Cameras to catch more speeders

By SCOTT MacLEOD transport reporter

Speed cameras are expected to snare at least 50 per cent more Aucklanders from next week, when police tweak their cameras to catch all vehicles exceeding the limit by more than 10 km/h.

Previously the cameras were set to snap only the fastest 15 per cent of those exceeding the speed limit.

Police said yesterday that the number of speed photos they took nationally each year would jump from 800,000 to a projected 1.2 million, with the adoption of a less flexible system. Aucklanders would be hit hardest.

Police figures suggest that about 230,000 more Aucklanders will be snapped.

Auckland, where cameras will be adjusted early next week, is the last region to carry out the adjustments since the Government brought in the fixed 10 km/h tolerance level in July.

The police national road safety manager, Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald, said some of the cameras in Auckland would have their trigger-speeds adjusted down by 5 or 6 km/h.

That means a camera set to fire at 116 km/h will now go off at 110 km/h, catching more motorists.

Mr Fitzgerald said next week's changes would affect all urban parts of Auckland, and apply to both fixed and mobile cameras.

He was warning city drivers in advance so they could avoid unpleasant Christmas tickets in their mailboxes.

"From our perspective it's going to have a huge impact," he said. "We are going to be inundated."

Speed photos are processed at the police infringement bureau in Wellington.

The officer in charge, Inspector Matt Fitzsimons, said he was increasing his staff from 93 to 111 to cope with the expected surge.

Of the 400,000 more likely to be snapped each year, 26.3 per cent would come from North Shore/Waitakere, 21.2 per cent from Counties Manukau and 10.8 per cent from Auckland City. That works out to 105,200, 84,800 and 43,200 photos, respectively - a total of 233,200.

Most of those people will get tickets, although an unspecified number will get off for various reasons, such as the presence of another car in the picture.

Mr Fitzsimons said Aucklanders would feel the brunt because the city had a speeding problem. But he would be happy if the jump in photo numbers did not happen.

"We don't make the law - we enforce it. If we don't get an increase then we will be extremely pleased."

Automobile Association spokesman George Fairbairn said the new limit drew a clear line in the sand for motorists. Previously, they could never be sure what speed would trigger a camera.

AA surveys showed most drivers accepted the 10 km/h tolerance.

Auckland has six mobile and four static cameras.

* TOMORROW - where the speed traps are.

Herald Online feature: Getting Auckland moving

Herald Online traffic reports