Who installs video cameras for traffic violations?

How to install a private traffic police video camera in 2018

There are more and more automatic recording cameras on the roads, designed to improve safety. They film and record offenses for which drivers are subsequently forced to pay fines, which in turn forces fine officers to be more attentive to their own behavior on the road and not to neglect compliance with traffic rules. Today, there is a noticeable trend toward an increase in the number of detected violations precisely thanks to smart technology installed by citizens. At the same time, due to the fines paid, the state budget is replenished, as well as the treasury of entrepreneurs who own mobile and stationary cameras. Business in this direction will be quite profitable, and while cameras on the roads have earned a lot of hostility from motorists, many enterprising citizens are increasingly thinking about how to install a camera for traffic police fines. Let's take a closer look at what it takes to join the ranks of entrepreneurs guarding Russian roads.

Installation of a traffic police video camera.

How it works

The bill, adopted in 2014 by the Federation Council and the State Duma, provides for mutually beneficial cooperation between an entrepreneur (individual or legal entity) and government agencies. Money for equipping with equipment and its maintenance is not spent from the state budget, which is replenished, and the activity brings profit to the investor in the form of funds from fines. The idea was implemented to increase the level of safety on the roads, and a “side effect” of a good goal was quite a good income, since traffic rules have always been violated and even impressive fines cannot affect this on a large scale. Private cameras are installed to hold drivers accountable in accordance with the norms of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation; they operate in accordance with Articles 26.8 and 2.6.1 of the Code. According to the regulations, measuring instruments are required to undergo certification and metrological testing; only then the information obtained from them can be a reason for punishing the culprit. Fines will be directed to the owner of the vehicle, so if another person was driving, the owner of the vehicle will need to prove his non-involvement.

Thus, violations recorded by private video recording means legally serve as a reason for issuing a fine to the driver caught on camera “in the act”, and in some cases, for depriving the driver’s license. According to this principle, video systems were previously installed on toll roads, but now the complexes have already moved en masse to public highways. To organize a business related to traffic police video cameras, it is necessary to conclude a contract with local authorities to equip roads with systems for recording violations and their maintenance. After installing and configuring the complex, the entrepreneur receives regular income from the violators caught on camera. In this case, the fine is initially paid to the state treasury, from where a certain amount, which is part of it (the exact figures are stated in the agreement of the parties, the profit can reach 233 rubles for each fine) goes to the account of the owner of the equipment.

Pros and cons of doing business

At this stage, the number of traffic violations is not decreasing, which means that the business of catching motorists who flout the law is more than profitable. They earn a lot from recording cameras and the income is quite stable today, but it is important to choose the right section of road to install the equipment. It is better to organize the video recording process in places with a large number of violations, that is, on highways with active traffic, since it is simply unprofitable to spend money on expensive equipment for use on roads where there are already calm conditions.

Business benefits

The idea of making money by recording traffic violations and its implementation are made attractive to an entrepreneur by several favorable factors:

Stable income that doesn't require much effort. To ensure this, you only need to start the process; the entrepreneur is also responsible for finding a specialist who will subsequently be involved in servicing the cameras;
No fixed costs are expected in this business due to the long service life of the equipment;
Funds will come from the state budget as violators pay, so you will not have to collect fines yourself;
To receive payments, certain deadlines are established, specified in the contract;
The business is socially oriented and, despite the dissatisfaction of many drivers, it still brings benefits to society.

Negative sides

Everything has a downside. In this case, the disadvantages are the following:

It is possible to make a big profit only at first after installing the complex, since most often people remember in which places the cameras record speeding or other violations, and, of course, they will be law-abiding within the viewing radius of the video surveillance system. It's another matter if the equipment is mobile;
Receipt of funds exactly on time can sometimes be inconvenient for an entrepreneur;
It often takes a lot of time to collect fines, since not all violators pay them regularly;
Fines can be challenged in court. To prevent this from happening, you must adhere to all standards for installing video systems;
Relatively small amounts of commissions compared to the current amounts of fines, which in some cases can amount to hundreds of thousands of rubles;
The contract is limited to 12 years, after which the cooperation ends.

