Wednesday 7th June 2006

'See all' camera on its way

Mega-Gatso will grab digital stills and colour movies

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Gatso MCS

The "daddy" of all speed cameras could be on its way to the UK, according to Auto Express.

The "see all" camera is fitted with three digital stills cameras plus a video capture system. This enables the camera to patrol up to four separate lanes of traffic at a time and have moving film as back-up evidence. Current fixed speed camera systems are only able to monitor part of a wide carriageway, so speeders in certain lanes can go unnoticed.

But this will not be the case with the new Multi-Camera System (MCS), which can also be used to police traffic lights and box junctions. And there will be no dispute as to who was behind the wheel either, as the device has an infrared as well as normal flash and can be mounted forward-facing to take pictures of drivers' faces.

The MCS is made by Dutch firm Gatsometer, maker of the ubiquitous Gatso.

The new machine can hold up to 60,000 images of speeders on its encrypted hard-drive while the photos can be downloaded at any time via a telecommunication link. This, plus the fact that it comes with defence spikes to deter vandals, means the MCS is almost maintenance-free - something which will appeal to UK safety camera partnerships.

Auto Express said it had spoken to the Serco company, Gatsometer's UK distributor, and a spokesman had agreed the MCS was "the daddy of speed cameras".

The Serco spokesman went on: "It's not available in the UK at the moment but it may well be something we will bring in the future. It's up to the local camera partnerships to decide if they want them. If they do it could be here within 12 to 18 months."

Auto Express editor-in-chief David Johns said: "This news will send shivers down the spine of every motorist. You can bet it's only a matter of time before it arrives over here and starts trapping UK drivers.

"Cash-greedy safety camera partnerships will find the hi-tech, low-maintenance device a pretty attractive proposition and something they can't ignore."

• Gatso MCS

[ubergreg]

Still doesn't bother me as much as the (proposed) satellite-based tracking and charging schemes. At least this thing can't be with you everywhere you go.

Same tech, just more lenses in one box...

[sleazy]

[Nic Jones]

Wonder how much it will cost to replace when they get destroyed...

not that I advocate that kind of mindless vandalism...

[TUS 373]

One question - is it fireproof?

[Davel]

Can it see round corners?

[martaay]

can that 'encrypted hard drive' withstand a strong magnet?

[Witchfinder]

martaay said:

can that 'encrypted hard drive' withstand a strong magnet?

Rare earth magnets are dirt cheap too

[NickFRP]

can it make a good brew of tea?

[esselte]

I knew I'd seen it somewhere before...

[VSP90]

How about we start a anti scamera lobby? The fuel protest got a lot of publicity! We all know its a money making excercise, maybe we should copy the French and get really angry

[Steve-B]

ahhhhh, what the cunning runts have been up to has finally been leaked in public. 'bout time to leave the UK me thinks...oops, i've already done that!!!!

yet another of tony b.liar's taxes to abuse the working^tax rich classes

[cptsideways]

Or just leave this effing country

[stenniso]

TUS 373 said:

One question - is it fireproof?

The report in the Mail said it had spikes on the pole that it is mounted on. Nice!

[grahambell]

VSP90 said:

How about we start a anti scamera lobby?

Tried something like that about 2 years ago. Got sod all interest from the media (because it's not fking football/Big Brother/celebrity shite) and little support even from PHers. Let's face it, Brits just like moaning about things but rarely ever get off their arses to actually do anything. Don't know how Paul Smith of safespeed has the patience to keep at it.

[rich-uk]

[jazzyjeff]

grahambell said:

VSP90 said:

How about we start a anti scamera lobby?

Tried something like that about 2 years ago. Got sod all interest from the media (because it's not fking football/Big Brother/celebrity shite) and little support even from PHers. Let's face it, Brits just like moaning about things but rarely ever get off their arses to actually do anything. Don't know how Paul Smith of safespeed has the patience to keep at it.

You are so right!!

JJ

[7db]

You aren't telling me that you can't find a few celebrity gfootballers who would rather there aren't cameras?

Although not exactly the paragon of good driving to spearhead a campaign...

[rustyintegrale]

grahambell said:

VSP90 said:

How about we start a anti scamera lobby?

Tried something like that about 2 years ago. Got sod all interest from the media (because it's not fking football/Big Brother/celebrity shite) and little support even from PHers. Let's face it, Brits just like moaning about things but rarely ever get off their arses to actually do anything. Don't know how Paul Smith of safespeed has the patience to keep at it.

[rustyintegrale]

grahambell said:

VSP90 said:

How about we start a anti scamera lobby?

Tried something like that about 2 years ago. Got sod all interest from the media (because it's not fking football/Big Brother/celebrity shite) and little support even from PHers. Let's face it, Brits just like moaning about things but rarely ever get off their arses to actually do anything. Don't know how Paul Smith of safespeed has the patience to keep at it.

Sorry, new poster here so screwed up my reply...

Anyway you are so right, however us Brits have so much to complain about now - cameras, petrol prices, state of the roads, hell even proposing taxes on 'nice views' and ponds deserves a long awaited kick back. I'm sick to death with being penalised financially or otherwise because I choose to exercise my right to freedom. I think we should start another campaign and just keep plugging people to join us. We all have huge lists of email addresses of contacts etc, so how about we start by passing on some kind of viral email (and I don't mean one containing a virus, just in case someone here misunderstands!).

Any views?

Cheers

Rich

[s2ooz]

Dear sir, ive been injured whilst walking along minding my own business, I suffered blood loss and disabilitating injury's from the spikes on a speed camera and wish to sue the council that installed them. whats that? no win no fee you say? where do I sign?