Speed cameras in Ireland - a guide

Galwayguy35 · 06-05-2012 4:04am

ProudDUB wrote: »

How does the points on your record thing work if you get one of these speeding tickets in the post?

I do not live here year around. When I am driving here, I do so on my US drivers license. Last month, I bought a car to use when I am here, as I was getting killed financially renting cars. The registration documents and the car insurance are in my name and Irish address. I also went into the motor tax office last week, and paid the motor tax on the car, again with my Irish name and address. They didn't ask to see my DL. The only party who has my drivers license deets are my insurance company.

So if I get nabbed by a speed van/camera, they know where to post the fine too, but how do they attach points to my driving record when no official govt agency knows who I am exactly?

Am not planing on doing any dangerous or speedy driving. I am just curious as to how it works.

You won't get points when your license is a US one as far as I know. You would still get the fine though.

Galwayguy35 · 06-05-2012 4:11am

NIMAN wrote: »

Couple of questions:

1) Can the van get you as you drive away from it? i.e. if its facing down a road, I assume its aimed at the cars coming towards it? Is it trained on cars in the other lane driving away from it?

2) Why are all the vans in my local area in the exact same spots? They are never more than a few metres difference when they set up. We all know now where they might be and so its clear when you need to slow down. After that you can speed up. Seems silly as I live on a main road, rural area. Cars pass my house at times doing in my estimation 80mph or 90mph, yet there won't ever be a speed camera on that road. Whats the point if you know where they will always be?

Yeah you can be got from both sides by the van.

It's the same around here there are 4 areas that they are always in. The vans can only work in the areas between the signs that are on the road to warn drivers that there will be a speed van ahead. The areas that are usually picked are locations where people have lost their lives over the years.

NIMAN · 06-05-2012 4:21am

Yeah I know that the vans are positioned where people sadly died, but surely having them practically in static locations is a poor deterrent?

That road I mentioned outside my house, me and my neighbours have a lot of very concealed exits from our homes. It can be hard to see a car coming down the road, and indeed us leaving our driveways. As I said, I would estimate that some cars can be doing 80mph on what is a 50mph road. Should one of those drivers have to make a sudden movements on the wheel, a serious accident could happen.

For me, that road is an ideal spot for a speed camera. Why don't they vary the locations? Surely it couldn't be seen as being unfair to position them randomly. After all, we are not meant to speed anywhere, not just where people have died previously.

I had thought about asking one of the van drivers to consider moving, but I am sure they are not allowed to.

Galwayguy35 · 06-05-2012 4:30am

NIMAN wrote: »

Yeah I know that the vans are positioned where people sadly died, but surely having them practically in static locations is a poor deterrent?

That road I mentioned outside my house, me and my neighbours have a lot of very concealed exits from our homes. It can be hard to see a car coming down the road, and indeed us leaving our driveways. As I said, I would estimate that some cars can be doing 80mph on what is a 50mph road. Should one of those drivers have to make a sudden movements on the wheel, a serious accident could happen.

For me, that road is an ideal spot for a speed camera. Why don't they vary the locations? Surely it couldn't be seen as being unfair to position them randomly. After all, we are not meant to speed anywhere, not just where people have died previously.

I had thought about asking one of the van drivers to consider moving, but I am sure they are not allowed to.

To be honest I think the Gardai could be more visible on the roads as they can set themselves up in any area they choose. I get what you are saying though as I know myself exactly where the vans will be as well and see the cars speeding up when they get past them.

mickdw · 06-05-2012 11:33am

I think it very important that the private company operating the speed cameras are only allowed setup at specific locations. What we don't want is a company who are probably on some sort of performance related pay being free to set up behind bushes etc.

Galwayguy35 · 06-05-2012 12:05pm

mickdw wrote: »

I think it very important that the private company operating the speed cameras are only allowed setup at specific locations. What we don't want is a company who are probably on some sort of performance related pay being free to set up behind bushes etc.

Why not? If people aren't speeding they have nothing to fear.

Bohrio · 06-05-2012 12:12pm

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Why not? If people aren't speeding they have nothing to fear.

Beacuse they will probably try setting themselves on tricky locations, trying to catch people speeding, like after a turn where the speed limit has gone down from 100 to 60 and is hard to see the sign until is too late, etc...