Despite the considerable number of disadvantages, today the business is still profitable and if you have the desire and opportunity to do it, then it will not require much trouble, and the result, if you approach the matter correctly, will please you.

How much will you have to invest?

A separate issue is the need for investment to implement the business. The cost of a tracking kit varies depending on the options present. Equipment that ensures road safety is improving technically every year and today can record not only speeding, violation of road markings, etc. Traffic cameras can detect a significant number of offenses, while monitoring the area is carried out in several lanes at the same time. The wider the list of possibilities for identifying unlawful actions of drivers, the more expensive the equipment will be. In addition to a camera with a radar, the equipment set also includes an infrared illuminator, a power supply, a module for determining coordinates, a storage device, data conversion, etc. So, the entire set of special equipment will cost approximately 1 to 3 million rubles. The amount is quite impressive, but after the complex pays off, the entrepreneur will be able to receive an impressive amount of net profit.

Let's calculate how much they earn on average from cameras recording speed and other violations. The approximate amount of commission from each fine is 200 rubles, so the complex will pay for itself with the proceeds from 10-15 thousand fines. That is, it is necessary that the equipment records 3-4 violations per day, and naturally, the state also receives payment for these fines, and accordingly, the entrepreneur deducts the amount specified in the contract for each of them.

How to register correctly

Today, more and more traffic police video cameras are issued to private owners, in connection with this, many entrepreneurs are faced with the question of how to implement this, because in addition to the available funds for the purchase of equipment, legal implementation is also required. The practice of concession agreements, the subject of which is the installation of private systems for recording violations on roads, has been developed throughout the world, and has now migrated to Russia. This is one of the forms of cooperation between the state and private individuals. Government agencies thereby relieve themselves of part of the burden, and entrepreneurs, having invested in the project, receive a profit. In our case, the contract is concluded by a private owner with the State Traffic Inspectorate and local authorities.

This type of agreement, called a concession agreement, is regulated by Federal Law No. 115. It spells out the main provisions, guarantees of the rights of the participating parties, the procedure for holding a competition among applicants and signing a document on cooperation. The concession agreement is concluded based on the results of the tender, the conditions are pre-negotiated and must be fixed in the text of the contract. Thus, in order to implement a business using video cameras for recording violations, you need to offer the most favorable conditions for the State Traffic Inspectorate, while it is also important not to offend yourself by fixing in the contract the income you need from payments received as a result of the operation of the surveillance system.

The contract specifies all the details of cooperation, so private organizations install and configure video surveillance systems, as well as further maintenance. In turn, the responsibilities of government bodies include deductions of part of the fines paid. The agreement contains amounts, terms of payments, and also indicates the period of validity of the agreement. By drawing up an agreement between the parties, a mutually beneficial implementation of recording offenses with cameras on the highway is achieved. Moreover, each installed complex is subject to certification in accordance with federal rules, metrological verification and permission from the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate for installation in certain places. Servicing of video systems should be performed by a specialist in the field who has undergone special training.

Where you cannot install photo and video cameras

An entrepreneur does not have the right to install video recording systems at his own discretion. According to Art. 57 of the Traffic Regulations, installation sites for stationary automatic fixing equipment must be designated by the leadership of the State Traffic Inspectorate; most often these are emergency sections of roads. The place and time of use of mobile systems is determined by the head of the unit on the procedure for the employee to perform duty. The same article states that automatic fixation equipment cannot be used in places where traffic restrictions are established by temporary road signs. Thus, in the area of temporary signs (for example, placed during repair work), automatic photo and video recording is prohibited, that is, a motorist who received a fine in this area can report to the traffic police or the prosecutor's office with a statement about the incorrect location of the equipment.

According to Russian legislation, drivers must be warned about the presence of a complex on the route that records violations with a special sign. Such warning signs must be placed on all stationary means of photo and video recording, while GOST does not provide for the installation of such warnings on mobile systems. In fact, the purpose of installing the complexes is not to enrich themselves at the expense of drivers, but to reduce the number of accidents and traffic violations. Every day more and more eyes are closely monitoring the order on the roads, so drivers need to be extremely careful while driving - this will not only ensure safety, but will also save them from unnecessary costs of paying fines.

