You surely know that feeling of frustration when you receive a fine because ofspeeding. The mobile radar cars are more and more numerous on French motorways. In this article, we give you the clues allowing you to recognize for sure these unmarked cars.
What is an on-board mobile radar?
For several years, the government has set up speed cameras on the motorways in order to control the road traffic. Their purpose is to punish motorists speeding.
Since 2013, a new type of radar has appeared on the roads. This is’on-board mobile radar. As its name suggests, this radar can be placed on board a vehicle and monitors traffic discreetly.
This radar is on unmarked cars. Unlike fixed speed cameras, this speed camera can measure speed another automobile while moving on the roads. The cars have an infrared camera allowing discreetly flash a car speeding.
How does a mobile speed camera work?
Before 2017, they are law enforcement in uniform who drove these cars on our highways. Now, private companies can also use these unmarked cars for the purpose of policing excesses. This privatization intended to free the police so they can focus on something else.
As we have just explained, these radars are on the edge of an unmarked car. At the wheel, there will be law enforcement or by private agents. These cars circulate discreetly on the roads to check compliance with speed limits. This is the built-in camera in the vehicle that captures the car number so that the car can be ticketed.
The clues to recognize them?
Those of us with heavy feet would still like to detect those unmarked cars. It goes without saying that it will not be so obvious. Vehicles that have these radars still have some special features. Although they are not easy to detect, there are some clues allowing them to be recognized with certainty.
The first thing to consider is a big black box found on the dashboard of some cars. Indeed, it is on this box that the camera and the infrared are located, which makes it possible to flash the other cars which pass them.
On the rear window, there is also a small box allowing to verbalize cars in reverse. However, their relatively small size makes them difficult to notice. Another clue also allows them to be recognized.
Indeed, the models of these unmarked cars are beginning to make themselves known. In generalthese cars are Citroën Berlingo, Dacia Sandero, Ford Focus or Peugeot (208, 308 and 508).
Penalties by on-board radar
Vehicles pinned by mobile speed cameras incur the same penalties than those who are flashed by fixed speed cameras. Violators will receive a letter regarding the fine they will have to pay.
In town, speeding less than 20 km/h remains punishable by 135 euros. The fine will be reduced to 68 euros if the driver drives outside the city with a withdrawal of one point. When the excess is between 20 km and 30 km, the fine is also 135 euros. However, the driver perd 2 points.
Between 30 km and 40 km, he loses three points with a fine of 135 euros. For excesses between 40 km and 50 km, the penalty is always 135 euros, but here it perd 4 points. Once the driver exceeds 50 km, he will be fined 1,500 euros with six points lost.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGgd73vd5ck
It is to highlight that withdrawal of points is one of the penalties most feared by motorists. If we lose a point, we get it back following six months if we stay square. When you no longer have points, you will have to retake your driving licence. The only way to avoid these problems is to lift the foot.