I have never met anyone whos never driven over the speed limit, never, either on purpose or by mistake

Galwayguy35 · 06-05-2012 12:21pm

Bohrio wrote: »

Beacuse they will probably try setting themselves on tricky locations, trying to catch people speeding, like after a turn where the speed limit has gone down from 100 to 60 and is hard to see the sign until is too late, etc...

I have never met anyone whos never driven over the speed limit, never, either on purpose or by mistake

I agree and I wasn't trying to take the high moral ground. But I notice that in areas where people know the vans will be that now they are keeping to the limits. If they didn't know where the vans would be then I would think that people would do the same. I think we got away with not being caught here in Ireland for so long that over the years we started to ignore the speed signs. I'm guilty of this myself.

Bohrio · 06-05-2012 12:48pm

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

I agree and I wasn't trying to take the high moral ground. But I notice that in areas where people know the vans will be that now they are keeping to the limits. If they didn't know where the vans would be then I would think that people would do the same. I think we got away with not being caught here in Ireland for so long that over the years we started to ignore the speed signs. I'm guilty of this myself.

I know what you mean. In UK they are called safety cameras, here they are called speed cameras. Of course the reason why is beacause in UK cameras are set on black spots to prevent people from having accidents and here, in most cases arent.

Im from Spain and it was was quite common for people to go over the speed limit, back then if you were to drive at the speed limit you would find yourself going much slower than the rest. Doing 160 was common practice, even 180 and 200 in some cases (talking about typical drivers not boy racers)

A few years ago the started increasing the number of speed cameras, fixed and mobile, they are everywhere now, they also increased penalties, both economically as well as pointwise, as a result, u rarely see anyone going over 120, and nobody will even think of doing 200 kmh as it could mean jailtime. I wouldnt like to see this in Ireland.

Just imagine it does, for example, there is a point in the n11 going down to wicklow (think is killmacanoghe) where the speed limit goes from 100 kmh down to 60 kmh. Lets say you are going slighty over the speed limit (within the safe limit), so your doing 115 kmh and you faile to see the 60 kmh sign, a speed van catches you at that speed, if you were in spain, youd be getting a 450-520 euro fine and 6 points. Here is only 80 euro and 2 points.

Funny enough after all the fuzz with speed cameras, they have realized its not the way to go and they are even considering increasing the speed limit to 140... oh well...

cara11 · 06-05-2012 5:08pm

ProudDUB wrote: »

How does the points on your record thing work if you get one of these speeding tickets in the post?

I do not live here year around. When I am driving here, I do so on my US drivers license. Last month, I bought a car to use when I am here, as I was getting killed financially renting cars. The registration documents and the car insurance are in my name and Irish address. I also went into the motor tax office last week, and paid the motor tax on the car, again with my Irish name and address. They didn't ask to see my DL. The only party who has my drivers license deets are my insurance company.

So if I get nabbed by a speed van/camera, they know where to post the fine too, but how do they attach points to my driving record when no official govt agency knows who I am exactly?

Am not planing on doing any dangerous or speedy driving. I am just curious as to how it works.

Hi, that happened to me a few years back (annoying as I was only over 10 kmh on a quiet road

). I have a German licence, driving a German car with Irish registration. Point cannot be applied to your licence (as Galwayguy said) but they will send you a letter and they kind of "open an account" in their system where the points are stored for the same time as if you have an Irish licence. And you have to pay the fine

.

Still, Ireland is pretty "generous" compared to my native country where speedcams are to be expected everywhere. They do hide behind bushes, walls and parked cars, fixed cams are even hidden in specially designed bins or fenceposts etc. along the road or at bridges. Here the vans usually are pretty visible and even signs all over them, never mind the other companions on the road who warn you. I only wonder about some of the locations where they are sitting. Some of them are in no way dangerous whereas I would appreciate to see them more often outside schools.

And looking at the continuously rising fuelprices - driving slower gets you further:D

Our man in Havana · 06-05-2012 5:09pm

Do they still store points indefinitely for non Irish licences?

eringobragh · 06-05-2012 5:33pm

cara11 wrote: »

Still, Ireland is pretty "generous" compared to my native country where speedcams are to be expected everywhere. They do hide behind bushes, walls and parked cars, fixed cams are even hidden in specially designed bins or fenceposts etc. along the road or at bridges. Here the vans usually are pretty visible and even signs all over them, never mind the other companions on the road who warn you. I only wonder about some of the locations where they are sitting. Some of them are in no way dangerous whereas I would appreciate to see them more often outside schools.

