If you’re driving through Arizona any time in the near future, you may notice some new cameras popping up. They’re not speed cameras or red light cameras. In fact they don’t pay any attention to fourwheelers at all. They are exclusively for commercial truck screening.
The new cameras are part of a system which aims to help with truck inspections. Along with sensors in the road, the system tries to weigh trucks as they’re driving by and will instruct them to pull over if it determines that the truck may be overweight.
While the cameras may look a lot like speed cams, the Arizona DOT claims that they don’t even have the capability to determine how fast vehicles are moving.
According to an ADOT spokesperson, the system is designed to maximize the ability of inspection personnel since “it is impossible to stop every truck to do an inspection. It is just a waste of time.”
The total cost of the system was $7.5 million which included $4.5 million for developing the technology and $3 million for the installation.
Cameras are being installed near the Sacaton Rest Area on Interstate 10, the McGuireveille Rest Area on Interstate 17 and the Canoa Ranch Rest Area on Interstate 19.
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Source: gobytrucknews, ktar, abc, azcapitoltimes, trivalleycentral
Image Source: abc screencapture
Robin says
the article says “The new cameras are part of a system which aims to help with truck inspections… “it is impossible to stop every truck to do an inspection. It is just a waste of time.”
So if that’s been the case… Then why are they being located at rest areas? I didn’t know that that was a commonplace for “truck inspections”
just saying
Glen says
Rest areas have been used as jump scales for as long as I can remember.
Butch says
It makes perfect sense that it’s before a rest area. After all, ADOT is not going to want flagged trucks sitting on the shoulder, especially where these devices are located (the I-17 cam is just before a steep downgrade).
I’m wondering what a driver is supposed to do when he is directed to pull into a rest area and park, and it’s about 11:00 at night. Good luck finding someplace to land, driver.
Andrew says
DOT loves rest areas. It’s state property so at any time they can set up shop and inspect trucks already parked there or coming in to take a break. I see it all the time in other States, so I stick to truck stops, as they’re privately owned.
JJ says
I dont run overweight, but hell this is just another form to mess the trucking industry into their inspections, fines, their attitudes at times are horrendous. I have put dash cams in my truck, I got them on video/audio to, so better not have that bad ass attitude, I got ya on video/audio to!!
amardeep says
Several Canadian province have these systems in place for years it is like prepass for everyone I almost always got bypassed. The only time I got pulled in was when I was closed to max weight. The only thing I find funny is developing this technology cost them 4.5 million this technology existed in canada and Europe. I think someone got swindled (the government). Ha ha they r so backward they r practically in the stone age.
Glen says
I’m sure the costs involved have to do with installation, and linking them to the existing photo recognition system they have in place.
Salty Lad says
The article said 4.5 Million for development, 3 million for installation. So the development cost was actual development.
Matti says
I don’t know what the stink is about (other than the price tag), this seems to be no different than the existing Pre-Pass systems at weigh stations.
sudon't says
Hmm, they look a lot like the DEA cams, essentially license-plate readers, that are popping up all over the country. It’s good to know the Feds are keeping tabs on all of us. I, for one, welcome our new database overlords.
Infosaur says
Why don’t I worry about spy cams everywhere?
Imagine the kind of person they’re going to hire to sit in front of 68 monitors all day long? Now imagine that position with lowest common denominator pay & skills.
Crimes will be committed and recorded on high quality VHS while the “operator” checks his Facebook likes while hiding from his supervisor.
charleydan says
Interesting they(government) do not understand it only takes a short while after installation that the outlaws figure it as a fixed object and avoid it. Only a fool who is illegal would go there or one who does not know they are in violation (green horns). The game goes on and the government again wasted there money. Rate of Return on investment never matters to governments and then wonder why they go broke and tax payers complain.
deke says
I see this possibly going poorly for the oversize/heavy haul industry.
Dan Lane says
Big brother chasing money. Why is it they seem to only be after trucks. 5 times yesterday alone I seen 4 wheelers with un-secure loads. Highway patrol at construction sights 4 wheelers racing to get in frt. of trucks and slamming brakes on. It’s getting out of control. Stupid thing we have the power to change this crap but you can’t get two truckers to agree on nothing.
Donald Roe says
That’s been going on for the last 50years that I know of
James says
How long before they figure out how to calculate the speed based on the position of the sensors and cameras? Those are fixed objects and all that is left is to factor in the time it takes to get from point a to b
Infosaur says
We’re all gonna be governed at 62 driver, what’s your worry?
Dstout says
Ha…I’m starting to feel like ‘Truman’