Portable traffic police cameras installation rules

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.

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:

Portable traffic police cameras installation rules

The Ministry of Economic Development recommended decoupling the income of owners of traffic cameras that record violations from the number of fines issued. This recommendation was adopted taking into account the decisions of the committee of the national project “Safe and Quality Roads”. Currently, camera operators receive a fixed fee for providing the traffic police with information about each violation. Officials believe this will incentivize owners to install cameras in a manner that will ensure as many fines as possible.

In June, Vladimir Putin demanded that we stop hiding complexes for recording traffic violations and install them primarily for the sake of reducing accidents. This requirement has led to a number of statements from various departments, which are already changing the rules for the operation of stationary and mobile traffic cameras.

At the end of June, the Ministry of Transport and Road Infrastructure of the Moscow Region made publicly available a list of addresses of video recording cameras, including mobile ones. At the beginning of July, the capital's Traffic Management Center (TCOC) declassified the addresses of all traffic cameras in the city. After this, a map with the location of all cameras in the country appeared on the official website of the traffic police.

According to new recommendations from the Ministry of Transport, road owners should post information on the placement of cameras on the Internet. Dummies should also be indicated on these maps, and as fully functioning devices. And on the road, the dummies must either send a radio signal detected by radar detectors, or imitate the operation of infrared illumination. The installation of dummies instead of cameras is allowed in places where the number of violations has decreased by 80 percent or more within six months. And to monitor the largest number of road sections, it is recommended to move existing cameras every 3–6 months.

The current GOST for traffic management requires the use of road sign 8.23 “Video recording” only for stationary cameras operating in automatic mode. Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov called for disclosure of data on the placement of mobile cameras recording violations. The authorities of the Moscow region were the first to respond to the call - 500 information boards appeared in the region warning of approaching tripod cameras. The information boards contain the following inscription: “Attention! Mobile complexes". Until the end of autumn, all cameras near Moscow will be designated this way.

Parliamentarians proposed abandoning the concession system with private operators of video control systems and transferring all cameras to the jurisdiction of a single state company. It was assumed that one of the subsidiaries of the Rostec corporation would work with the cameras, but in the end this idea was abandoned. Minister of Communications Konstantin Noskov, after consultations with regions and market participants, opposed the appointment of a single operator. The official motivated his decision by the fact that there is now competition in the market, which allows reducing the cost of operator services.

The traffic police does not install cameras, but only issues fines based on information provided by the owners of video recording systems. Several years ago, all video recording systems in Russia were transferred to the balances of the regions. They, in turn, entered into government contracts with private operators, who installed cameras at their own expense and received a fixed amount from each fine issued. This practice is used in most countries of the world, and this system will not change in Russia in the near future.

The list of instructions of the Russian President, published on the Kremlin website, contains instructions to cancel fines for traffic violations that were recorded by improperly installed cameras. We are talking about cameras located secretly or installed in violation of current requirements.

“There is no need to hide these cameras on purpose. In this case, there is a direct substitution of the meaning of all these measures: instead of disciplining drivers, they are simply subject to a fine. I ask you to restore order here,” Putin said. The order must be executed before February 1, 2020.

The current National Standard regulates the installation of automatic recording cameras on road sections where three or more accidents with casualties occurred during the year, at road intersections with similar accident rates, on sections of roads with limited visibility, railway crossings, intersections with pedestrian and bicycle paths, on designated lanes for route vehicles, roadsides and sidewalks on which vehicle passages are recorded. Cameras can also be installed in places where speed limits change, near crowded places, or where parking or stopping vehicles is prohibited.

The installation location of each mobile camera must be approved by the head of the district traffic police, and hiding cameras or placing them behind road bends or in corners is prohibited. A mobile camera can monitor a straight section of road 50–60 meters long. There is a regulation on the maximum permissible distance from the camera sensor to the roadway: up to 5 m for monitoring 3–4 lanes of the road, up to 9 m for 2–3 lanes, up to 13 m for 1–2 lanes and up to 17 m for monitoring one lane. In this case, there must be at least 3 m to the edge of the first lane, and the angle of rotation of the camera to the road is adjusted along a special reference line, which should run parallel to the edge of the road.

Private cameras recording traffic violations

Private video cameras for recording traffic violations are currently a legal option for bringing car owners to justice under the norms of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. If the rules for installing the specified controls are observed, the issued resolution will be mandatory for the payment of a fine, and in some cases, for the imposition of a sanction in the form of deprivation of rights.

Video recording equipment for violations on the road can be transferred to private hands on the basis of government contracts concluded between the traffic police service, regional road management departments and legal entities or private entrepreneurs. The subject of these agreements is the operation and ongoing maintenance of video surveillance systems.

The key nuances of such use and placement of surveillance equipment are as follows:

each complex is subject to inspection and certification in accordance with uniform federal rules, and the operating personnel of private cells must undergo special training;
placement of private complexes on highways is carried out outside the locations of stationary video surveillance cameras, and their presence should not be indicated by special warning signs;
the responsibilities of private individuals operating video recording cameras include not only identifying violations, but also printing and delivering decisions imposing fines to specific car owners;
The operation of private cameras is carried out on a reimbursable basis; legal entities and entrepreneurs receive a fixed portion of the amount of penalties imposed.

The most common option is the use of private video recording equipment on mobile vehicles. In this case, the private owner of the camera has the opportunity not only to record violations, but also to take the necessary measures to protect expensive equipment from illegal actions of third parties. The specified mobile video recording system can be placed in hidden or open mode; the law does not establish restrictions in this regard.

As a rule, these complexes are designed to detect speed limit violations. Video recording systems intended for these purposes can be purchased under government orders by the road maintenance service or by private companies. In the second case, the camera owner must undergo equipment verification and certification, after which an operating agreement can be drawn up.

Challenging decisions made based on data from private video cameras follows the general rules. The specified document must be sent to the violator, after which a complaint can be filed with a judicial authority within ten days. The challenge procedure in this case is extremely difficult for the following reasons:

unlike stationary complexes, private cameras can change their location almost daily, which makes it difficult to prove violations when they are installed on the ground;
at the legislative level there is no official methodology for checking camera installation angles, which makes it possible for unscrupulous owners of the complex to artificially increase the error rate and increase the number of detected violations;
information about the current speed limit is entered into the software of the complex manually, which is often accompanied by errors (it is extremely difficult even for experienced lawyers to prove that the entered data does not correspond to the traffic sign).

The decision to impose a fine indicates the location of the camera at the time the violation was recorded. To challenge traffic violations recorded by private cameras, you must drive with a video recorder along a highway with installed road signs. Only in this way can it be proven that the calculated indicator of a private video recording camera did not correspond to the permitted speed limit of the road sign. The procedure for holding owners of private cameras accountable for violations of operating and installation rules must be provided for in the terms of the contract.