In an (uncharacteristically coherent) article from today's HJ News section, we are told that Sat nav systems which warn of FIXED speed cameras are already banned in 8 European countries.
Some countries merely insist the "Points of Interest" feature be switched off, meaning that you may drive past any number of towns with muesums, castles or Michelin starred restaurants but may not let your TomTom tell you their name or phone number as you do so. (Really makes it worthwhile having a SatNav, doesn't it?)
In other countries, including Ireland, if the BIB somehow work out that POI is fitted or working or both, the device may be confiscated altogether.
This quite literally impedes the free movement of EU citizens and goods and it is therefore illegal! Time for proper definitions and regulations Europe-wide and no more of these unilateral Diktats from a few countries.
Just when bendy bananas are being allowed in, we get THIS. GAAAHHHH!!!!!
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Why does it limit free movement? Does being forced to drive on the other side of the road limit your movement? If you visit another country, you have to follow their rules.
When my Sat-Nav arrived the first thing I did was delete the safety camera POIs it came with. I drive safely and within speed limits all the time, I don't need to pay 'extra' attention around these cameras.
You don't have to use a Sat-Nav, you don't have to have cameras loaded and I daresay you don't have to drive - you could use public transport.
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But what about OEM sat-nav systems which also have POI data installed (and modifiable...) Are the Irish police going to rip the whole system out?
Also, assuming that all GPS devices on sale on Europe carry the CE mark, if the EU has judged the equipment meets safety regs why should individual member stated be able to over-rule them...
Final thought; aren't they called safety cameras now; if my GPS device warns me of accident black-spots, for safety reasons, what's the problem?
Peter
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Also assuming that all GPS devices on sale on Europe carry the CE mark if the EU has judged the equipment meets safety regs why should individual member stated be able to over-rule them...
A CE mark just means the item has passed safety tests. It doesn't mean that you can automatically use it anywhere in Europe. Another example would be CB radios which all carry CE marks but have different frequencies allocated and modes of transmission in each country. Use a UK spec CE-marked CB radio in France and you'll be nicked.
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I don`t use the camera POI`s, but if French Police want to confiscate mine they can have it. The one I have cost less than two tanks of diesel and what better way to get updated maps than with a new French unit.
;)
Edited by oilrag on 28/07/2008 at 21:55
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I'm struggling to believe that article, as written.
Can it really be illegal in Germany if your Mercedes COMAND system is set to tell you where the nearest dealer is (which is one of the basic POI functions)?
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Somebody should speak to these guys then:
www.mysatnav.ie/
"We have a great Summer Special: Garmin nüvi Deluxe Packs - Free Delivery + 1Yrs Free Subcription to Irish Safety Cameras & 25k POIs + Free Garmin A/C Charger"
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D6M sounds like ounces of fun!
Edited by Armitage Shanks {p} on 28/07/2008 at 22:52
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Could it be that the various governments are seeing a reduction in income and see this information stored in these devices as as a threat to future revenues ?
Should I "forget" the locations stored in my brain to comply ?
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In response to the earlier question "Why does it limit free movement?", I was referring partly to one of the principles of the Treaty of Rome itself (re-hashing words from law books I studied over 20 years ago, "Any measure which directly or indirectly, actually or potentially hinders intra-community trade shall be illegal") and partly to the fact that motorists from one EU country are quite likely to be stopped routinely by the BIBs in another country on what will become highly lucrative "fishing trip" stop and searches. The majority of the British public who currently oppose compulsory ID cards will surely understand this: it's yet another way of giving authorities more powers to exercise randomly and in a discriminatory manner.
Although I am in the main pro-European, I am opposed to draconian measures which eat away at citizens' basic liberties and I am outraged at the antics of some countries imposing their own rules for nefarious ends. This is nothing to do with driving on the left or sanctimonious arguments about "I always respect the law" or "take a bus".
You buy a car accessory designed in part to make your driving experience more interesting and enjoyable and, by warning of accident blackspots and directing you to a first aid post or rest area, safer, then a neighbouring country one day says switch it off or we'll confiscate or destroy it and fine you to boot. Imagine having medicine legally prescribed and obtained in Britain confiscated while you're on holiday or a traffic cop impounding your car radio because it picks up LW or has cross ply tyres or because Wolseleys were never legally imported into Bulgaria.
It's not on.
Edited by Bilboman on 29/07/2008 at 01:57
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I would suspect that this could be challenged in the european court. The location of a fixed camera is informatiion in the public domain (they are seen by members of the public, are not classified secret). Hence forbidding telling people (in what ever way) is a restriction of freedom of information.
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GPS camera notification not illegal in Germany ,speed camera detectors are.
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GPS camera notification not illegal in Germany speed camera detectors are.
I just checked up on this and would change the statement as follows:
GPS camera notification not yet illegal in Germany. Legislation in preparation .
Also discovered they really throw the book at you in Switzerland if you have a GPS device with POI speed camera detectors. Big fine and confiscation of your TomTom is the consequence.
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I guess the best way to avoid falling victim to the speed cameras in France is not to risk owning a potentially illegal warning device - just drive a Mehari. ;-)
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So the next news will be
www.viamichelin.co.uk/viamichelin/gbr/tpl/hme/MaHo...m
is illegal, since it now shows fixed camera sites if you push the right button.
Also in the Road Atlas
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Ha! I like that, does that mean they will be confiscating the road atlases as well?!;)
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I just checked up on this and would change the statement as follows: GPS camera notification
Where can you check up the authenticity of this information?
The article in HJ's news if from www.iam.org.uk/pressroom/nrsummary.htm
where their source is said to be "A survey of motoring clubs across Europe".
Frankly, if a "legal" requirement is mentioned, I prefer any such information to have more definitive links to official sources rather than "A survey of motoring clubs across Europe".
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I think the content of the article may not be as clear as it could be.
Last year I bought a standalone sat-nav system in Germany, made for the German market. A couple of months later the manufacturer released a software upgrade which enabled safety camera location throughout Europe. This could not be implemented on my system.
I think it is the safety camera POI that the authorities have issue with, not all POI categories.
I have never been controlled and asked to give a full working demo of the unit.
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