Private companies handle the installation and maintenance of mobile speed-monitoring complexes, but their placements must be coordinated with traffic authorities. Typically, these locations are on high-risk road sections where accidents occur most frequently.
Another key point is that the chosen site for a mobile camera should not be within the field of a stationary photo and video system. If it is, a driver could receive two fines for the same violation.
Are there other installation criteria?
The rules for mounting the complex are described in the documentation for each model. Tilt angles, height, and the distance from the roadway are all specified. Ignoring these parameters can lead to detection errors. However, if one camera captures more offenders than others, it becomes evident. If a driver believes a fine is unjust and the traffic rules were not violated, a complaint can be filed.
Are you required to warn of an ambush?
Warning sign 6.22 “Photo video recording” is installed according to specific criteria. In populated areas, warning is provided at the entrance, indicating that cameras may be present within the boundaries. This is why signs are now placed before most villages and at the entrances of many cities. There are downsides to this installation approach, which many users understand.
On railways, traffic controllers are obliged to warn only for stationary cameras, at a distance of 150–300 meters from the control zone. The decision to place signs for mobile complexes rests with the region. For example, in the Moscow region each mobile unit is marked (often with bright cones around a car displaying a roof-mounted camera), while in the Ryazan region there are none. Also, vehicles with cameras are positioned away from the road.
Mobile cameras near Moscow are fairly visible. They are mounted on vans and sedans that are hard to conceal in bushes. Typically, warning signs are present at their entry and there are cones around the vehicles as well.
Where can a map with camera locations be downloaded?
For several years, the coordinates of all complexes have not been classified information. The traffic police website provides a dedicated section where a map shows all cameras, both stationary and mobile, and the violations they record.
Comprehensive databases for road warning cameras are embedded in various mobile apps. One of the most common is Strelka anti-radar, which is affordable at a few hundred rubles. Free tips are also available within online navigators, such as those from Yandex.
The most expensive way to track cameras involves DVRs and radar detectors with updated databases. For such devices, a budget of at least 4–6 thousand rubles is typical.
Which violations are registered?
Cameras have evolved to be smart, so their capabilities today are not limited to whether the system is stationary or mobile. The main question is what should be recorded in a given area and how the camera is certified. Most mobile complexes, however, mostly target speeding violations.
There are no restrictions on the direction of operation for mobile cameras; they can shoot both head-on and from behind.
Where to file a complaint if something goes wrong?
With the exception of metropolitan parking fines, most matters go through the traffic police. Complaints about unjust penalties should be submitted there. If a person suspects that the camera itself was installed with violations, that case is more complex. Each region has its own operator of photo and video shooting complexes and an associated governing state body. Still, information about where to send complaints in a particular region or republic can be found online.
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