Accuracy and Calibration of Speed Detection Equipment

Martin Smallman made this Official Information request to New Zealand Police

The request was successful.

From: Martin Smallman

Dear New Zealand Police,

I am requesting information relating to the manufacturers stated accuracy of all models of speed detection equipment utilised in New Zealand, including both fixed, handheld and vehicle mounted "radar" and "laser" type equipment.

In addition I am requesting information which relates to the calibration process, the frequency of calibration, and the testing organisations statement relating to accuracy following calibration.

Yours faithfully,

Martin Smallman

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New Zealand Police

Dear Martin

Thank you for your email, which has been forwarded to the correct
department for follow-up.

Kind regards,

PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM
NZ POLICE

-----Martin Smallman <[OIA #2340 email]>
wrote: -----

To: OIA requests at New Zealand Police <[New Zealand Police request email]>
From: Martin Smallman <[OIA #2340 email]>
Date: 12/12/2014 11:32AM
Subject: Official Information Act request - Accuracy and Calibration of
Speed Detection Equipment

Dear New Zealand Police,

I am requesting information relating to the manufacturers stated
accuracy of all models of speed detection equipment utilised in New
Zealand, including both fixed, handheld and vehicle mounted "radar" and
"laser" type equipment.

In addition I am requesting information which relates to the calibration
process, the frequency of calibration, and the testing organisations
statement relating to accuracy following calibration.

Yours faithfully,

Martin Smallman

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From: SMITH, Jason
New Zealand Police


Attachment Smallman Martin 14 8451 speed detection device calibration process sent reply.pdf
526K Download View as HTML


Dear Martin

 

Please find attached the New Zealand Police response to your Official
Information Act request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Jason Smith
Road Policing Support | New Zealand Police - Nga Pirihimana O Aotearoa

P   +64 4 470 7107 | Ext: 44407 

E   [1][email address]
Police National Headquarters, 180 Molesworth Street, PO Box 3017,
Wellington, 6140, New Zealand

[2]www.police.govt.nz

 

===============================================================

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From: Martin Smallman

Dear SMITH, Jason,

Thank you for your recent reply.

As you have indicated the NZ Police do not currently have any knowledge pertaining to the accuracy of their speed detection equipment and that such information is only available from the manufacturer would you kindly provide a list of all manufacturers and equipment models used in New Zealand, in order that I can follow this up with each manufacturer directly.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Smallman

Link to this

From: SMITH, Jason
New Zealand Police


Attachment Smallman Martin 14 8451 1 speed detection device manufacturers sent reply.pdf
454K Download View as HTML


Dear Martin

 

Please find attached the New Zealand Police response to your Official
Information Act request.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Jason Smith
Road Policing Support | New Zealand Police - Nga Pirihimana O Aotearoa

P   +64 4 470 7107 | Ext: 44407 

E   [1][email address]
Police National Headquarters, 180 Molesworth Street, PO Box 3017,
Wellington, 6140, New Zealand

[2]www.police.govt.nz

 

===============================================================

WARNING

The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
message or any of its contents.

Also note, the views expressed in this message may not necessarily reflect
those of the New Zealand Police. If you have received this message in
error, please email or telephone the sender immediately

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.police.govt.nz/

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andrew jackson left an annotation ()

Radar units for Law Enforcement: Key Points
Having worked for nearly 7 years in an ISO 17025 accredited Laboratory, the Lab environmental conditions must be controlled to 22°c ± 4°c [Ours was controlled to 20°c ± 1°c] When a Police Radar speed measuring unit is calibrated within these conditions what is the correction to the indicated speed of the target vehicle when the measuring unit is subjected to temperatures of >50°c when sitting on the dash board of a Holden Commodore in the sun with outside air temperatures of >28°c?
With vehicle air conditioning on the black box Radar unit is still too hot to touch sitting on the dash board
An ISO 17025 Laboratory that holds IANZ Accreditation for Frequency measurement [Police Calibration Laboratory] must be able to demonstrate what is the "Uncertainty of Measurement" with the test reference equipment in the Laboratory when issuing a Calibration Certificate for the speed measuring device. (This is a statement on the bottom of the certificate with a confidence probability of not less than 95% with the coverage factor quoted)
Why is the uncertainty of measurement not given to the motorist when issued with a speeding infringement?
When a Police Radar unit is Calibration checked against the "Reference Standard" during annual calibration in the Laboratory why are the "As Found Results" not returned to the police district where the Radar unit was used and thus a consideration by a senior Police Officer on the validity of speeding infringements issued during the last calibration period and what method do the Police Calibration Laboratory use to Issue an "Out of Tolerance Alert" to the owner of the Radar speed measuring device? and who controls the calibration period for each unit serial number based on calibration history for reliability?

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Tom McDonald left an annotation ()

From my experience the work at Police Calibration Laboratory is very sloppy.
The time recorded by mobile speed cameras is required to be up to a full 2 minutes in error. The Infringement Bureau will not accept an accused person's data downloaded from their GPS.
I have evidence of an arithmetical mistake in data supplied to me by the laboratory when they gave me a reading of a speed camera clock compared to a laboratory atomic clock. The laboratory does not keep records of the original results of camera clock checks.

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