http://www.chargenomore.com/index.shtml

Should this be reported to someone?

--
message by Robin May, consumer of liquids
Hello. I'm one of those "roaring fascists of the left wing".

Hacker is to computer as boy racer is to Ford Escort.

"Robin May" wrote in message
...
http://www.chargenomore.com/index.shtml

Should this be reported to someone?

Probably - if they're not aware of it already.

The web site says that the device is not illegal. That's probably one of
these grey areas like radar speed-trap detectors, which are not (as far as I
know) illegal to fit but are illegal if you actually use them to detect
speed traps. I notice also a statement to the effect that because the device
is manufactured in the US, the UK importer doesn't need to charge VAT. I
have a nasty feeling that this is not true: the device should probably have
some form of import tax or VAT paid on it as it comes into the country which
the importer can then choose whether or not to pass onto the customer. But
if the importer isn't paying import tax, that's his worry, not the
customer's.

I'm curious to know how it works - but the web site explains why it has to
be vague about the specifics! I remember seeing number plates on sale at the
Birmingham Motor Show a few years ago which had a highly-relective
background that reproduced as plain yellow if illuminated by a flash gun.
They were aimed at celebrities who didn't want their number plates to
reproduce in paparazzi photos. I wondered at the time about the legality of
them given the introduction of speed cameras at about the same time.

I wouldn't condone the use of anything that allows you to evade the law
(whether speed cameras or congestion charege cameras) but I've got to admit
to a grudging respect for anything that allows you to avoid the congestion
charge.

By the way, what's the rule about the congestion charge? Are you only
charged as you enter the zone, or are you charged also for every day that
you're inside? Suppose you drive in (maybe even with your number plate
masked!) and then never leave again because you only use the car within the
zone - are you still charged?

"Robin May" wrote in message
...
http://www.chargenomore.com/index.shtml

Should this be reported to someone?

The whole thing looks like a scam to me. The best way of fooling the
cameras - which I know but will not reveal, as I support the concept of
congestion charging - requires no power from the battery.

Brian Blandford

"Brian Blandford" wrote in message
...
"Robin May" wrote in message
...
http://www.chargenomore.com/index.shtml

Should this be reported to someone?

The whole thing looks like a scam to me. The best way of fooling the
cameras - which I know but will not reveal, as I support the concept of
congestion charging - requires no power from the battery.

I can certainly think of a way that the cameras could be fooled using a
system that *does* require power - the details given on the web site
together which a "well, fancy that" discovery that I made when using a
CCD-based video camera give the game away. But I won't say any more than
that.

"Paul Weaver" wrote in message
news
On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 11:24:11 +0000, Martin Underwood wrote:
I can certainly think of a way that the cameras could be fooled using a
system that *does* require power - the details given on the web site
together which a "well, fancy that" discovery that I made when using a
CCD-based video camera give the game away. But I won't say any more than
that.

Infrared is usually picked up by cameras, so a few bright LED's will blind
them.

Easily stopped though with a decent filter.

Exactly - that's what I was thinking of. You only have to point a TV remote
at a still or video camera to see the LED glowing in the camera image. I
*presume* that speed and CC cameras include an IR filter - if not, it
wouldn't be hard to fit one!

So I presume that the system described on the web site uses a different
technique.

On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 11:24:11 +0000, Martin Underwood wrote:
I can certainly think of a way that the cameras could be fooled using a
system that *does* require power - the details given on the web site
together which a "well, fancy that" discovery that I made when using a
CCD-based video camera give the game away. But I won't say any more than
that.

Infrared is usually picked up by cameras, so a few bright LED's will blind
them.

Easilly stopped though with a decent filter

On Sat, 18 Oct 2003 10:23:50 +0000, Martin Underwood wrote:
By the way, what's the rule about the congestion charge? Are you only
charged as you enter the zone, or are you charged also for every day that
you're inside? Suppose you drive in (maybe even with your number plate
masked!) and then never leave again because you only use the car within the
zone - are you still charged?

Yes, there are fixed and mobile cameras in teh zone.

Mind you anyone driving in the zone is a stupid idiot anyway.

(Huge) wrote the following in:


Robin May writes:
http://www.chargenomore.com/index.shtml

Should this be reported to someone?

Skipping lightly over the fact that it has sod-all to do with you

Really? As someone who is in central London at least four days a week
(usually more) and who pays the congestion charge on the rare occasions
I drive into or through the congestion charging area, I think it has a
lot to do with me.

and that perhaps you should mind your own business,

I think it is my business.

it can't
possibly work, so I'd get back to interfering in someone elses
life, if I were you.

By living in a city people can't help but interfere with other people's
lives. I don't see what's wrong with wanting to prevent people from
having a negative effect on mine.

--
message by Robin May, consumer of liquids
Hello. I'm one of those "roaring fascists of the left wing".

Hacker is to computer as boy racer is to Ford Escort.

Robin May writes:

Should this be reported to someone?

Given that the domain has been registered with false details, I don't
expect they'll be around for long. I certainly wouldn't be giving my
credit card number to them.

On 18 Oct 2003 09:55:49 GMT, Robin May
wrote in :
http://www.chargenomore.com/index.shtml

Should this be reported to someone?

As a rip-off? Yes. Fraud squad?

--
Ivan Reid, Electronic & Computer Engineering, ___ CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University. Room 40-1-B12, CERN
KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".