License plate covers.

["Kim Boydell" <boydell@domain.elided>]

Hi All

A few years back, before we got the new provincial government, photo radar
was big in Ontario.  Initially the left-wing loonies who ran the government
stated that it would be set for 17 kilometers over the limit.  Well, given a
recession people started getting tickets for 2 and 3 kilometers over the
limit.  Hence, the well deserved reputation as a tax grab.

Lots of money was made by charlatans selling all sorts of devices and gizmos
that were suppose to fool the camera. Tests by a local T.V. station proved
that none of them were worth a damn, including license plate covers.  At
first these covers appeared to work but when the picture was enhanced, which
is a normal procedure, the covers actually gave a better reading of the
license plate number.  By the way, these were actual tests of the cameras in
vans taking pictures of automobiles on the road, not some laboratory test in
perfect conditions.  Yes, in Ontario the photo radar needed a police officer
to be in the Van so that he/she could testify in court that the picture was
taken when and where the offense took place.

One of the problems encountered with photo radar was that drivers spotting a
van, any van while cresting a hill or coming through an underpass would slam
on their brakes.  I am sure more than one accident was caused by this
"safety system".

One interesting cover was like a tunnel.  It allowed people directly behind
the car to see the rear license plate, but not from an angle.  An
interesting court case came about where the driver was convicted of covering
his license plate, but I don't know if this was ever appealed.

So, before buying a cover for your license plate, check to see if these
things really work.

Kim

79 Spider (It says Veloce, but we know its Normale)

_________________________________
Centre for Economic Analysis - Canada Inc.
http://www.home.istar.ca/~boydell
133 David Dr,
Nepean, Ont
K2G 2N6
tel: (613) 226-2167
fax: (613) 226-9915
cell: (613) 277-2408

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