| Author |
Message |
Paul Gilchrist
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 4:59 pm: | |
Okay this is only remotely related to buses and traveling the highways. But I have a question and you guys seem to know everything from nuclear physics to mixing the best martini, so here goes..
On the automated tolls systems (EZ Pass) I have noticed intense blue flood lights on the exit side of the toll booth. Anybody know what they are for? They are pointed directly at the front of the exiting vehicle and driver. Illumination for a camera system to catch toll evaders? But why blue? I've searched the internet looking for something on this, but haven't found anything yet. |
Marc Bourget
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 5:30 pm: | |
The may have a decal that flouresces a specific light frequency in response to the blue light that is easy to pick up with a photoelectric eye.
Flouresce isn't just reflection, in this case it might be the combined absorbtion and release of engergy from a light source in a different wavelength of light. |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 5:45 pm: | |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_number_plate_recognition |
Eagle 10
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 7:32 pm: | |
Since coming home from vacation, I can not find the Eagle Bus Nuts on Yahoo. I lost my favorites some how. Any help?????? |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 7:50 pm: | |
They had a meeting while you where on vacation, and
decided to hide from you until you gave up and went away.
Go here in health: Yahoo Bus Nuts |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 8:42 pm: | |
Hello Paul.
Where was this toll booth with the bright blue lights?
This may be something new, I haven't seen yet.
Niles! You mad man, you're exposing your "intelligence in research" again!
Excellent link, my Floridian friend!
Now, pour another cold one and cut it out!
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 8:46 pm: | |
BW - where's the vacation pics? Have a Canadien for me - Niles |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 8:57 pm: | |
Sorry Niles, I haven't got to bossnut's place with the CD yet. It is in the box with the T shirts....
Completely my fault no updates of pics.
I am a poor excuse for a side kick, eh?
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 9:23 pm: | |
BW - no, not those pics - I was there - weren't you supposed to emailme me some pics of YOUR vacation? - those should be more fun - LOL |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 9:25 pm: | |
Get on the diesel chat, I'm confused, as usual!
BW |
Nick Badame Refrigeration Co. (Dnick85)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 9:57 pm: | |
Paul,
The blue lite at EZpass tolls are for photographing Reflective license plates if you are NOT a tag holder! You will than recieve a fine via mail with a picture of the rear of your vehicle displaying your license plate!
I personally put my EZpass tag from my car in my bus many many times and have no problem, even when I'm towing my car behind! DON'T TELL!!!
You Just Need To Have A Tag If You Go Through. It Dosen't seem to know how large of a vehicle is going through.
Nick- |
Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 10:18 pm: | |
Isn't the photo also used to charge your EZpass account if your transponder isn't picked up for some reason?
I live in Minnesota, and yet I have an Illinois Ipass. I put it in my dually pickup. Technically, a dually should get charged more, but I just went through the Ipass lane for autos. I did bounce off the curb twice on one trip as the auto lanes are narrow.
Illinois is switching to open road tolling so you don't have to slow down to pay tolls. I have no idea how they could tell if you have your Ipass registered for the right vehicle size.
Illinois also has bright lights to photograh offenders. It looks like a sports stadium under the open road tolling archways since the lights they use are so bright.
Brian Elfert |
Nick Badame Refrigeration Co. (Dnick85)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 10:35 pm: | |
Brian,
The reciever is overhead each lane, If your transponder is weak or nonfunctional, your licnse plate will be on file with the toll Co. Thus, releaving you of a fine. You will be notifed either by mail or recieve a message on the screen at the toll lane to contact them.
Nick- |
Paul Gilchrist
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 11:09 pm: | |
Thanks to all who responded. To Buswarrior, the primary location where I have seen the blue lights has been the PA Turnpike, although I think Delaware's toll roads may have them as well.
Niles' article was pretty cool, too. I quickly scanned through it, and it has lots of good info. However , at least in my quick scan, I could not find anything referencing the specific blue lights. It mentions infrared (other end of the spectrum) and even laser, but no blue.
Marc's comment about fluorescent characteristics follows one thought I had previously. Perhaps there is a fluorescent marking in the tag housing. People are instructed to affix them to the inside of their windshield. Maybe if the tag fails to read (dead battery) at least the fluorescent tag shows up helping them recognize they are a EZpass user. Might have some benefit.
No doubt camera systems are used to capture license plate info at these facilities, I just haven't been able to find any mention of the blue lights.
Anybody else seen these blue lights used? |
Abajaba
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 08, 2006 - 12:07 am: | |
On the IPass high speed lanes I have seen people pull up right behind the vehicle in front so that they don't get caught trying to sneak through. The only problem with this is the cameras and lights look for the license plate on the back of the vehicle.
My guess would be that they still get pinged with a nice photo of their license plate and an invoice. |
Mike (Busone)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 08, 2006 - 12:41 am: | |
I have seen these mysterious blue lights. We are living in Jefferson County CO and at some of the intersections they have the blue lights. When I first saw these things I thought they were some sort of temporary construction lights. They hang from a wire next to the pole.
They look like they are filled with blue LEDs. Different sets of them turn on with different red light cycles.
They have had cameras on most of the intersections for years now. They claim they are for monitoring traffic flow. It looks like they are now using them to make some money.
Channel 9news.com in Denver did a story on blue lights being used to catch red light runners. I missed this story though. I assume that is what these things are. |
David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 08, 2006 - 8:56 am: | |
UV reflective decals. The Blue/White lights are rich in the Ultraviolet end of the spectrum. Certain frequencies can pass through window tinting and also are reflected better by the 3-M reflective masks used in license plates.
Here in Florida they make us replace plates every 5 years when the U/V mask starts losing its reflective ability which is according the the manufacturers specs. Many of the new plates have a holographic image that only is seen clearly in the U/V spectrum, This is what the Camera's focus in on as it illuminates the background around the letters and numbers which reflect in a different band.
A trick in the aftermarket is to cover the plates with a plastic sheet which is polarized to horizontal. Supposedly to inhibit a high mounted camera from seeing the numbers.
There are usually several cameras at different angles to the target lane to verify the reads also so that polarizing stuff doesn't work all that well. Besides with wide area broadband networking now used in police vehicles a photo can be sent up the road to the cop so he can wait for you. All the data collected from the camera and computer scan including speed is at his fingertips, Make writing the ticket real easy.
Just FYI.... |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 08, 2006 - 10:00 am: | |
Eagle10,
These are the two Eagle boards I am aware of.
Richard
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eagle-bus-nuts/messages
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/eagle-bus-life/messages |