Police must place warning signs before mobile speed cameras

Police in Estonia must place a sign warning of a mobile speed camera ahead of the device under a law amendment that took effect on Saturday, ERR reported. It remains unclear whether drivers must pay fines if the sign has been blown over or removed.

The sign must be placed 150 to 300 metres before the camera in built-up areas and 300 to 500 metres ahead of it on highways.

The requirement follows a dispute between three members of the Riigikogu and police over whether mobile speed cameras needed warning signs. The politicians prevailed this spring.

Taavi Kirss, head of traffic supervision at the Police and Border Guard Board, said the placement depends on where police can set up the camera and where a sign can be installed.

Police record the sign’s location when putting it up, but cannot continuously monitor it. As a result, an officer working at the camera may not know that wind has knocked the sign over or that someone has thrown it into a bush.

Kirss said the fine would still have to be paid if the sign had been properly installed but was later blown down.

“We installed the sign properly in front of it and have done everything on our part. We cannot guard against every situation,” Kirss said.

The Ministry of the Interior does not fully agree with the police position, and several disputes are likely until court decisions establish the practice. Ministry legal adviser Rina Sillandi said the parties would argue their cases based on evidence and that both sides would have a burden of proof.

Attorney Indrek Sirk said disputes could be reduced because the installation and removal of signs are recorded in official reports. Speed measurements are also taken only for short periods.

Sirk said he did not consider the amendment necessary, calling it a propaganda method that provided no benefit to the rule of law or road safety.

Mobile speed cameras have been attacked three times this year. Repairing each camera has cost 20,000 euros, which must be paid by the person who caused the damage. One of Estonia’s eight mobile cameras is currently being repaired in Germany.