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Police have temporarily suspended the use of one type of laser guns to detect speeding, a Police spokesman said today (March 7).

The spokesman said that the move was taken after a regular examination on three pieces of the device found that the discrepancy of the readings of the gun went beyond acceptable level.

"The test was conducted under an experimental environment by an academic of the Physics Department of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology recently. All 17 laser guns of the same model, which have come into operational use since March 2001, have been suspended since March 6 this year.

"The laser guns in question are not the badge of speed detectors that had been suspended for operational use between November 1999 and March 2000," the spokesman said, adding, "The reliability of all laser guns of this same model in terms of consistency and accuracy will be carefully examined.

He said prosecution or summon against speeders who have recently been detected by this type of device have been suspended until the reliability of the guns has been clarified.

"All cases that have already appeared in court or in which drivers have paid the fines will be carefully reviewed should the guns in question be proved to have technical problems," he said, adding that Police will contact all affected drivers individually.

The spokesman stressed that Police have sufficient manpower and equipment to deter speeding.

Drivers who have outstanding fixed penalty tickets for speeding and had queries over their cases should contact the Central Traffic Prosecution Bureau on telephone 2866 8454 during office hours between Monday and Friday or forward their fixed penalty tickets to the Bureau by fax on 2865 0748 any time.

The spokesman stressed that the temporary suspension of this type of laser guns will not affect Police enforcement as other speed detectors including 23 laser guns of another model, several types of radar, visual average speed computers and recorders, laser cameras, red light cameras and speed enforcement cameras will continue to be used to deter speeding.

The spokesman called on the public not to endanger the safety of themselves and others by speeding.

"There will be no let up in Police enforcement against speeding offenders before the laser guns in questions be brought back to deter and detect speeding," he said.

Police Report No. 6

Issued by PPRB

End/1940 hours, Thursday, March 7, 2002

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