Rules for installing a tripod on the road

In recent years, more and more mobile-type video recording cameras (tripods) have been appearing on Russian roads, which record violations of the speed limit by drivers, after which the violators receive “chain letters” demanding to pay a fine. Most tripods belong to commercial organizations, are installed in unexpected and unreasonable places, are often hidden from view and do little to help traffic safety, but they increase the amount of cash flows to regional budgets and to the accounts of private companies themselves.

Is it legal to install mobile video cameras? What laws and standards govern the installation of tripods? Who has the right to participate in video traffic control, and what rules are the installers guided by?

Are tripods legal?

The traffic police are in charge of only stationary video recording systems for traffic violations, which are installed by the Traffic Safety Center of the Russian Federation. These are cameras on a rigid support such as “Rapier”, “Arena”, “Chris”, “Strelka”, mounted above the roadway in sections of the road with a high accident rate. They do not change their location, are installed outside the coverage areas of temporary signs, are marked with road signs “Video recording” (8.23) and transmit data to stationary traffic police posts, from where the information flows to the traffic police administrative violation processing center.

The State Traffic Inspectorate itself does not install video cameras - their installation and maintenance are the responsibility of regional administrations, which constantly experience a shortage of financial resources for the maintenance of road safety infrastructure. Therefore, there are not enough stationary video recording cameras, and local budgets solve this problem by attracting commercial organizations: they transfer the authority to install and maintain video equipment to private commercial organizations and individual entrepreneurs on an outsourcing basis.

The transfer of functions for video recording of traffic violations is legal: according to Federal Law No. 115 “On Concession Agreements”, local government authorities have the right, under an agreement, to transfer video recording functions to commercial investors. Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs who have signed a concession agreement with municipalities purchase, install and maintain video equipment at their own expense, for which they receive the right to independently:

record traffic violations;
print and send photo and video recordings to violators;
organize the payment of fines.

For performing these works, companies receive either a percentage of the amount of fines or a fixed amount of each fine paid (it is decided individually in each region). The traffic police controls the installation sites of such video cameras on the roads and endorses a work permit for each private installer.

For commercial reasons, private service organizations choose to install mobile video equipment (tripods) such as Sokol-M, Berkut, Binar, Iskra, Radius, and Vizir. These video cameras are cheaper than stationary systems, their location can be quickly changed, and they are not subject to the requirement to install a “Video recording” sign or temporary road signs. The cameras are installed in close proximity to the roadway and transmit information to mobile devices of operators, who may be in a car parked at the side of the road, or directly to the traffic police data processing center.

With such “preferential” conditions for the installation and operation of video recording cameras, the task of maintaining and improving road safety is at the very bottom of the list of priorities for a commercial service company. Many private investors see only good earnings here and violate business rules to increase profits, creating a lot of problems for car enthusiasts.

Rules for installing private video cameras

Meanwhile, rules for installing mobile video equipment exist, are regulated by the Administrative Regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (clauses 43, 55-57) and quite clearly interpret the responsibilities of persons conducting video recording of traffic violations.

Mobile video recording cameras can be installed by commercial organizations that have entered into a concession agreement in the following places:

increased accident risk on roads;
where there is no stationary video recording;
which are designated by the leadership of the local traffic police department;
where they can be seen by drivers from afar.

Each camera must be tested and certified by the traffic police, and operating personnel must undergo special training and testing. Each video recording crew (2 people) must have a package of documents on hand: certificates for equipment and qualifications of specialists, a visa from the head of the regional traffic police for the right to perform these works, indicating the exact location of the video camera installation on a specific section of the road.

GOST standards for video equipment

In order to bring the activities of private organizations providing video recording services for traffic violations to uniform rules, since 2017 the Russian Federation has introduced GOSTs R 57144–2016 and R 57145–2016 regulating technical requirements for video equipment. According to these federal standards, video recording cameras must:

have a radar, inductive, piezoelectric, magnetic or laser operating principle;
fix speed 20-250 km/h;
recognize license plates in any weather and time of day with a probability of at least 90%;
capture the distinctive features of any car in a photo;
be technically sound and free from defects;
measure the speed of a car at a distance of no closer than 50 meters, if equipped with a tracking option (fixing the trajectory of the car);
use non-hazardous infrared illumination rather than a flash to determine the license plate number.

