Remote video link speed enforcement

• US 20060279629A1
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kustom Signals Incorporated (MPD Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Kustom Signals Incorporated (MPD Incorporated)
• Inventors: Godsy, Robert C., Hocker, Steven F.
• Application Number:
  US11/150,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20060279629A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules

Abstract

A method is disclosed for enforcing a speed limit in a zone of a roadway, such as a construction zone, where the ability of an officer to stop a speeding vehicle may be limited. A Doppler traffic radar unit and a video camera are set up at an off-road surveillance site typically adjacent the zone, and aimed at a common target area in the zone through which vehicles will sequentially pass. The speed information, Doppler audio and video are transmitted from the surveillance site to a more distant off-road location (remote site) that is accessible from the roadway, where a patrol car is located. The patrol car at the remote site receives the transmission and is equipped with an in-car video/audio system having a video buffer and a record mode. When the officer witnesses a speeding target vehicle on the video screen and hears the corresponding Doppler tone, the officer activates the video/audio system to the record mode to provide a video record of the violation including the period prior to activation stored in the history buffer. The officer may then apprehend the violator after the target vehicle leaves the restricted zone.

Claims

1. A method of enforcing a speed limit in a zone of a roadway where the ability of an officer to stop a speeding vehicle may be limited, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) at an off-road surveillance site, providing a traffic radar unit responsive to traffic at a target area in said zone and having a speed information output corresponding to the speed of a target vehicle and a Doppler audio output corresponding to said target vehicle speed,

(b) providing a video camera at said site having a video output, and aiming said camera at said target area,

(c) transmitting said speed information output, Doppler audio output and video output to a remote site away from said zone,

(d) providing a video/audio system at said remote site having a video buffer and a record mode,

(e) receiving the transmitted speed, Doppler and video outputs at the remote site and inputting said outputs to said video/audio system so that a speeding incident may be seen and heard by a law enforcement officer, and

(f) upon the witnessing of a speed violation on said video/audio system, activating said video/audio system to said record mode to provide a video record of the violation.

2. A method of enforcing a speed limit in a zone of a roadway where the ability of an officer to stop a speeding vehicle may be limited, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) at an off-road surveillance site, providing a traffic radar unit responsive to traffic at a target area in said zone and having a speed information output corresponding to the speed of a target vehicle and a Doppler audio output corresponding to said target vehicle speed,

(b) providing a video camera at said site having a video output, and aiming said camera at said target area,

(c) transmitting said speed information output, Doppler audio output and video output via a wireless path to a remote site away from said zone from which said roadway is accessible,

(d) providing a law enforcement vehicle at said remote site with an in-car video/audio system having a video buffer and a record mode,

(e) receiving the transmitted speed, Doppler and video outputs at the remote site and inputting said outputs to said video/audio system so that a speeding incident may be seen and heard by a law enforcement officer, and

(f) upon the witnessing of a speed violation on said video/audio system, activating said video/audio system to said record mode to provide a video record of the violation.

3. A method of enforcing a speed limit in a zone of a roadway where the ability of an officer to stop a speeding vehicle may be limited, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) at an off-road surveillance site, providing a traffic radar unit responsive to traffic at a target area in said zone and having a speed information output corresponding to the speed of a target vehicle and a Doppler audio output corresponding to said target vehicle speed,

(b) providing a video camera at said site having a video output, and aiming said camera at said target area,

(c) transmitting said speed information output, Doppler audio output and video output via a wireless path to a remote site away from said zone from which said roadway is accessible,

(d) providing a law enforcement vehicle at said remote site with an in-car video/audio system having a video buffer and a record mode,

(e) providing said law enforcement vehicle with a receiver responsive to the transmitted speed, Doppler and video outputs, and converting said outputs to composite video which is input to said video/audio system so that a speeding incident may be seen and heard by a law enforcement officer, and

(f) upon the witnessing of a speed violation on said video/audio system, activating said video/audio system to said record mode to provide a video record of the violation.