Acusensus cameras and seat belts

[rovermorris999]

This is a bit niche but would anyone know if Acusensus cameras (which can tell if you are wearing a seat belt) can handle lap belts? Cars made between 1965 and 1968 must have seat belts fitted but they can be lap belts as in my 1966 Chevrolet convertible. I would think it would be difficult to tell from outside the car whether there were belts at all or whether they were being worn. I don't fancy having to argue a ticket every time I go past one of these. Does a human eyeball the photos or is the fine issued automatically? Presumably the onus would on the authorities to prove I wasn't wearing a belt as I wouldn't be able to prove I was.
Presumably pre-1965 cars would be recognised as not needing belts at all, although if they are fitted they must be worn.

Also posted in SP&L but may be better in here.

[Astacus]

Pre 65 ars do indeed need belts. The legislation was made retroactive to 1955

[rovermorris999]

Astacus said:

Pre 65 ars do indeed need belts. The legislation was made retroactive to 1955

Wrong, from 1965 all cars had to have at least two mounting points but not necessarily belts fitted. In 1968, three point belts had to be fitted from then on and 1965-68 had to have either a lap belt or a three pointer. Pre-65 do not require belts but if they are fitted they must be used.

[akirk]

It seems that the system works on the basis of:
- high speed photography
- infra-red flash to penetrate windscreen and work day or night
- AI to interpret the photos and pass them to a police officer for prosecution where relevant.

So a lot will depend on how the AI is set up and how the police officers react to the photos...
- lap belts will be difficult to detect (you could have a coat over it)
- belt against the body won't always be easy to detect
- it might be a reasonable assumption therefore that the AI looks for the belt between pillar and seat as evidence of the belt being worn

if so:
- they will not prosecute those who plug the belt in behind them but don't wear it
- they will miss lap belt
- they will miss belts coming out of the chair

I would assume there is a % of inaccuracy which in theory humans should rectify, but the cynic in me would say that a number of those will end up as prosecutions when they shouldn't...

I used to get pulled over at times by the police in my 1982 range rover 4-door which had the belt coming out of the seat - best one was the officer who came to the window saying - "why haven't you, oh you have!" Always charming, but it is one of those things in a society where people make judgements based on assumptions, or expectations that everything is identical...

[rovermorris999]

Hopefully the age of the car should make them think and with a convertible there is no pillar to see, even in a modern car. But I have a suspicion that 'the computer says so' and a summons will be sent and throw the onus on me to prove otherwise. Hopefully I'm wrong.