Update 20 March 07:30 Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – A technical error in a fixed radar in Lausanne caused nearly 3,000 innocent motorists to be fined for speeding over a period of three months, say city police.
The drivers were flashed at the intersection of avenues Béthusy and Victor-Ruffy between November 2008 and February 2009.
The device captured speeds “slightly” over the drivers’ actual speeds, causing some motorists to be flashed 2-3 times in one day. Police say they will be sending letters to the motorists who were caught, informing them that they do not owe the fines and reimbursing them if they’ve paid.
Police say they began to receive a flood of complaints in February and when they ran a separate control it was clear there was a problem with the radar. The city has since checked all other radars, including one of the same make, and all were operating correctly. The problem was due to a defective componant and the machine has been sent back to the manufacturer.
ccv says
Do you happen to know where this defective radar is located? I received a ticket in Lausanne and even took my husband to the location to show him how I thought it was impossible that I was going at the speed claimed by the city. I am wondering if it is the same place. Thank you in advance for any information you might have.
Ellen Wallace says
Good luck! It was at the intersection of avenues Béthusy – Victor-Ruffy. Here’s the police report but in case you don’t read French well, it basically says that the 3,000 people caught by the radar will receive notice by mail that they don’t owe the fines: http://www.lausanne.ch/view.asp?DocId=31066 I’ll update the story now.