Article from: www.thenewspaper.com/news/07/749.asp

11/3/2005

Third Major Test Shows Laser Speed Guns Inaccurate
ITV tests the popular LTI 20-20 laser speed camera gun and finds it prone to error.

The "Tonight with Trevor Macdonald" show on Britain's ITV network today recreated tests performed by the BBC and Daily Mail newspaper all of which demonstrated how the popular LTI 20-20 Ultralyte speed camera gun is prone to significant error. ITV tested the American-specification version of the device.

"It is clear to me that the equipment is unsuitable for obtaining legal evidence against motorists because of the ease with which it can be confused," explained Safe Speed founder Paul Smith who was present during the testing. "With at least five million motorists convicted using this equipment in the last five years the stakes are sky high."

Paul Sowerby, a resident of Corby, UK explained in the Daily Mail how the inaccuracy of the LTI 20-20 has affected his life. He received a laser speed camera citation for driving 57 MPH in a 50 MPH zone -- even though that speed is within the legally accepted margin of error for speedometers in Britain. Sowerby requested a copy of the photographic evidence against him and discovered his photo displayed the message "ERROR 3," which according to the LTI operation manual means the gun had not been held steady. Ignoring this evidence, a judge assessed three points against Sowerby's license and ordered him to pay £360 (US $635) for taking the case to court.

The Ultralyte laser gun also accused Essex resident Judy Veater of driving 45 MPH in a 30 MPH zone. Her tiny diesel automobile does not have the power to achieve that speed from a full stop in the location at which she was stopped.

Source: THE SPEED GUN BACKLASH (Daily Mail (UK), 11/1/2005)

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