Mobile Speed Awareness Sign Falmouth ME YOU ARE BEING WATCHED (Portland: inspection, yard)

[Captain Jonathan Archer]

Friendly reminder to all commuters on the heavily travelled Route 100 corridor that connects the Auburn/Gray area to Portland.

In West Falmouth, along Route 100 also known as Gray Road, everyone is familiar with the wide open portion of road passing the hay fields and powerlines while heading southbound (toward Portland). This is a 45mph zone, but the entire stretch is a slight downslope so most people creep to around 50ish. Just after passing the Red Barn on the right (some older locals may remember it as the former Smith Farm), you round a gentle right hand curve that is a steeper downslope and also blind.

Many have likely noticed that Falmouth Police have placed a mobile solar powered LED Speed Advisory sign at the exit of the curve right as the road straightens and flattens. In fact as of the date of this post, it has been in this location for almost three full weeks, as if Falmouth PD may have forgotten about it. What occasional travelers or regular travelers of this route may not realize is that the sign that steps down the speed limit from 45mph to 35mph (in maine you must be doing the speed of the limit sign WHEN you reach it) is actually located roughly half way around that curve, and is obscured by bushes now that it is spring. By the time you have rounded the curve, are on the downslope and the LED sign is showing you your speed, you have already been in the 35mph zone for almost 100 yards. In fact, standing in the middle of the roadway (safely on an early weekend morning with almost no traffic) and 30 feet back from the 35mph sign, from a drivers perspective, the LED Advisory sign is no where in sight. I had to walk forward until I was exactly beside the 35mph sign and stand safely next to the yellow line to even get both the speed limit sign and the LED Advisory sign in the same wide angle photograph.

Today this opportunity of light traffic in the weekend morning giving me the chance to step out of my vehicle safely and take a closer look at the mobile enforcement sign revealed quite a surprise. Benign as it apears, just over half way up the panel and slightly to the right of center, there is a PINHOLE CAMERA behind a clear section of plexiglass, that is clearly attached to a circuit board. There does not appear to be any obvious infared light emitter anywhee on the sign, so the camera itself must have the ability built in.

The way it is placed, at the bottom of the slope, and aimed to bring your vehicle in frame as you round the curve and come down the sharper downslope, combined with the height of the camera in the sign, means it can not only see the entire front of your vehicle, but easily see into the front seat area to see your face, clothing, front passenger, whether you are wearing your seat belt, and if you are holding anything in your hand at or above dash level such as a phone.

While I have not heard or read of anyone being cited by remote, everyone should be aware of where in the curve the speed limit change actually occurs, and more importantly, that when you come into view of this mobile sign, YOU ARE BEING WATCHED.

Inspection of the sides and rear of the sign reveal no imaging equipment that would keep watching after you have passed the sign. Good resolution digital photos are available upon request.

Thanks and drive safe!

[EastMark]

If true, The infamous ACLU might actually do something worthy and stop this practice in relation to traffic/speeding at least. Unnecessary and overkill.

Time and money is much better spent on prescription druggers, thieves, and pedophiles.......IF its true.