French Police & Sat Nav
Discussion
Anyone had any problems with the French police objecting to their sat nav unit as a speed camera location device?
We know how the use of other detectors is illegal, what if I have a camera location overlay on my sat nav?
There is a thread running in SP&L already, just thought I'd ask the experts .....
We know how the use of other detectors is illegal, what if I have a camera location overlay on my sat nav?
There is a thread running in SP&L already, just thought I'd ask the experts .....
My thoughts have always been that it won't be an issue, after all SatNav boxes are popular in France too and even fitted satnav units can handle POIs which could be cameras.
The chances of them catching you with the incrimnating evidence of a camera showing on the map are very remote and to prove you have camera POIs installed they would need to knowledge to work all common units.
But if I was pulled up and they decided to have a go, I wouldn't fancy trying to explain in maimed pigeon French that its a SatNav box, not a camera detector...
The chances of them catching you with the incrimnating evidence of a camera showing on the map are very remote and to prove you have camera POIs installed they would need to knowledge to work all common units.
But if I was pulled up and they decided to have a go, I wouldn't fancy trying to explain in maimed pigeon French that its a SatNav box, not a camera detector...
x5x3 said:Available from www.pocketgps.co.uk - it covers most European sites.
can I ask where you got the French camera overlay from?
I haven't as yet checked how accurate it is ....
jeremyc said:Jeremy, can't spot any French overlaps/POIs on there - am I going mad?
can I ask where you got the French camera overlay from?
I haven't as yet checked how accurate it is ....
Tripps said:Yes.
can I ask where you got the French camera overlay from?
I haven't as yet checked how accurate it is ....
It is the "pocketgps_continental.*" POI database that is included as part of the full download.
PocketGPSWorld Safety Camera database Release 3.114 readme.txt said:
Continental (pocketgps_continental) 135 cameras. 54 in The Netherlands, 2 in Switzerland, 79 in Germany, 5 France
(Cameras named using NL for Netherlands, CH for Switzerland, DE for Germany, FR for France with F for Fixed type, R for Redlight type and M for Mobile type)
jeremyc said:Cheers fella, good to have an (in)sanity check now and then
It is the "pocketgps_continental.*" POI database that is included as part of the full download.
PocketGPSWorld Safety Camera database Release 3.114 readme.txt said:
Continental (pocketgps_continental) 135 cameras. 54 in The Netherlands, 2 in Switzerland, 79 in Germany, 5 France
(Cameras named using NL for Netherlands, CH for Switzerland, DE for Germany, FR for France with F for Fixed type, R for Redlight type and M for Mobile type)
Not sure I'll bother for just 5 camera sites though.
Tripps said:The database is populated by users, so if you find some more travelling through France then note their location and submit them.
Not sure I'll bother for just 5 camera sites though.
If everyone did this there will soon be more than 5 locations included. Oh, and you do realise that it is free, don't you?
jeremyc said:Would submit them myself, but the routes I take through France and thankfully those that are unlikely (at the moment) to have cameras. But if I spot any I would indeed record them myself.
Not sure I'll bother for just 5 camera sites though.
Oh, and you do realise that it is free, don't you?
I do indeed realise the data is free, as it happens I'm currently knocking up some something to covert TomTom ov2 files to CSV POIs suitable for Garmin's POILoader, which I've offered to PocketGPSWorld for them to use.
Conversion of Ov2 (or overlay 2) files to other formats is Not technically difficult.
It is, however, very expensive. Professional Geographic Information System (GIS) software will do this with ease but at £25k for a one year licence for ArcGIS with all the whizz bang conversion software included it is far beyond all but the largest POI providers who, naturally want to suport only their own hardware.
I use this software at work but am not able, for a multitude of reasons, to do this for myself far less the public at large.
In addition, the largest Hardware Only poviders tend to use proprietary file formats to protect their investment in, what is, a cut throat and competitive environment.
TOM TOM is unusual in this business, in that it allows 3rd party access to its know how to provide value added solutions which it could easily 'lock up' for itself.
In the long run the solution is with the buyer.
Buy systems that are upgradable in software.
Buy systems that have a degree of open source or licensing to third parties.
Buy systems that provide low cost or no cost mapping upgrades (I have a system that when new could not get me further than ten miles from home due to a new by pass. Cost to correct involved buying an entire new mapping software suite.)
Remember!
French police use the toll times to great effect. Always stop for lunch or fuel INSIDE the Autoroute. It may be a little more expensive but it takes a long time at 160kph to catch up a 20 min snack break.
It is, however, very expensive. Professional Geographic Information System (GIS) software will do this with ease but at £25k for a one year licence for ArcGIS with all the whizz bang conversion software included it is far beyond all but the largest POI providers who, naturally want to suport only their own hardware.
I use this software at work but am not able, for a multitude of reasons, to do this for myself far less the public at large.
In addition, the largest Hardware Only poviders tend to use proprietary file formats to protect their investment in, what is, a cut throat and competitive environment.
TOM TOM is unusual in this business, in that it allows 3rd party access to its know how to provide value added solutions which it could easily 'lock up' for itself.
In the long run the solution is with the buyer.
Buy systems that are upgradable in software.
Buy systems that have a degree of open source or licensing to third parties.
Buy systems that provide low cost or no cost mapping upgrades (I have a system that when new could not get me further than ten miles from home due to a new by pass. Cost to correct involved buying an entire new mapping software suite.)
Remember!
French police use the toll times to great effect. Always stop for lunch or fuel INSIDE the Autoroute. It may be a little more expensive but it takes a long time at 160kph to catch up a 20 min snack break.
jeremyc said:
Not sure I'll bother for just 5 camera sites though.
Oh, and you do realise that it is free, don't you?
Don't count your chickens on that one - GPSWorld are just about to start charging for downloading the camera database for the UK
If you can speak a bit of French you can get a fantastic POI database from
www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/default.asp?CAT_ID=14
[topic here www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9582]
and
www.alertegps.com/Download.asp?a=ar&s=&f=tomtom#
It is free (there is a paid for DB) and has ~1000+ cameras in it.
Oh - GPS only systems are legal in FR
(as are Radar units under EU law, but since when did the French ever pay attention to EU laws!)
J
>> Edited by joust on Tuesday 31st January 22:22
www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/default.asp?CAT_ID=14
[topic here www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9582]
and
www.alertegps.com/Download.asp?a=ar&s=&f=tomtom#
It is free (there is a paid for DB) and has ~1000+ cameras in it.
Oh - GPS only systems are legal in FR
(as are Radar units under EU law, but since when did the French ever pay attention to EU laws!)
J
>> Edited by joust on Tuesday 31st January 22:22
Have used Tom Tom and PoI for a number of years, drove from Basel to Grenoble and back yesterday and the warnings were numerous. The French Gendarme have a habit of using mobile devices operating from slip roads under motorway bridges, the PoI will detect popular mobile scamera sites.
Typically drive at 150 ish which at the first 30 second warning gives time to flick the cruise control, if it is a false alarm just press the button and off we go. Was a 'real' camera yesterday, just the camera and detector sitting in a layby, the controling car was approximately 300m ahead of the camera with the word Securite on the back. Was doing less than 130 by the time the camera could have nabbed me but there again I have an Italian car.
Typically drive at 150 ish which at the first 30 second warning gives time to flick the cruise control, if it is a false alarm just press the button and off we go. Was a 'real' camera yesterday, just the camera and detector sitting in a layby, the controling car was approximately 300m ahead of the camera with the word Securite on the back. Was doing less than 130 by the time the camera could have nabbed me but there again I have an Italian car.
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