The guts of a Gatso

How much would you pay for this?

The equipment inside this FIP (Fixed Installation Post) will set the police or speed camera partnerships back £30, 000.

The FIP (roadside housing) will set them back an additional £10, 000. This figure could be higher in rural areas where there is no power supply and a new feed needs installing.

An average cost of a Gatso is around £40, 000.



THE CAMERA
The camera installed is a 35mm camera unit with a film cartridge holding a high capacity film.

THE FLASH
This is a high intensity strobe which is triggered day or night. If you're flashed, there is no mistaking it, you'll see the strobe go off.

POWER SUPPLY
Because the equipment works on 12v DC, the camera unit needs a power supply with a transformer to knock the power supply down from 240v AC (mains) to 12DC ro power the Gatso.

THE RADAR
The centre strip on the front of the camera unit is the Radar. This is what calculates the speed of the passing vehicle and relays the data to the Radar Control Unit.

THE RADAR CONTROL UNIT
This allows the police to set the speed threshold pont for that road. The digital display allows the operator to scroll up or down and set the speed limit. There is also a test button on this unit to allow the operator to check the equipment.

This equipment is maintained by unlocking the "head" of the camera and sliding it down the post where the back of the unit is opened.

If you're flashed when the operator has the camera head down from the top of the post, you'll probably be OK as it will be the operator running a test before the camera is left alone to prey on motorists.