The government and ATS have re-negotiated their contract and there are now 26 fully equipped vans.

Know Thy Enemy

Pictured on the right, is the unit being used in B.C. This same unit will soon be deployed in Calgary Alberta and more than likely in Edmonton as well. In my opinion it is the most sophisticated unit in operation in the world today. It is fully computer controlled and allows the use of a video camera in conjunction with the 43mm camera. Luckily, for B.C. residents as with all photographic equipment, its effectiveness drops off drastically in the very heavy rain due to pretty rainbows showing up across the license plate from road spray. Be warned however, this doesn't mean that you can drive with impunity in the rain. While the vast majority of tickets don't come out properly 10% or more do, so don't play Russian roulette! As shown the unit is set up for an E.V.A. , B.C. 's units will be mounted in vehicles, where the operator can safely eat their donuts and contemplate their impending retirement, between reloading of the camera's film magazine. As a bonus they can even taunt you with an electronic display. Ahh progress! Hot off the presses there are now a couple of hot line numbers that you can call for location information. In you are in the lower mainland you can call, 664-0700 and everyone else can try 1-800-772-8120. I can't reach them from my neck of the woods, but perhaps you may have better luck. A word to the wise, if the numbers contain information on Bingo locations, ...HANG UP! :-)

As luck would have it I bumped bytes with someone involved in the B.C. Photo radar program. This person,(X) had agreed to answer some of my questions and some of yours as well!

2)- In what kind of vehicles are the radar units mounted in?
There are now more Chevy and GMC Vans than Dodge/Chryster. Most of the photo radar vans are now dark colored. Dark blue and green with a few dark red. Two silver ones are PR vans (for salesman demos, and the original blue van with the ATS logo is the RCMP PR radar van).C

3)- How many units are currently in use and how many are planned?
There are 27 vans in B.C. today.

4)- How are they currently deployed in the province?
Let's see, 11 in the lower mainland, the rest evenly dispersed on Vancouver Island, Prince George and Kamloops.

5)- Generally, what hours are they currently being used?
0700 to 2100 seven days a week -- BUT NOT DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC in the lower mainland. They may be parked at their site, but no photos are actually taken until normal traffic flow is observed by the operating officer.

6)- What role does the operator play?
To visually verify speed violations and to issue tickets for other observed traffic violations and arrest those who may throw rocks or shoot at the photo radar vans. (no lie, it's happened!)

7)- Have any problems surfaced with the units so far?
The PR-100 is more reliable and accurate that it was 3 generation ago. We continue to experience minor software glitches as the software is on a continuous upgrade and improvement schedule -- like any software package. Nothing of which would affect the validity of the photograph taken or the data stored.

8)- Has ATS modified the equipment in any way to suit B.C.'s conditions?
The entire PR-100 program was custom designed for BC. Everything about the unit, its operation, the flash, film, battery power system, training program, evidentiary process, and maintenance program was especially designed for the BC program. The original concepts were derived from units already proved, tested and used in the US military and NASA space program.

9)- To date, have there been any counter measures that have proven successful?
I found an effective counter measure that is 100% effective if the in-line flash is used and is (so far) perfectly legal its a device called Flashbuster. The concept is simple -- it is basically a slave flash unit mounted inside your license plate lighting system. A photosensitive trigger points out the back somewhere at 22 degrees and if it sees a flash from the radar van, it triggers the flash inside (and near your plate) and theoretically over exposes your plate. It would be 100% effective at night. 0% if no flash is used (which might be the case on bright days here in B.C.) You also have to install it correctly otherwise it may not work.

There was a vehicle using the plastic ($69.95) plate cover that looks somewhat clear at all but 20 to 24 degrees...The driver can sleep well tonight. . .It paid for itself this time. A nice silver/white "glare" covering the numbers. He's lucky a regular PC was not there, or it would have cost him $150. The photo now goes "on line" and will be on the list of vehicles to look for. Starting Friday, all the police forces will be looking for that color/year of vehicle... (nasty eh? but it's illegal in B.C. to use these things.) If he/she travels this route as a daily routine, well. . .

B.C. is the only jurisdiction to use in-line flash on all their "photography." This enhances the plate image which makes it very very easy for computer enhancement to pick out a plate from what may otherwise be a poor overall image. RF detection of the Ka band device only verifies you have been photographed. It employs a low power narrow beam (out of the front of the van) which makes it very hard to detect while approaching the target area. Sites are specifically chosen for their zero chance of reflection or interference.