Mobile tripods can be installed on road sections with high accident rates (more than 3 accidents over the last year), a high concentration of traffic violations or poor visibility, at intersections and near schools.

It is not allowed to install cameras on non-emergency sections of highways, in bushes, behind poles, behind road bends, in a car or behind a car body, on a highway with large elevation changes, on unlit sections of roads in the dark, or in the absence of a 3-meter wide shoulder. Each camera must be equipped with an infrared license plate recognizer, internal memory and photo printing options.

Instructions for use of video recording cameras

According to the standard operating instructions for video recording cameras, the tripod:

can control a straight section of road up to 60 meters long with high accuracy;
should be on the side of the road no closer than 3 meters from the roadway;
can be installed no further than 17 meters from a single-lane road, 13 meters from a two-lane road, 9 meters from a three-lane road and 5 meters from a four-lane road;
must have a turning angle along a reference point parallel to the edge of the road;
may have a speed measurement error of no more than 2 km/h.

The video camera is controlled from a mobile post by two employees (except for equipment that is fully automated and immediately transmits data to stationary traffic police posts).

Thus, the rules for installing tripods on the road are a clear list of requirements that companies servicing video equipment must comply with, since most of the rules are legislative. Compliance with the rules for installing video recording cameras allows you to work legally and transparently, ensures equal rights for road users and actually reduces the number of traffic violations.

Since most private investors involved in video recording are not inclined to follow the “rules of the game” in the pursuit of profit, their services more often cause harm on the road than help. On the other hand, violation of GOSTs, administrative regulations and operating instructions for cameras by operating companies gives competent drivers a chance to successfully appeal fines issued from video cameras and put forward counterclaims.

Tripods on the roads - is this legal in 2019?

Tripod cameras that record motorists violating the speed limit on the roads have been one of the hottest topics of discussion among Russian motorists for several years now. The fact is that some of these video recording devices are installed by civilians for the purpose of earning money (they receive a percentage of the fine), and not to ensure road safety.

In the summer of 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke out against the hidden use of video recording devices, and the State Duma is considering a bill on the removal of tripods in favor of the state. Let us tell you in more detail who has the right to install tripods on the roads and whether it is legal in 2019. Read further in the article for the latest legislative news.

Why is society against tripods?

Are tripods legal on the roads in 2019? Yes, the installation of these video recording devices absolutely complies with current legislation. Moreover, private enterprises, both individual entrepreneurs and legal entities, have the right not only to establish them, but also to collect fines (they print and deliver decisions, and track payments).

Who specifically installs them is chosen by the relevant government agencies; the motorist community does not participate in this process. And for their activities, “private owners” receive a percentage of the fine. That is, they are actually interested in more fines, because the profit they make depends on it.

Private owners know about places where installation will allow them to impose a greater number of administrative penalties. And these are not always areas with a high accident rate, but, for example, areas where drivers are simply forced to slightly exceed the speed limit.

Thus, tripod owners are not interested in reducing the number of accidents and crimes, but quite the opposite. Therefore, owners often even hide them. Which distorts the very idea of video recording as a means designed to reduce the number of offenses on the road and improve the safety of road users. The President of the Russian Federation also shares this opinion. He directly called this situation a substitution of concepts, the very meaning of installing these means. Thus, the fight against tripods occurs with the approval of V.V. Putin.

Terms of use

The use of tripods is based on the norm of the Code of Administrative Offences, where in Art. 2.6.1. it is stated that it is allowed to record offenses using special technical means. Thus, the code directly states what the tripod records: a violation of traffic rules. This is the main task of using this tool.

Why aren't tripods marked on the roads? Installation authority is granted on the basis of a concession agreement in accordance with Federal Law No. 115 dated July 21, 2005, however, this document establishes the rights and obligations regarding installation and collection of fines. Rules for the use of special equipment must be approved at the legislative level.

However, unified rules for installing a tripod on the road in 2019 have not been developed, and there is no unified set of rules for the use of photo and video recording equipment on the roads. There is GOST R 52289-2004 on road signs, but these portable means of fixation are not specified in it.

