Estonian police unhappy with new rules for placing mobile speed camera warning signs
As of August 1, Estonia requires police to place warning signs before mobile speed cameras. Police say signs can be blown over or moved, leaving it unclear whether fines will be valid if a sign is missing at the time of an offence.
A change to Estonia's Traffic Act that came into force on August 1 obliges the police to set up warning signs in front of mobile speed enforcement cameras. Under the new rules, in built-up areas the sign must be placed 150 to 300 metres from the camera, and on highways 300 to 500 metres away.
Taavi Kirss, head of the road surveillance service at the Police and Border Guard Board, said the sign location will be chosen based on where the camera can be placed, so it falls within the legally required distance. However, officers are not pleased with the change. During the drafting process, they warned that a portable sign could be toppled by wind, moved by someone, or even hidden, and that it is impossible to watch over every sign.
Kirss noted that weather conditions vary, and a sign may be knocked over or shifted. He recalled an incident where officers found their sign almost a kilometre from where it had been installed, while the camera kept operating. He explained that the person working with a mobile camera is responsible for ensuring accurate data on passing vehicles, that the computer and camera function properly, and cannot simultaneously monitor several locations.
An open question remains whether fines issued by a camera will hold up if the sign is not in place at the time of the violation. Riina Sillandi, legal adviser at the Ministry of the Interior, said both sides will have to provide evidence. The police can confirm through a report that the sign was properly installed at the required distance, while a driver can also present arguments. For now, it is difficult to predict how this will work in practice.
Sworn attorney Indrek Sirk sees no serious risks, as temporary enforcement in one spot usually lasts no more than two or three hours. He does not consider it necessary to warn drivers about cameras at all and called the Riigikogu's decision a populist step. In his view, some people like to see police powers restricted, but he sees no benefit for the rule of law or road safety from installing such warning signs. He added that it is always easier to monitor your own speed than to rely on other drivers flashing their headlights or a sign reminding you to follow the rules.