And looking at the continuously rising fuelprices - driving slower gets you further:D

Too true this is the sort of ****e I had to deal with in Australia when I was there...now theres an anti-motorist country if ever there was one.

gman2k · 06-05-2012 6:05pm

ironclaw wrote: »

Anecdotally, I've heard Garda vans (And Garda vans only could have the authority to do this) have done people for bus lane usage and seat belt non-compliance.

This of course is an urban legend, and fortunately it is an untrue one.

Now a couple of points,
With the mobile vans (operating on K-Band Radar) the image capture area is quite close to the rear of the van. Also, the radar spread output from the van is quite small also, much smaller than static cameras.
The Gardai predominantly use LASER for detection, and contrary to the first post in this thread there is a bit of spread from the beam. Although they are meant to aim at the number plate, there is generally a bit of spread over the distance that will be picked up by someone using an illegal Radar/LASER detector.
AGS will pull the trigger from some way off, and if the recipient slows immediately upon detection (as long as he was not going excessively over local limit) they will not pull him in for ticketing.

cara11 · 06-05-2012 6:10pm

Our man in Havana wrote: »

Do they still store points indefinitely for non Irish licences?

As far as I know, yes. Unless it changed in the last 2.5 years.

pa990 · 06-05-2012 6:24pm

Our man in Havana wrote: »

Do they still store points indefinitely for non Irish licences?

yes they do

dillo2k10 · 06-05-2012 7:24pm

Hi,

I was in the car with my mum on Tuesday on the N4 westbound. Just as we got to palmerstown and right after the limit changed from 80 to 60, parked outside the garage there was a speed camera.

The car in front jammed on when they seen the camera, we got pretty close to them as we had to jam on too. It oonly flashed once but I'm not sure which one it got.

If there are two cars close would they usually catch the first or second? Or could they get both In the same go?

gman2k · 06-05-2012 7:38pm

One picture one car

ProudDUB · 06-05-2012 10:46pm

Our man in Havana wrote: »

Do they still store points indefinitely for non Irish licences?

yes they do

As far as I know, yes. Unless it changed in the last 2.5 years.

Could you clarify what you all mean by this please?

I am driving here on my US license. Does this mean that if I am hit with points for a speeding offence, they stay on my driving record forever?

I asked a question earlier about being hit with a fine for speeding if I do not have an Irish DL. A poster replied that I am liable for the fine, but can not get any points as my DL is not Irish. There was an article in the Indo recently about people being exempt from getting points on their record as their DL was from a foreign country & Irish computer systems were not set up to keep track of non Irish DLs

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/dangerous-drivers-avoid-penalty-points-3095416.html

How are the points on your record stored or assessed? Is it done by your cars registration, your PPS number, your name and address, your DL number?

Am really confused here.

Our man in Havana · 06-05-2012 11:23pm

I was told that points stay on ice until you get an Irish licence. Once one is issued any stored points then become active and then start running for 3 years.

ProudDUB · 07-05-2012 2:10am

Our man in Havana wrote: »

I was told that points stay on ice until you get an Irish licence.

How exactly is this done? How do they put someones driving record 'on ice' and store it for future use? Is it done by your name, address, PPS number, foreign US license number, car registration details, insurance documents etc?

Surely if you change any of these details (buy a new car, get married, change addresses, change insurance companies etc etc) that makes it very hard for them to add on old offences to a new license?

Our man in Havana · 07-05-2012 9:44am

They keep the details under name,address,DOB,foreign licence number.

They would have enough there to tie a record to a new licence being issued, particularly a foreign DL number.

pa990 · 07-05-2012 11:10pm

ProudDUB wrote: »

Our man in Havana wrote: »

I was told that points stay on ice until you get an Irish licence.

How exactly is this done? How do they put someones driving record 'on ice' and store it for future use? Is it done by your name, address, PPS number, foreign US license number, car registration details, insurance documents etc?

