License Plate - Photo blocker
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
Mercedes is gone physically, but still in my heart.
Also would work on EZ-pass. But actually the camera thing is ridiculous. The second the light turns red if it detects motion it snaps the photo. So if you're going through a light as it's turning yellow and it turns red as you're at the other end of the intersection, it'll snap a shot and you'll get a ticket. I think it's kind of a bs move.
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 15
From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
Is it ethical? Everyone knows you shold not run red lights, but that is a question I'd like to ask the lying, cheating, theiving politicians who install these camera devices. Anyone who thinks they contribute to safety believes in the Easter Bunny too. They are installed for a single purpose. To take gobs of cash from you. A red light ticket will cost you about $ 1,200.00 over three years in California.
The people who install them select the places where they will earn the most revenue, not where the most accidents occur. They spend hours fine tuning the phasing of the signals to increase the amount earned. When they are caught cheating (like making the yellow too short, or charging drivers who entered the intersection legally) and a judge orders restitution, only the folks who fought the ticket get their money back.
What really burns my toast is the total lack of regard for the Constitution. Your right to face the police and cross examine witnesses has been flushed away by a Supreme Court who has deceided police have greater rights than the rest of us. Just how do you cross examine a photo that exists solely to convict you. Convictions shold not be obtained by machines. They can be made to lie by people after your money.
Sprays, flashing frames, and optical lenses over the plate do not work well or at all, and are not legal. Mounting your plate so the top is 45 degrees forward of the bottom of the plate can be effective in hiding the numbers from the cameras mounted high on poles, and is legal.
The people who install them select the places where they will earn the most revenue, not where the most accidents occur. They spend hours fine tuning the phasing of the signals to increase the amount earned. When they are caught cheating (like making the yellow too short, or charging drivers who entered the intersection legally) and a judge orders restitution, only the folks who fought the ticket get their money back.
What really burns my toast is the total lack of regard for the Constitution. Your right to face the police and cross examine witnesses has been flushed away by a Supreme Court who has deceided police have greater rights than the rest of us. Just how do you cross examine a photo that exists solely to convict you. Convictions shold not be obtained by machines. They can be made to lie by people after your money.
Sprays, flashing frames, and optical lenses over the plate do not work well or at all, and are not legal. Mounting your plate so the top is 45 degrees forward of the bottom of the plate can be effective in hiding the numbers from the cameras mounted high on poles, and is legal.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 404
Likes: 1
From: Albany, NY
2014 C300, sport, black/black
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 1
From: Central NJ
C230K Coupe/Orion/C4/C5/CD/AMG Spoiler/V60/TeleAid, 2 MGB's
A little off topic....but there's a point to be made.
I had installed laser defraction license plate covers on each of my vehicles. They also supposedly worked to distort video camera images. I failed NJ inspection on one of my MG's and got a $74 ticket (obstructed license plate) for it in my coupe. The coupe was subsequently searched, and the cop pulled out the floor mats, glove box and console contents, rear seat cushion, spare tire, cover, tools and rear hatch panels. He also confiscated a leatherman tool from my tool kit. He then waited for me to put it all back after threatening to write another ticket for littering.
A friend/lawyer/judge wrote a pretty stern letter to his Chief, but the bottom line is...Rookie cops suck.
I can't say what the laws are in other states, but in NJ, they look for any reason to pull you over. If I have to give advice, I'd say it's not worth it.
I had installed laser defraction license plate covers on each of my vehicles. They also supposedly worked to distort video camera images. I failed NJ inspection on one of my MG's and got a $74 ticket (obstructed license plate) for it in my coupe. The coupe was subsequently searched, and the cop pulled out the floor mats, glove box and console contents, rear seat cushion, spare tire, cover, tools and rear hatch panels. He also confiscated a leatherman tool from my tool kit. He then waited for me to put it all back after threatening to write another ticket for littering.
A friend/lawyer/judge wrote a pretty stern letter to his Chief, but the bottom line is...Rookie cops suck.