10)- Is there anything that you wish to say or add?
The photo radar used in B.C. is the most sophisticated in the world. It is "smart" in that each unit has it's own CPU. It is all software controlled and it can differentiate between targets, judge distance and vehicle type as well as speed and direction. The device can automatically void a photo opportunity if certain criteria exists. There is a recording VCR in line which can also be used for court evidence, which displays the event and is encircled with data from the computers. Each unit is calibrated and certified with standards registered at the National Bureau of Standards.

The tolerance level has been establish by government policy (never by the police or individual operator) at between 11 to 19 Kph over the posted speed or 85 percentile of the average speed of traffic flow. Data collected is being analyzed by traffic engineers and it will result in a positive adjustment of speeds in the Province, should a few years of data show trends indicating an increase (or decrease) in speeds.

Q-1) At what distance before reaching the van does the photo radar measure the speed of my car?
A -Good question Dicky...the answer; It does not even "see" your car until you are ahead of the vehicle. Take a look at the diagram in Mark's web page here. That is a pretty good representation of the beam direction, width and range. If you see a PR Van parked on the right side of any road, slow the @#%^! down to less than 11 Kph of the posted limit and you'll probably avoid a photograph.

Q-2) At what distance after passing the van is the photo actually taken?
A -Anywhere from/within 20 to 200 feet from the front of the van starting at an angle of 22.5 degrees. Again, refer to the picture/diagram above this section and it should give you your answer.

Q-3) How is the radar targeted onto the street when considering the number of lanes (and therefore the width) of a particular street? i.e.. is it easier or harder to have our speed/photograph taken in a lane closer or farther from the van?
A -It doesn't really matter Dicky. The lense is a top of line medium format 150mm f4 lense. On a average day the "focus range" is anywhere from 30 feet to infinity. General rule of thumb, the darker the day the closer to the left side of the road you might want to be. Flash still gets plates on a 3-lane road well enough for the OCR computer to pick out a plate however. . .most of the time. Depends if the officer takes his glasses off when he focuses the camera!!

Q-4) What about the possibility of a car changing lanes after the speed is measured and before the picture is taken?
A -The possibility of what Dicky? You're still moving away from the van, the radar has already done it's job and the camera sees enough of the road to still get a good picture, so what is the possibility of voiding a ticket here...None whatsoever Dicky, unless you have a reaction time better that 1/1600 of a second!!

Q- What is meant by "in-line flash"? How does this differ from a regular flash?
A- Good question. In-line flash is set up to achieve maximum light reflection from the flash to the target (your license plate) and back. So, the angle of the flash is "parallel" to the field of view of the camera lense. In regular photography (and cheap Instamatic cameras) this would result in the all-to-familiar "red-eye" effect. Bad for people portraits, very good for photo radar portraits! You might have noticed that professional photographers never use "in-line" flash, it's always several inches or feet away from the lense and always at some other angle or to take advantage of softer "bounce flash". Photo Radar needs the harsh direct light which, because of our reflective plates, makes for a very vivid plate image.

When you get your first ticket in the mail (I'm being funny :-)), you'll probably notice that the license plate really shows up, compared to the rest of the picture -- this is "in-line" flash at work.

Q- Since both the speed and photo are taken after my car passes the van, does this mean that radar detectors will not be able to detect the photo radar's existence until it passes the van, at which time it will be too late?? (assuming I have a 360 degree radar detector).
A- Well hello again Dicky. Yes you are essentially correct. Unless you own a Valentine or top of the line Bel (735sti I think), chances are that it will be too late. Mind you, even the most expensive will only give you a very very short warning. Often too short to react. Sorry Dicky, you'll just have to slow down! :-)

It's far easier to make visual contact than to rely on your electronics. The radar locations are basically fixed (in general area) after a few months you will pick up their "Chi" and your "road sense" will start to kick in...

Q- How does the photo set know when to take the picture?? i.e. When it calculates your vehicles speed does it just time when the picture should be taken, or is there some apparatus that tracks your vehicle until it is in view, then takes the picture?

A- Hello Greg, good question. The camera itself is "offset" a degree or two from the direction the radar beam is directed. The radar unit is at 22.5 degrees and the camera is set at about 23 or 24.5 degrees. It is just enough ahead of the beam to centre your vehicle in the photograph. This is a fixed offset which has been calculated by the designers, and can be adjusted to one fixed position (held in place with a set screw) depending whether the van is on the left or right side of the road. Don't forget, we are looking at a device that reacts quite quickly 1/500th to 1/1600th of a second to take a picture.

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