Surely if you change any of these details (buy a new car, get married, change addresses, change insurance companies etc etc) that makes it very hard for them to add on old offences to a new license?

if you have a us licence holder are named as the driver.or of you post a speeding fine, your points will be kept on file until such time that you exchange your foreign licence fire an irish one.

When you get am irish one, you will instantly have points (or an instant 6 month ban if you have 12 points)

opti0nal · 08-05-2012 10:40pm

mickdw wrote: »

I think it very important that the private company operating the speed cameras are only allowed setup at specific locations.

Bad idea, people would just download the fixed locations from one of those dodgy speed camera web sites & stop speeding at just those locations while continuing to speed everywhere else.

mickdw wrote: »

What we don't want is a company who are probably on some sort of performance related pay being free to set up behind bushes etc.

We don't have that. They're not paid based on the number of detections. They're paid for the number of hours work done.

Low-profile, hidden speed traps are the best way to go as people won't know when they'll be caught and also they won't be jamming on the brakes if they see one. Ideally, the first thing they should know is when they get the photo in the post.

ProudDUB · 09-05-2012 1:26am

In need of a good giggle?

Speed camera van get clamped.

http://twitpic.com/9itlls

I do believe that this falls into the " Ain't Karma A Bitch? " department

Our man in Havana · 09-05-2012 8:29am

Old picture is still old. Still never to be proven authentic either.

AntFitz · 17-05-2012 10:25pm

gman2k wrote: »

ironclaw wrote: »

Anecdotally, I've heard Garda vans (And Garda vans only could have the authority to do this) have done people for bus lane usage and seat belt non-compliance.

This of course is an urban legend, and fortunately it is an untrue one.

How do you know this is untrue? I got done by a white van 4 years ago for using a mobile phone. I was a long distance away from the van, stopped at lights, answered phone, lights went green so hung up and eventually drive paste the van in slow moving traffic, which immediately pulled out behind me, and a few mins later put sirens on and pulled me over. Told me I was using the phone. So they obviously saw me on the camera.

Seth Brundle · 17-05-2012 10:56pm

A garda hopping out of a van after seeing you on the phone is different from a parked & unmanned* van that takes pics of speeding drivers which is what was being referred to by gman2k.

* Garda Gatso vans are unmanned, Spectra ones are manned by civilians

Otac0n · 12-06-2012 11:28am

Hi

Does anyone know if the unmarked garda still use a flash to detect license plates.

Thanks

Sobanek · 12-06-2012 12:40pm

Congrats to whichever idiot parked the gatso van on a shop's driveway in Newbridge - people have to slow down for the speed bump, so I can't really imagine who'd possibly get caught.

Padkir · 12-06-2012 1:31pm

Saw something funny going into Dublin a few days ago, round Lucan there where the van always is on the left. I was tipping along and decided I'd slow down to 80 because the van always seems to be there when I'm going in.

Come around the corner and see it up ahead on the left, few hundred yards away. As I approach people are still flying past on the outside, thing was flashing literally every 2/3 seconds, but even though you could see it coming up no-one tried to slow down!

Thought it a bit strange, I'd imagine with the distance you can see it from that slowing down immediately would probably get you away with it but no, people just kept tearing through!

No excuse for that, no point blaming the van then when you get points, it's there regularly and plain to see, can't understand some drivers!

pa990 · 12-06-2012 2:51pm

kbannon wrote: »

A garda hopping out of a van after seeing you on the phone is different from a parked & unmanned* van that takes pics of speeding drivers which is what was being referred to by gman2k.

* Garda Gatso vans are unmanned, Spectra ones are manned by civilians

Garda vans are also manned

Galwayguy35 · 12-06-2012 6:52pm

Padkir wrote: »

Saw something funny going into Dublin a few days ago, round Lucan there where the van always is on the left. I was tipping along and decided I'd slow down to 80 because the van always seems to be there when I'm going in.

Come around the corner and see it up ahead on the left, few hundred yards away. As I approach people are still flying past on the outside, thing was flashing literally every 2/3 seconds, but even though you could see it coming up no-one tried to slow down!

Thought it a bit strange, I'd imagine with the distance you can see it from that slowing down immediately would probably get you away with it but no, people just kept tearing through!

