Speed Camera Film (was HIE Optimim Developer)

[Andy Finney <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Russ wrote:

My Ilford rep. told me a humorous story about the "new" Ilford infra red
B&W film. He said it has been made for years in Europe, and used to catch
speeding motorists! Evidently in Europe, there are these automated speed
traps which use strobes to photograph the license plate of a speeding
vehicle. It seems too many people were beating this "wrap" by claiming in
court that someone else was driving their car at the time. The courts decided
a photograph of the license plate AND driver were needed to collect the
fine. Obviously a conventional strobe would blind the driver, but an
infrared strobe would not. Voila, Ilford makes the infra red film for
these automated speed traps. All I can say is thank God we don't have
those in the U.S.!!


+++++++++

Those speed cameras in Europe give a very visible flash.  I guess that the
use of IR stock is to compensate somewhat for the flourescence from our
number plates (as we call them).  The cameras normally shoot the vehicle as
it speeds away from the camera (not towards) and across a grid marking on
the road.  The plates on the rear of UK cars are flourescent yellow and, I
presume, come out more clearly in a red/infrared photograph.

I bought a roll today.  When I have some results I'll put them on the
Invisible Light web site.

BTW ... in London the cameras were originally set for the speed limit but
ran out of film very quickly ... so now (I am told ... urban myth #84776)
that they are set for limit+10 mph.  Also, the camera were originally used
to trap motorists who ran red lights but were later set for speed traps.
The first camera was on the A4 near London.  You can get a map showing
where they are, but there is no guarantee that the camera has film in it
.. or even that the box on the pole has a camera in it!  Apparently the
things are just too darn expensive.

Andy



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Topic No. 16