanapagdee of the Phuket City Traffic Police Police.

Tickets are mailed to the car owner’s address and expected to arrive in four to five days, leaving about ten days for the recipient to pay the fine before the license plate for the vehicle is suspended.

“If drivers don't pay the fine within 15 days and continue to drive the car with a suspended plate, they are subject to additional charges and fines,” said Maj Sarayuth.

“If they manage to avoid being caught and later try to renew their plates at the Land Transportation Office, they will not be able to do so.”

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2014/Too-fast-to-be-furious-Phuket-speed-cameras-can-t-keep-up-23287.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2014-01-15

[JesseFrank]

However, the images of the licenses plates on cars going extraordinarily fast are too blurry to read,” Thalang Police Deputy Superintendent Sarayuth Meeboon told the Phuket Gazette yesterday.

Guess the cameras were purchased from Ebay.

“If drivers don't pay the fine within 15 days and continue to drive the car with a suspended plate, they are subject to additional charges and fines,” said Maj Sarayuth.

How about the numerous drivers without a license plate ?

Despite the glitch, 15 to 20 tickets are issued daily to Thalang speeders on the straightaway in front of the Muang Thalang School.

They switch on the cameras only 30 minutes a day ?

[chrisinth]

I was about to comment that I had never been in a car doing 200 kph, but it is only just over 124 mph.

So I won't........................

[Felt 35]

Should be interesting to know when the first one show up to pay the fine and when the first licence plate is suspended!

[SOTIRIOS]

....did anyone scrutinize the purchase....check the specs...anything....

...was there any bidding....

[Gsxrnz]

Looks a bit like my old Box Brownie. Obviously takes the same crap pictures as well.

[Ulic]

They would make more if they installed red light runner cameras.

[Halion]

This is just more crap. Ask yourself just how many vehicles can get up to 200 kph. Not that many and even less drivers with the capability to drive at that speed

More likely that they have bought from under the counter and like so many other scams in Thailand the equipment is sub standard. Furthermore those with cars that will break the 200 kph are most probably owned by those who do not have to abide by the laws and constrains of common folk.

[tezzainoz]

This is just more crap. Ask yourself just how many vehicles can get up to 200 kph. Not that many and even less drivers with the capability to drive at that speed

More likely that they have bought from under the counter and like so many other scams in Thailand the equipment is sub standard. Furthermore those with cars that will break the 200 kph are most probably owned by those who do not have to abide by the laws and constrains of common folk.

To be able to drive at any thing over 200 kph you need no other vheicle on the road, and perfect conditions

the weekest link is not the driver it is another person on the road

At that speed you would catch the car ahead of you at such a fast speed and mistake he makes and you are history

now look at the odds of 2 cars on the same rd

cou not make a good movie with these odds

[Carrerakiss]

I drive a Porsche 911 capable of doing close to 300kph and I can quite categorically tell you that no one can drive faster than 200kph in Phuket. Quite apart of the problem of other traffic, the roads are so bumpy that you will be airborne before that speed is reached.

I'd say that they have some blurry pictures and the excuse is that cars are going so fast, the camera can't read them. But the speed will be much less than 200kph.

[candyman123]

calibration of speed camera? Has anybody looked into the law on this in Thailand?

And showing your driving licence is admitting guilt right? So many questions that would be nice to get the answers for.

[cracker1]

"Tickets are mailed to the car owner’s address"

“If drivers don't pay the fine within 15 days and continue to drive the car with a suspended plate, they are subject to additional charges and fines,”

Does anyone know who is responsible for paying the fine ?

The car owner or the car driver ?

[andreandre]

"Tickets are mailed to the car owner’s address"

“If drivers don't pay the fine within 15 days and continue to drive the car with a suspended plate, they are subject to additional charges and fines,”

Does anyone know who is responsible for paying the fine ?

The car owner or the car driver ?

I figure that if the owner is the one who will have to pay up in the end, whether or not the owner was driving the car at the time .

The owner, if renting/loaning the car out will have to try and get the money back from the driver somehow..not so easy.

From OP;

“If they manage to avoid being caught and later try to renew their plates at the Land Transportation Office, they will not be able to do so.

[Pomthai]

I can't even get my phone bill delivered before its due date. The chances of anyone actually getting a ticket in the post within the stated time frame is close to nil. This whole thing relies upon the postal service being efficient - it isn't. Its barely functional at the best of times and always late if anything arrives at all.

[stevehaigh]

with all the traffic and lights on this island, i'm amazed anyone can get to those speeds. maybe talang and north you can find a few stretches but not many.