Possible error in laser measuring devices: Fines set to "stop"
The police in NRW have withdrawn laser measuring devices from circulation that may not be working properly. The consequences are still unclear.
This picture shows why the LTI 20-20 is also known as a "laser gun".
(Image: Laser Technology)
In North Rhine-Westphalia, various fine notices for motorists are currently being withheld due to a possible error in a laser measuring device. The district governments have been instructed not to issue notices at this time based on speed measurements taken with a TrueSpeed LTI 20-20 device from the manufacturer Laser Technology. A spokesperson for the State Office for Central Police Services (Landesamt für Zentrale Polizeiliche Dienste, LZPD) explained this to heise online.
The police in NRW use a total of 600 laser measuring devices, 115 of which are of the type in question. Their manufacturer had informed the LZPD on July 6, 2024 that it could be faulty. An expert and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt then tested the device and found measurement deviations of 3 km/h. On July 9, the LZPD then asked all district police authorities in NRW not to use the 115 devices in question for now.
Investigating the problem may take weeks
The problem is currently still being investigated, the spokesperson told heise online. The police have been using the devices since 2020, and it is not yet clear, for example, whether the problem that has now arisen was caused by a software update. Only when further information is available can the next steps be examined, especially for those potentially affected by speeding violations. According to the spokesperson, this may still take weeks. It was not disclosed how many fines have been imposed.
Laser-optical sensors such as the TrueSpeed LTI 20-20 are used to determine the speed of vehicles as a change in distance in the direction of travel during a specified measurement period. The vehicle is either targeted by the operator using a handheld laser measuring device or the measuring range is automatically searched for vehicles by the device, as explained by the PTB, which certifies such devices. The device emits laser pulses and receives the portion reflected by the vehicle. For each pulse, the transit time until it is received again is measured to calculate the corresponding distance to the vehicle. The change in the distance measured in this way is used to calculate the vehicle speed as a result of an equalization calculation.
(anw)