PSNI's new speed cameras can catch bikers on any road, at any time
The PSNI has begun trialling new TruCAM II laser speed cameras capable of operating almost anywhere, and they can issue tickets without ever pulling the vehicle over.
The days of spotting a parked speed camera van from half a mile away and rolling off the throttle in time could be coming to an end, at least if the PSNI's latest bit of enforcement kit proves successful.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has begun trialling three new TruCAM II laser speed cameras as part of a three-month pilot scheme with the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership, with the force warning motorists and bikers that the devices can operate "anywhere, on any road, at any time".
And if you are thinking, “hang on a minute, the police have had handheld devices for years?” They have – but not like these. The guns you would occasionally see being held by a copper at the roadside are basic speed guns, giving the officer the speed of the vehicle, which would then need to be pulled over to be dealt with. These new cameras are effectively a fully connected, autonomous speed ticket factory.
Unlike traditional camera vans, the handheld units are small enough to be carried in the boot of a patrol car and can be deployed on roads where a larger enforcement vehicle simply wouldn't fit. According to the PSNI, that includes rural roads and routes where there is a history of collisions or repeated complaints from local communities.
The TruCAM II combines a laser speed detection system with integrated video recording, allowing officers to gather enough evidence for prosecution without ever stopping the offending vehicle at the roadside. The manufacturer claims the system is capable of measuring speed at distances of up to around a kilometre in ideal conditions, although image capture distances are typically considerably shorter.
For riders, it is another sign that police forces are moving towards more flexible enforcement methods rather than relying solely on fixed cameras and highly visible vans. Earlier this year, Thames Valley Police launched its own dedicated Motorcycle Safety and Speed Enforcement Team, combining bike-focused policing with mobile camera operations in areas popular with riders.
The PSNI says the move is aimed squarely at reducing collisions and changing driver behaviour, pointing to the 36 people killed on Northern Ireland's roads so far in 2026 as justification for the tougher approach. Excessive speed remains one of the so-called "Fatal Five" causes of serious collisions identified by the force.
Whether riders see the new cameras as a welcome safety measure or simply another revenue raiser will depend largely on where they end up being deployed. What is clear, though, is that the old trick of keeping an eye out for a white van parked in a layby may no longer be enough.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