No excuse for that, no point blaming the van then when you get points, it's there regularly and plain to see, can't understand some drivers!

Saw something similar today. Was coming out from the city and the speed van was in plain sight, some guy comes up behind me and passes me like there is no tomorrow.
He must love paying out €80 fines to the government.

mikeecho · 13-06-2012 9:46am

On a side note
The system that the GoSafe vans use has had its spec's updated.

The manufacturer stated that the device was
Accurate to +/- 3km/hr (or +/- 1.5% , whichever is greater)

now they state that it is
Accurate to +/- 1.5kph (or +/- 1.91% whichever is greater)

Wolverine_1999 · 13-06-2012 10:37am

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Saw something similar today. Was coming out from the city and the speed van was in plain sight, some guy comes up behind me and passes me like there is no tomorrow.
He must love paying out €80 fines to the government.

A lot of dodgy registered cars around.. the bill probably doesn't come to his address.

From a reputable source and primarily the crowd from the easterly states..

flyguy · 13-06-2012 12:33pm

mikeecho wrote: »

On a side note
The system that the GoSafe vans use has had its spec's updated.

The manufacturer stated that the device was
Accurate to +/- 3km/hr (or +/- 1.5% , whichever is greater)

now they state that it is
Accurate to +/- 1.5kph (or +/- 1.91% whichever is greater)

Since you seem to know about the accuracy. Wonder if you can a question I posted a while back in this thread but didn't get a reply to (unless I missed it).
Do you get a speed correction on the measured speed if you get a ticket in Ireland? Like you say the error is about 2-3% so do they take this of the measured speed when you're caught speeding?

mikeecho · 13-06-2012 1:42pm

mikeecho wrote: »

On a side note
The system that the GoSafe vans use has had its spec's updated.

The manufacturer stated that the device was
Accurate to +/- 3km/hr (or +/- 1.5% , whichever is greater)

now they state that it is
Accurate to +/- 1.5kph (or +/- 1.91% whichever is greater)

flyguy wrote: »

Since you seem to know about the accuracy. Wonder if you can a question I posted a while back in this thread but didn't get a reply to (unless I missed it).
Do you get a speed correction on the measured speed if you get a ticket in Ireland? Like you say the error is about 2-3% so do they take this of the measured speed when you're caught speeding?

There is no error correction that i am aware of, unlike in Holland / Germany.

Instead there is a tolerance before a ticket is issued.

The GoSafe Vans used to have a tolerance of 8km (9km over and you get a ticket)
Since before xmas (which is when the new specs were introduced) the new tolerance is 4km (5km over and a ticket is issued)

The speed that is printed on your ticket, is the speed that the machine registered you at.

hope that helps.

(and no.. i wont be revealing my source)

Seth Brundle · 13-06-2012 3:49pm

mikeecho wrote: »

Since before xmas (which is when the new specs were introduced) the new tolerance is 4km (5km over and a ticket is issued)

Is that for all speed limits?

mikeecho · 13-06-2012 5:13pm

kbannon wrote: »

Is that for all speed limits?

yes that is for all speed limits, be it 30/50/60/80/100/120 km/h

The Garda vans have a different tolerance.
This may be due to the fact they use a different system
The Garda system is accurate to the following:
25 to 100km/h ± 3km/h
100 to 240 km/h ± 3%

flyguy · 14-06-2012 10:24pm

mikeecho wrote: »

There is no error correction that i am aware of, unlike in Holland / Germany.

Instead there is a tolerance before a ticket is issued.

The speed that is printed on your ticket, is the speed that the machine registered you at.

(and no.. i wont be revealing my source)

The tolerance is a commonly used with speed cameras, it cannot be used instead of a speed correction though. The cameras are set to a higher speed as the speed correction will normally correct the measured speed down to a speed which the fine is based on. If the camera were to be set to 1kph over the limit the correction will bring the speed below the limit.
Eg. I got a ticket in France for doing 111kph in a 110 zone (the measured speed was 117kph minus 6kph correction). So they can't set the camera any lower than 117kph as the correction will bring it down to at/below the limit.

