Freedom of Information Requests

Well our FOI application has finally been completed after many months of waiting. In short what have we found out?

We found out that it takes persistence to get what your after for one thing. We were initially given incorrect information about the source of the Multanova manual and its availability. This prompted us to call for a review of the decision. Our review was successful and we have been given access to the Multanova manual at our pleasure.

The Multanova Speed Camera system is supplied to WA Police by DCD Systems in Sydney, Tel: 02 9420 2500. They apparently can't supply user manuals to the public for some reason.

• All WA Police image recording speed measurement device operations shall be in accordance with The Australian Standards. (Example "Radar Speed Detection")
  

• Standards Australia advised that AS 2898 is available in two parts. AS 2898.1 -2003 Part1, "RADAR SPEED DETECTION - Functional Requirements & Definition" Hard copy $37.95, Download from internet, $34.16

• AS 2898.2 -2003 Part 2, "RADAR SPEED DETECTION - Operational Procedures" Hard copy $62.23 ISBN: 0-7337-5461-9 Published 11 Augh 2003 still current No. Pages 11, Download $50.91. Both are available at 165 Adelaide Tce., Perth. Another option is the Alexander State Reference Library at Perth Cultural Centre. They have each available to read and I assume, take copies of relevant pages.
  

• We also came across this relvant Australian Standards AS 4691.1-2003 being for Laser - based speed detection devices - Definitions and device requirements. Part 2 Australian Standards AS 4691.2-2003 being for Laser - based speed detection devices - Operational Procedures.
  
• If you want to go to court and know what your talking about, this is a great stack of essential information.

• The Minister of Police appears to have misled parliament in that speed camera signs ARE part of the deployment criteria for speed cameras. She had answered in parliament that speed camera signs are not mandatory.
  

• Image Speed Measurement Devices are not to be operated at the base of any steep incline unless otherwise directed or authorised by the Assistant Commissioner, Traffic and Operations Support (or his delegate)
  

• Image Speed Measurement Devices are not to be placed within 100 metres of the approach or departure side of a change of speed zone unless otherwise directed by the Assistant Commissioner, Traffic and Operations Support (or his delegate).
  

• The speed camera tolerance in Western Australia is set ridiculously low. The Assistant Commissioner of Traffic believes that drivers should only be given 1 km/h tolerance which is the in built error factor in the Multanova speed camera.

• Speed cameras should not be placed in the vacinity of a traffic sign, metal fence or objects moving in the background such as trains, that can reflect radar signals and give false readings.

• Speed cameras that use side angle projection of the radar beam (Multanova), must be setup parallel to the traffic flow. Why? Because of the "Coseine Error Factor" which will cause the speed reading to be inaccurate - Either reading too high or too low, depending on how far off parallel the camera is pointing. This is why all speed cameras shouldn't be setup on curved roads, only straight roads. (An interesting point to clarify - "How is a camera setup parallel to the road? From video footage I have seen of a speed camera setup, its done by "thumb" (rough enough is good enough!). So much for accuracy!

• Speed cameras must be tested before and after setup. (Only to show if there is a gross error with the device.) All speed cameras must be certified every 12 months as being accurate. ( The question arises -"Is every 12 months good enough after roughly 3 - 4 setups per day in WA for example?" Thats roughly after every 1500 x 2 = 3000 pickup and drops in the back of a car!)

What does all this mean. It means that there are requirements for the correct placement and setup of speed camera devices such as the Multanova and Gatso speed cameras. Rules that must be followed for setup, placement and testing! But are they?

It isn't in accordance with the Police Deployment Criteria to place a speed camera at the bottom of a steep hill. (Great Eastern Highway springs to mind). Some of our FOI documents could be used in court as mitigating circumstances against wrongly placed speed cameras.

As yet we haven't taken advantage of the Police Departments kind offer to view the Multanova manual, but will do so soon provided there is some interest shown by readers of this web site.

You can download copies of our documents to see what information was refused and the information that was released by the police departments and their reasoning for the decisions.

Documents Released Under Freedom of Information:

detection. There sure are! I just love this line from the technical details that we found.

"It is not permissible for the operator of the measuring instrument to use the margins of error accordingly to plan for his advantage."

RADAR SPEED CAMERA TECHNICAL INFORMATION