NewsNet5.comInvestigations
House & HomeFoodTechHomeTown ExpertsLiving GreenReal EstateWEDDINGSLawDatingAutosTravel
Democracy 2008EntertainmentEducationEmploymentDealsDestination OntarioMade on the North CoastThe User-Friendly Phone BookFamily


Related To Story

Investigator Finds Tricks To Avoid Red-Light Camera Tickets

POSTED: 6:28 pm EDT September 17, 2007
UPDATED: 11:45 am EDT September 24, 2007

Cities all over northeast Ohio rely on cameras to catch drivers who speed or fail to stop at red lights. If the camera catches you breaking the law, the police will send you a ticket in the mail.

On Your Side chief investigator Duane Pohlman was the first to reveal legal questions about the red light cameras. The Ohio Supreme Court is holding oral arguments on the constitutionality of speed cameras Tuesday.

While the legal question is being sorted out, entrepreneurs are capitalizing on ways drivers can avoid getting caught on camera.

First, Pohlman looked into navigating the red lights.

A variety of Web sites offer programs drivers can download to their car's GPS system. The programs supposedly point out where every red light camera is located, so that a driver can spot them and slow down ahead of time.

For just $5, drivers can download the location of all the red light cameras in Cleveland.

NewsChannel5's Operations Manager Ernie Ensign said he stumbled on one of the Web sites after he got his new GPS system. He simply did a Google search with the words "Cleveland red light cameras."

Ensign grabbed the locations and downloaded them for a test drive.

The GPS did give a warning beep when the NewsChannel5 crew approached traffic cameras, but it didn’t catch all of the cameras on the route.

It was off by a few hundred feet at Euclid and Chester avenues.

For people who don't have a navigation system, drivers can opt for a special spray for the license plate.

The spray contains highly reflective material that overexposes your plate when the camera flashes.

If the camera can't read the numbers on the license plate, police can't track you down for the ticket, but no identification equals no ticket.

By far, the largest marketer of this stealth technology is photoblocker.

On its Web site, www.photoblocker.com was tested with actual speed cameras and it worked.

NewsChannel5 didn't have access to the actual cameras used by the city. Instead, photojournalist Dave Arnold took snapshots with a flash, to see how it worked. Several shots showed the flash made the plate unreadable.

Rick Fugo owns a security business in Bedford and said he sells plenty of spray as well as special license plate covers.

The plate covers reflect the flash just like the spray does.

Another plate cover has built-in louvres that prevent the plate from being read at an angle.

While there are no scientific studies, Fugo said he's selling a lot of these products, even to those who are sworn to uphold the law. Fugo told WEWS that "one of my biggest buyers is police officers and judges."

As for the legality of the red light cameras themselves, WEWS will have complete coverage of the oral arguments before the Ohio Supreme Court Tuesday morning.

Watch NewsChannel5 at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. for updates.

Local dealer of PhotoShield Cover and Spray
RJ Security & Cellular
7601-A6 First Place Drive
Bedford, OH 44146
440-439-8833

If you go to invisibleplate.com and put in the code "4066" you will receive $5 off the price.



A 5 On Your Side investigation uncovers how thousands of Ohio children could be exposed to life-threatening risks at day care centers. More Details


E-Mail News

Get E-Mail News Headlines When YOU Want Them
 Breaking News Alerts
Noon Headlines
Daily Forecast

Find Local Businesses



© 2008, Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc.
Click here for the privacy policy, terms of use.
Click here for advertising information.
See All Internet Broadcasting Sites

Site Map