After I typed above I did some googling; is it correct that the price of a speeding ticket in Ireland is the same regardless how much you were exceeding the speed limit with? So if you do 200kph on a motorway (120kph limit) the ticket is the same price as doing 130kph? If so then there would be no need for a speed correction on the measured speed on top of the tolerance (in most countries fines go up for higher exceedances of the limit). However I could start a new discussion about how ridiculous it is to get the same fine for doing 10kph to fast or 100kph to fast...
Another question, in a few countries (one being Netherlands) you instantly lose your licence if you get caught speeding more than 50kph over the limit, any similar penalties in Ireland or do you still get away with the €80 fixed penalty?

whowantstwoknow · 15-06-2012 11:09am

I was heading into Dublin this morning on the N7. Approaching one of the flyovers, I noticed a traffic cop biker parked on the "on slip" on the otherside of the dual carriage way. Who was he checking? cars heading south on the N7 or north on the N7?

Thanks
W.

Mint Sauce · 15-06-2012 11:16am

whowantstwoknow wrote: »

I was heading into Dublin this morning on the N7. Approaching one of the flyovers, I noticed a traffic cop biker parked on the "on slip" on the otherside of the dual carriage way. Who was he checking? cars heading south on the N7 or north on the N7?

Thanks
W.

There was probably an unmarked car checking the speeds from the flyover in the direction he was facing. He would then chase if a car was reported to him.

whowantstwoknow · 15-06-2012 11:19am

irish-stew wrote: »

There was probably an unmarked car checking the speeds from the flyover in the direction he was facing. He would then chase if a car was reported to him.

Sorry forgot to mention the biker cop had the gun out and was pointing north on the N7...

ranger4 · 15-06-2012 12:55pm

Spotted a non marked white transit speed van close to clonard and was wondering would this van be used for statistical purposes only? without been able to issue fines due to not having any markings?

bbuzz · 15-06-2012 1:02pm

whowantstwoknow wrote: »

I was heading into Dublin this morning on the N7. Approaching one of the flyovers, I noticed a traffic cop biker parked on the "on slip" on the otherside of the dual carriage way. Who was he checking? cars heading south on the N7 or north on the N7?

Thanks
W.

I've seen a bike cop do this at the Belfield flyover on the N11 and at Jct 13 on the M7. They measure the speed of the cars heading in the direction they are facing (in your case cars heading south). They only go after cars that are speeding excessively.

Our man in Havana · 15-06-2012 1:36pm

Another question, in a few countries (one being Netherlands) you instantly lose your licence if you get caught speeding more than 50kph over the limit, any similar penalties in Ireland or do you still get away with the €80 fixed penalty?

It is a one size fits all punishment. Simple system designed for easy administration.

Rich11 · 12-08-2012 2:35am

wierd question:o

seen someone in front of me do this tonight on the quays in dublin.

lets say your a a one way road, like the quays in dublin city, and theres a speed van there(garda or gatso), and as your driving towards it your going the speed limit, in this case 30k/ph:mad: anyway..........., il rant in another thread:D

so you go past it and speed up straight away, can you get done?

sorry if this is a really stupid question,lol

Our man in Havana · 12-08-2012 2:40am

Nope. Once passed your in the clear.

opti0nal · 12-08-2012 5:15am

flyguy wrote:

After I typed above I did some googling; is it correct that the price of a speeding ticket in Ireland is the same regardless how much you were exceeding the speed limit with? So if you do 200kph on a motorway (120kph limit) the ticket is the same price as doing 130kph?

The authorities here still have a very mellow attitude towards road traffic offences but I do recall a judge in Kildare jailing a 200kph driver for dangerous driving. There was huge uproar in 'motoring'.

shar01 · 12-08-2012 10:59am

Last week a Go-safe survey van was parked on the N11 going northbound, just before off-slip to Glenview.

It's a 100 km/hr stretch but from the reaction of drivers to the survey van - sudden breaking despite being under the limit - I wonder will a speed detector van be more of the hinderance than a help?

Rich11 · 12-08-2012 3:11pm

shar01 wrote: »

Last week a Go-safe survey van was parked on the N11 going northbound, just before off-slip to Glenview.

It's a 100 km/hr stretch but from the reaction of drivers to the survey van - sudden breaking despite being under the limit - I wonder will a speed detector van be more of the hinderance than a help?

well the survey van does look like the unmarked garda speed van, so they are just being sure

Speed cameras in Ireland - a guide

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