Why Are These Car-Mounted Laser Cameras Roaming Beirut?

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Over the past 3 weeks, I have encountered cars with roof-mounted cameras like the one above three times around Beirut, twice in Bachoura and once in Tarik El Jadida.

At first I thought they were some new radar guns used by the ISF but then I got a closer look and noticed their brand (Yaan), so I googled it and figured they’re in fact laser high speed cameras.

I have absolutely no idea why these cars are roaming the streets of Beirut, and I’m honestly quite surprised no one made a fuss about it yet especially that it is forbidden to take photos around certain areas in the city. A friend suggested they might be collecting images for Google Street Views, but I doubt it since Google usually uses 360° camera like this one.

If you have any information about these cameras please do share it in the comments.

Comments

8 responses to “Why Are These Car-Mounted Laser Cameras Roaming Beirut?”

March 3, 2017

Menaribo

Spotted one on jounieh roundabout. Car plate from tripoli

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March 5, 2017

RA

These are high speed car plate readers. Canadian police cars have them. They can scan a huge amount of cars that pass by them and if any are stolen or have invalid license plates, the officers are alerted right away. Since stolen cars are always used in terror acts, this is the best way to find them.

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1. March 7, 2017
  
  Mahmoud
  
  but civilian license plat
  
  Reply
March 11, 2017

Google Street View Cars in #Beirut? | Blog Baladi

[…] shared few days ago a picture of a car with roof-mounted cameras roaming around Beirut. I’ve been […]

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March 11, 2017

jim

ummm, if somebody plucks off the license plate (like 20% of the great nation), what happens? they stop them then get told to go away by somebody’s wasta? 10/10 amazing stuff.

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March 22, 2017

Needz

Just spotted one infront of Barbar Speers.

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August 1, 2017

Passerby

These cars and cameras belong to the Ma3loumet.
I also thought they were used for Google Street View till I stopped by one and asked driver and his partner myself.

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September 19, 2018

Kris

Also saw one on jounieh highway wonder what is that

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