Red Light Camera
The most common and probably most wide spread camera is the red light camera, which is a common sight at intersections in cities and large towns.
They consist of a camera on one pole and flash on another, except in Western Australia where the unit is a single yellow box on a pole. Speed sensors are usually Piezo strips embedded in the road.
In Victoria and Queensland Gatso cameras are used, although in Victoria and New South Wales they are being phased out in favour of newer combination speed/red light digital cameras which can monitor both red light and speed transgressions (see next section).
While these camera's are used, their accuracy in many situations cannot be guaranteed. The history of this equipment in Victoria created the precedence where millions of dollars was refunded and lost licenses had to be restored due to lack of maintenance, problems with sensors, and improper testing of equipment. This came about to contractors not being accredited by N.A.T.A. and financial difficulties, as well as in improper contracts in association with the Vicroads. More than 1 Billion dollars in arrears is currently uncollectable.
(Source: Wikipedia)