Thus, at the moment there are the following problems with the use of tripods:

the installation has been transferred to private hands, and the owners have a financial interest in increasing the number of offenses;
there are no uniform rules for the use of tripods; they are often installed on civilian vehicles, which is not prohibited by the Administrative Regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation;
tripods are not marked on the roads, they are installed with the aim of increasing the commercial benefits of their installation.

When will tripods be abolished - the law

There is no reason yet to believe that legislators and law enforcement officials intend to act so radically. The idea of using tripods is not being completely abandoned, but the practice of using them will be seriously revised in the near future, this can be said with complete certainty.

There is a draft law on tripods of 2019 (No. 743069-7), which has currently only been submitted to the State Duma and has not yet been adopted even in the first reading (the document is undergoing preliminary consideration by relevant committees).

The main ideas of this bill are quite consistent with public opinion:

it is necessary to transfer all photo and video recording equipment to the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation or constituent entities of the Russian Federation;
uniform requirements for tripods should be established at the level of the Government of the Russian Federation;
The government should develop a procedure for placing tripods on roads, including a procedure for selecting installation sites.

Judging by the speed of progress of the project in the State Duma, the law on video recording cameras on roads will not be adopted in 2019, but there is reason to believe that this will happen in 2020, since the President of the Russian Federation has come out against tripods. At one of the State Council meetings, he sharply spoke out against the transfer of cameras into the hands of private owners, but did not stop there. In July V.V. Putin sent about 40 instructions to the Government in the field of traffic regulation. Tripods were also mentioned. The President instructed the Government by February 1, 2020:

start informing drivers about their installation locations;
develop rules that would cancel fines imposed due to the use of improperly installed tripods.

Thus, there is reason to believe that next year will become a landmark year in terms of the use of automatic cameras on Russian roads.

Traffic cameras: who owns them and what violations are recorded?

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Every year more and more radars and cameras appear on Russian roads, and accordingly, the number of fines increases. Already, 4 out of 5 fines are issued using automatic recording, and the state does not spend any money on this. How this happened and what to expect next, we will look into this article.

When cameras appeared on the roads

Now, according to official data, 10.8 thousand stationary cameras are installed on Russian roads, plus 3.9 thousand are mobile photo and video recording systems. The number of cameras is growing every year; in 2018 alone there were 20% more cameras.

And their performance indicators also show steady growth - over the year, cameras were able to record 106 million violations (and these are only those for which administrative protocols were issued). The cameras seriously relieve traffic police inspectors, since they already account for 82.7% of the total number of protocols issued .

If you divide one number by another, it turns out that one camera allows you to create about 7210 protocols per year, or about 20 per day. It is unlikely that even the most efficient inspector will do as much (unless it is a raid).

For the first time in history, traffic cameras appeared in 1958 on the race track, they were created by racer Maurice Getsonides from the Netherlands. He subsequently retired from racing and started a business focused on the production of various tracking devices.

Initially, traffic cameras monitored violations, mainly in terms of exceeding the maximum permissible speed limit on the road. But now the industry is creating devices that are able to monitor compliance with almost all basic traffic rules:

crossing the stop line at a red traffic light;
driving in dedicated bus lanes;
entering a toll road without paying;
intersection of a double solid line;
violation of parking rules;
entry into the “forbidden” area - for heavy or non-environmentally friendly transport;
driving without a seatbelt, talking on the phone while driving, etc.

In Russia, cameras on the roads appeared relatively recently - just over 10 years ago. They began to be installed to implement the federal road safety program, and from July 1, 2008, it became possible to fine drivers based on data from the cameras.

Over the years, cameras have become more and more common, and they have certainly become a major deterrent for drivers. Now literally in one trip out of town you can get several fines, and this disciplines motorists.

But traffic cameras in Russia, in addition to bringing obvious benefits (and a lot of money), have a very scandalous image.

Who is responsible for the cameras?

When the first cameras appeared in Russia in 2008-2009, they were purchased and installed by the state at the expense of the budget. By the mid-2010s, it became clear that the system of photo and video recording of traffic violations is a real goldmine , and the more cameras, the more money you can earn on the roads.

