Internal Memorandum - Error detected: Police stop use of laser devices
The police in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) have stopped the use of 115 laser speed measurement devices following information from the manufacturer about a measurement error. The issue was discovered during testing of a device, according to the State Office for Central Police Services (LZPD) in internal communications, as reported by dpa. It was initially unclear whether the devices in NRW were affected and if they would need to be recalled. A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry confirmed the matter upon request. "Spiegel Online" had previously reported on this.
According to the LZPD directive to the police departments, discrepancies of three kilometers per hour were detected during testing of the "TrueSpeed, LTI 20-20" type device. Consequently, "Laser speed measurement devices of the aforementioned type are no longer to be used for repressive speed surveillance with immediate effect," the LZPD wrote in the directive obtained by dpa.
According to the Interior Ministry in NRW, 600 laser speed measurement devices are in use, which means that approximately every fifth such device, the so-called laser pistol, is currently out of order.
The error was not limited to Duesseldorf, as laser speed measurement devices in various parts of North Rhine-Westphalia were also affected. Despite the measurement error, it's essential to ensure road safety, prompting the police to rely on alternative technologies for traffic monitoring. The police in NRW are currently evaluating the replacement or recalibration of the affected devices to minimize potential disruptions in traffic control.