I can't say what the laws are in other states, but in NJ, they look for any reason to pull you over. If I have to give advice, I'd say it's not worth it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 196
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
You don't have to think whether they contribute to safety, just look at the statistics on the corners where they have been installed. In all cases the number of accidents , injuries, and losses of life were significantly reduced. Same with speed cameras. And yes, they are cash cows. Not only do they bring in hard $ but they also free up police to do more important work. I'm not defending them, just stating the facts. Slow down, pay more attention to lights, and make it safer for all of us. Personally I hate the damn things but what can be bad about increasing safety?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 196
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
Not true. I've been 'snapped' three times and not one produced a ticket. It looks at the position of the car with relationship to the limit line/crosswalk and they determine if you entered the intersection after the light turned red before issuing a ticket. They have to do that because what if you were just waiting to turn and entered the intersection in line behind a car or two when the light was green? I think they are so effective that it's just a matter of time before all intersections and speed zones have cameras. That will be a sad day.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 13,969
Likes: 0
From: Florida
In the market
I don't see that happening. It would be career suicide for the politician who proposes it. A certain ammount of automated policing has proven effective, but excessive over-policing by automated means will not be accepted by the masses without a fight. That kind of control over the general public is a way of using new technology to force up back in time prior to the establishment of many of our personal freedoms we take for granted today
Super Moderator Alumni
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,692
Likes: 58
From: So Cal.
2019 GT3 RS, 2017 M3 30 Jahre
sorry, just a tad bit bitter here...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 196
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
I hope you're right, but it's already spreading. I don't see any political problems though....it's all done at the local/city level and most people wouldn't even know who voted on the council to install them....if not the whole council! Also, the majority of the people obey the laws and actually like to see the scofflaws being caught. A friend received a ticket in the mail from Australia for speeding in a rental when caught by a camera while vacationing!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,441
Likes: 0
..
A little bitter here too! My sister's car along with a few others in my neighborhood got hit a few months back and they did jack about it while they magically appear in the mornings around the corner from stop signs.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 1
From: Central NJ
C230K Coupe/Orion/C4/C5/CD/AMG Spoiler/V60/TeleAid, 2 MGB's
Maybe there's a point to be made here.
Drive carefully - Don't run red lights or roll stop signs.
If saving you from a ticket doesn't matter...maybe saving your life will.
Drive carefully - Don't run red lights or roll stop signs.
If saving you from a ticket doesn't matter...maybe saving your life will.
Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Just to add some information to this topic. 2 of my employees have recently recieved red light tickets for not coming to a complete stop before making a right hand turn. $346 each ticket. Check out the bottom picture of the license plate. I don't think changing the texture of the plate would change how that shows in a picture based on that angle.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 196
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
NO!! They're also snapping photos of incomplete stops!! I wonder what it
takes for the sensors to believe a complete stop was made....like how is the motion sampled or does any movement (<1mph) kick it off? $346 is outrageous, that's like a car pool violation. Does anyone know how this works?
takes for the sensors to believe a complete stop was made....like how is the motion sampled or does any movement (<1mph) kick it off? $346 is outrageous, that's like a car pool violation. Does anyone know how this works?
Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
It can't be seen because of the size of the scan but just above each of the smaller pictures to the right it has the speed, current time, how long the light has been red. I was thinking about how I could help my drivers fight with the city for proof that the red light was ran. Based on the fact they show the speed of the vehicle and where the sensors are placed, it's pretty obvious the driver cannot stop before the crosswalk. My other driver recieved a ticket for not coming to a complete stop prior to an intersection much like this one but he got his at 5:12 am. There is not a lot of traffic at 5. I believe the price of the ticket should be greater if the street is busier. Running a red light at 5 am should result in a $100+/- fine.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 8
From: Pasadena, CA
2002 C230K, 2013 BMW 328, 2015 BMW X5
It can't be seen because of the size of the scan but just above each of the smaller pictures to the right it has the speed, current time, how long the light has been red. I was thinking about how I could help my drivers fight with the city for proof that the red light was ran. Based on the fact they show the speed of the vehicle and where the sensors are placed, it's pretty obvious the driver cannot stop before the crosswalk. My other driver recieved a ticket for not coming to a complete stop prior to an intersection much like this one but he got his at 5:12 am. There is not a lot of traffic at 5. I believe the price of the ticket should be greater if the street is busier. Running a red light at 5 am should result in a $100+/- fine.
E
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 196
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
It can't be seen because of the size of the scan but just above each of the smaller pictures to the right it has the speed, current time, how long the light has been red. Based on the fact they show the speed of the vehicle and where the sensors are placed, it's pretty obvious the driver cannot stop before the crosswalk. ..... Running a red light at 5 am should result in a $100+/- fine.
