By Charlene Gatt
A HEIGHT detection camera installed along Francis St has given out only two fines in three years.
A Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) Freedom of Information request has revealed the height detection camera is riddled with problems, and cannot adequately read registration details.
The camera was installed in January 2007 to catch the registration details of any vehicles over 4.5 tonnes gross weight travelling along Francis St during curfew hours.
The purpose of the camera, which captures about 600 images a day, was to supply photos of offending trucks to a Broadmeadows company for analysis.
But the FoI request revealed that only two fines had been given out since the cameras were installed, with both going to the same truck.
The driver was fined $232 for the two offences, with occurred on 4 and 5 April 2007.
The FoI request said because of the various truck exemptions along Francis St, “there is not a defined list of vehicles able to be considered as exempt. Furthermore, a vehicle who may not afford an exemption on one trip may afford the exemption on the next purely because of destination to the West Gate Freeway.”
The document also said that nearly all number plates captured on the camera were unclear and needed electronic manipulation.
The information comes the same week the State Government launched noise cameras to monitor excessive truck brake engine noise.
The cameras, which will be installed along Francis St and other locations across Victoria this month, will snap trucks and motorbikes that exceed 80 decibels and cars that exceed 74 decibels.
MTAG president Peter Knight said he was highly critical of the noise camera technology.
“Will it be effective, or is it just another bit of fluff before an election to alleviate the anger in the suburb about the fact that trucks in the suburb continue to break the law?” he asked.
