Speed camera warning notices?
Discussion
Got a letter from plod the other day, basically saying that I''d been caught by an auto camera device on the M4 exceeding the 70mph speed limit by 16mph.
I''m told that the police are now able to use two standard CCTV cameras to record any vehicles speed. The first camera takes a shot of your car and utilising OCR extracts your number plate details and the exact time you passed this camera, then many miles down the motorway (at a measured distance) another camera does the same, a simple calculation involving the distance travelled and the time taken to travel this distance gives you your average speed and if it exceeds the national speed limit, your nicked! So be warned.
Lets face it at some time in our lives most people exceed the speed limits particularly on motorways, fair enough impose and enforce 30 and 40mph speed limits in built up areas or known blackspots but to strictly enforce the 70mph speed limit on motorways is ridiculous, and surely just another form of taxation by stealth from the Government.
Its not so bad having to pay the fine, but 3 points on your licence too, now that''s taking it a bit far, get caught by four such devices and you could up loosing your licence on a single journey! Not to mention the additional financial burden that having points on your licence is going to put on your insurance premium when it comes up for renewal!
I remember reading somewhere that you have to have prior warning of speed cameras (by the placement of a warning sign xyz metres before such a speed trap) otherwise the prosecution could be thrown out of court. Is this true? Does anyone out there have any experience of this? I certainly saw no prior warning notice and the first I knew of it was when the letter dropped through my door.
quote:Mine was recorded as Place: M4 JNC 33 CAPEL LLANILLTERN TO JNC 34 MISKIN WESTBOUND So it seems on the face of it, that my speed was recorded between the two junctions. Going back to my question about warning signs, there must surely be some legislation requiring them, otherwise why would they go to the trouble and expense of erecting such notices before fixed GATSO installations? I would imagine, that without such signage they could potentially up their "catch" rate by at least 100%, or maybe they're giving us a sporting chance!
Where were you on the M4 when you got done?
Edited by Wicked on Tuesday 31st July 15:17 I think you'll find that the cameras mounted on blue poles are part of the Trafficmaster network and although they have the capability to calculate ones speed as indicated, we are told that they are there simply to monitor traffic flow.
This seems like a bit of overkill to me, using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. But maybe they have some alternative future role for them?
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