In fact, drivers paid the fines, as a rule, without any claims - and perceived them as a kind of toll on the road. Government officials clearly liked this system, and it was decided to expand it.

There was only one problem: it took a lot of money to buy cameras and maintain them. A solution was found, it was a public-private partnership model in the form of a concession .

The scheme was this: private companies install and maintain systems for automatically recording traffic violations, and receive money for this as part of the fines that are issued thanks to the cameras. The model itself is quite progressive and is used in many countries, and not only in traffic cameras: toll roads also work this way.

When the system began to work fully, some flaws were found in it. Since operating companies receive a certain amount from each fine, they began to coordinate cameras not in places with high accident rates, but where drivers most often violate .

Since an administrative offense can only be registered by traffic police officers, special Centers for Automatic Recording of Administrative Offenses (CAFAP) have been created in all 85 regions of Russia, which receive data from camera operators, check them and issue “chain letters” to drivers based on them.

In reality, the traffic police simply issues a fine based on all materials from the cameras - with virtually no verification . Since most drivers pay fines without unnecessary checks, many pay for something that could be disputed.

There are a lot of technical problems, they turn into funny fines like “Gazelle” at a speed of 233 km/h, fines for a car on a tow truck and fines for the shadow of a car .

The economy of private companies is doing well. With an average cost of the complex from 2 to 5 million rubles, they pay for themselves in a few months. The operating company receives a certain percentage or a fixed amount from fines.

For example, in the Moscow region a company receives 233 rubles from a fine, in the Tambov region – 243 rubles. By the way, if a driver pays a fine for speeding within 20 days, it will be only 250 rubles. That is, the budget will earn practically nothing.

Therefore, the work of the entire system for monitoring compliance with traffic rules causes a lot of criticism from the motorist community. On the one hand, companies often install cameras with violations, but on the other hand, the fines leave virtually nothing for the budget.

However, while such a model is considered a generally accepted practice in the world , and also reduces road accidents, the situation is unlikely to change significantly.

What types of cameras are there and what violations do they record?

In Russia, several types of monitoring cameras for motorists are used. They have one thing in common - they can not only record the violation they are configured for, but also save related data - the license plate number of the car, time, date and location of the complex itself.

The cameras can be stationary in form - they are installed on poles or special structures above traffic lanes, or mobile - “tripods” that can be quickly moved from place to place.

But there are many more camera models:

The complex with installation costs up to 2 million rubles, which made it the most popular on Russian roads (and even in military aviation).

“Chris” – in addition to speed, controls entry into a dedicated bus lane and driving in the oncoming lane. The error is lower than that of the Strelka, and the speed limits are up to 250 km/h. The complex can independently search for the offender’s numbers in the database. The downside is that it needs to be placed above each traffic lane;

“Auto Hurricane” – identifies the maximum types of traffic violations. This is not only speed and running a red traffic light, but even driving on the side of the road (an original Russian problem), not allowing a pedestrian to pass, not having the low beams on, and even driving without wearing a seat belt. Disadvantages - not only are they needed for each lane, but also one for each direction (the complex cannot “look” backwards);

“Arena” - can control up to 3 lanes of traffic at once, works to control speed and can film even at night;

“Vizir” – works simultaneously as a color video camera and radar. The recorded video materials are then transcribed by the traffic police;

Parkons are mobile cameras that are located in traffic police patrol cars and are designed to combat violations of parking rules.

These are not all types of complexes of photo and video recording of traffic violations on Russian roads. New models are constantly being developed, because this ultimately turns out to be beneficial for all parties (except drivers).

For example, a fundamentally new system was recently launched in Moscow that tracks the movement of cars that do not have a compulsory motor liability insurance policy .

The system is quite complex: first, the camera films all passing cars, the system excludes repeated passages (so as not to check several million numbers in the database every day), then the data is transferred to the traffic police, where they are checked against the database of the Russian Union of Auto Insurers.

This became possible thanks to the total “internetization” of the entire MTPL system - data on diagnostic cards and issued policies are always stored in the RSA database.

The system takes into account that the driver has the right not to issue a compulsory motor liability insurance policy within 10 days, and sends a “letter of happiness” only if the car was noticed after this period of time.

So far, the new system has encountered many technical difficulties. In fact, all the work is done manually , since the percentage of errors when processing information is high.

When the system is fully operational, it will be difficult for those who like to drive without insurance - for the absence of a compulsory motor liability insurance policy the fine is 800 rubles, and soon they will be fined for the absence of a diagnostic card for 2000 rubles.

Further, in Moscow, and maybe in other cities, a tracking system for the environmental class of cars . Vehicles with an environmental class of at least a certain value will be allowed into certain areas. If a less “clean” car drives there, its owner will receive a fine automatically.

What do you need to know about the rules for installing video cameras on the roads?

Video recording cameras have become a stumbling block between drivers and the traffic police. Due to the proliferation of private radars, these contradictions continue to escalate. Fixers are an excellent excuse for extortion and arbitrariness. Today we will talk about what rules apply to such devices and what the driver’s rights are.

Law on video recording cameras on roads

The use of video recording cameras leads to abuses by inspectors. The reason for this permissiveness is the absence in the laws of the Russian Federation of unambiguous rules for the installation and use of radars. The Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation deals superficially with fasteners and contains the following information:

camera readings must be reflected in the protocol on violation of traffic rules;
if the camera was installed illegally, then the information received through it is invalid;
stationary automatic fixation devices are accompanied by special signs.

The requirements for radars and the procedure for their use do not have an exhaustive description. Fragmentary information about them in various laws sometimes contradicts each other.

Types of cameras

Cameras are divided into three types according to format:

BINAR. A compact video recording camera that fits into the interior of a patrol car. The device is equipped with a program through which data is downloaded to a computer and printed. When the shift ends, the traffic police officer moves all the information from the camera to a common database.

LISD-2F. The laser complex is installed on a tripod next to the official vehicle, and can also be in the hands of the inspector. The device is used in manual mode and supports electronic media.

CHRIS P. Mobile automatic complex that works without an operator. A wireless communication channel allows the device to send data about violations to a computer in real time. Information is saved to the energy carrier automatically.

PARKON. The fixer specializes in drivers who violate parking rules. The data received from the device is processed at the central station. The device consists of a removable handle and two cameras.

How do cameras work?

Video recording devices are designed to detect exceeding speed limits. Camera capabilities also include control of:

driving in the public transport lane;
running a stop line or ignoring road signs;
driving with headlights off;
driving in the oncoming lane;
turns from a row that does not involve this maneuver.

The number of functions varies depending on the selected device. Some devices have a narrow specialization, such as Parkon. In the future, recognition of cars with a low environmental class is expected. They will be fined in zones with restrictions on polluting vehicles.

How should a video recording camera be positioned according to the law?

The main legal requirement for radar is its visibility . Warning signs must be installed in front of such devices. In practice, traffic police officers not only ignore this rule, but also hide the cameras. If desired, the driver has the right to prove in court the illegal placement of the camera.

The radar monitors straight sections from 50 to 60 meters . The operating instructions for this device determine the distance at which the sensor should be removed from the roadway:

5 meters for 3 and 4 lanes;
9 meters for 2 and 3 lanes;
13 meters for 2 lanes;
17 meters for 1 lane.

Rules for installing video recording cameras on roads

In 2017, GOST R 57144-2016 and GOST R 57145-2016 were introduced in Russia, which relate to the operation of video recording cameras. The new rules include the following points:

the devices are installed on roads with poor visibility, as well as in areas where more than 3 accidents have occurred;

dummy cameras are installed only when a decrease in violations is recorded;

devices with a tracking function cannot measure speed at a distance of less than 50 meters;

the probability of license plate recognition must be at least 90%;

The cameras are required to measure speeds in the range from 20 to 250 kilometers per hour.

In what cases should a photo-video recording sign be installed?

It is impossible in the laws of the Russian Federation that affect the photo and video recording sign. The traffic rules indicate that this sign can be used. However, there is no mention of the obligations of traffic police officers before the law. The installation of this sign remains at the discretion of the inspectors.

However, according to Article 26.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, evidence of a violation obtained using an incorrectly installed device is canceled. In practice, the court will be on the side of the inspector (if the proceedings reach the court).

It will be difficult to prove the illegal installation of a camera, since the law remains ambivalent. That is, inspectors “should, but are not obligated .

Private video cameras recording traffic violations

The law obliges private radar owners to comply with the following rules:

The device must be tested and certified according to uniform federal regulations. Persons who use these devices are trained;
private cameras are placed in areas that are not monitored by stationary devices. The location of the complex is indicated by a warning sign;
camera owners identify violations and send notices of fines to offending drivers (in printed form);
The cameras are operated on a reimbursable basis. Their owners receive a percentage of the fines issued.

Rules for installing private video surveillance cameras on roads

The only rule that must be followed by owners of a private camera is the presence of a certificate . The warning signs mentioned above are rarely used by private owners.

The reason why security camera owners are still in business is because of mutual benefit. Officials do not need to spend money on purchasing equipment for traffic police patrols, and private owners receive a percentage of the fine.

By law, merchants cannot install a camera wherever they want. The list of places is approved by the State Traffic Inspectorate. However, in practice this order is often ignored. The loyal and conniving attitude of the authorities towards private owners has turned the installation of cameras into a business.

Legality of installing mobile cameras

Mobile radars were banned in 2016. The reason for the ban was the abuse of these devices. Inspectors were repeatedly caught extorting bribes and putting pressure on the driver. To avoid such “methods”, it was decided to “reflash” the devices. From now on, it is impossible to delete an entry made from mobile recorders after a driver has been bribed. When a traffic police officer tries to clear the device’s memory, it is blocked.

In 2019, mobile cameras continue to be used, but with a number of restrictions. For example, at the end of a shift, devices are sealed to prevent access to the memory card. Also, this decision does not apply to Moscow and the region. The use of mobile restraints is still prohibited in these territories. Regional police use devices only as directed by management.

Law banning CCTV cameras on roads

In July, it became known about a bill that proposes banning private cameras on the roads. This amendment is intended to protect drivers from individuals who misuse private video devices.

Private owners are interested in installing cameras because they receive a percentage of the fines issued. Therefore, an increase in traffic violations is in their interests.

You can distort instrument readings in the following ways:

artificial increase in error;
Incorrect installation of cameras.

The authors of the bill propose to make the following changes to Article 2.6.1 of the Administrative Code:

automatic fixation complexes must be the property of the Russian Federation or its constituent entities;
presenting requirements for cameras and marking their installation locations is transferred to the Government of the Russian Federation.

In what places should you not install photo/video cameras?

At the legislative level, a list of requirements for the location of radars has not been developed. As can be seen above, even the need for an appropriate sign is controversial. However, the driver has the right to challenge the fine in the following cases:

the camera was installed on the side of the road;
the device was deliberately hidden in the bushes;
the clamp was too close to the lane along which the car was driving;
the radar was not accompanied by an information sign.

Grounds for canceling a fine from a camera

The claims of traffic police inspectors against the driver are not always justified. You can challenge the imposed fine in the following situations:

the employee did not explain what violation was committed by the driver;
the photograph does not show a sign, the rule of which the driver violated in the inspector’s opinion;
the device was hidden by an employee;
the inspector offers to delete data about the violation from the device’s memory for a “cash bonus”;
The driver's video recorder readings differ from those of the inspector.

Note to motorists

In order not to get caught on one of the radars, it is advisable for drivers to adhere to simple rules:

follow traffic rules no matter what road you are driving on;
purchase your own DVR, which will allow you to defend your position if problems arise;
do not respond to the inspector’s provocations if he begins to blackmail you and do not agree to a bribe. If you nevertheless violated traffic rules, then you need to pay a fine officially;
use radar detectors. These devices allow you to monitor video cameras. Unfortunately, many modern cameras have learned to bypass these detectors.

The problem with video recording cameras is difficult to call solved. Drivers forced to defend their rights go to court and often lose. However, the development of GOST standards and the state’s attempts to combat the permissiveness of private owners and inspectors encourages people to believe in future changes.

Useful video

Here they talk about the lawlessness of owners of private cameras on the roads: