what powers to locals have when holding speed gun?

what powers to locals have when holding speed gun?

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loafer123

15,404 posts

214 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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They have an active "Speedwatch" in our village.

The proportion of speeders is surprisingly high, and those over a certain level get a letter from the police. The highest level they have recorded was well over double the limit, so either 70ish in a 30 or 90ish in a 40, depending on the bit of road they were on.

They are trying to get the council to put in traffic calming (A road, so probably just road markings).

Personally, I think their work is admirable - I drive briskly where appropriate, but at or below the limit in urban areas. The knobs who do 45mph everywhere are the ones who need sorting out, IMHO.

Variomatic

2,392 posts

160 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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Breadvan72 said:
Worst "I've got an M3" thread in EVAH.
I refer my learned friend to this:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php...

Note that, because of the OP on that forum's habit of liberally sprinkling "M3" through his replies to all threads, the thread I linked was not only a flagrant "I've gotta" but was also entirely redundant because the entire site already knew he had one. In fact, he hijacked one thread to explain how it should be illegal for anyone in a lesser car than a 6 cyl BMW to overtake!

Surely a worse crime than the Op here?


Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

185 months

Tuesday 16th September 2014
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muzza289 said:
chuckled about the descriptions of what they generally look like by one poster - he is spot on with descriptions 2 and 3!
Old woman that looks like a librarian is rarer, and is never allowed to hold the speed gun.

mikeveal

4,558 posts

249 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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They are empowered with ego and the a sense of self righteousness. Also they are granted the power to sleep soundly at night smug in the knowledge that fluffy bunnies have been saved and that trees have been justly sacrificed to send nasty speeding drivers a letter. A letter that will chastise the driver for their wanton indiscretions and instantly convert that driver to the selfless ways of 20mph mono speeding.

Why, that driver will doubtless buy a flat cap the very day after receiving the letter and will restrict their motorised travel to the Sabbath. Upon the Sabbath the newly converted driver will joyfully embark on a game of "leader of the longest caravan", where they attempt to collect the longest stream of vehicles in their wake.

These enforcers are granted the mighty power of "not in my village" as confirmed by the holy fluorescent jacket of busybody.


Of course you might alternatively consider that from the Police's perspective handing out a flourry jacket and a speed gun is a good way of getting octogenarian timewasters off your back. You may consider that since these speed gun wielding NIMBYs have no authority what so ever that any letter sent as a result of their endeavours has fewer teeth than the gun weilder and may be safely ignored (or even treated as a badge of honour). But you would be sorely missing the point, what, I implore you, about the fluffy bunnies?

These are the powers of the gun toting speed enforcing bourgeois. Mess with them at your peril.

Edited by mikeveal on Wednesday 17th September 09:49

Raman Kandola

221 posts

122 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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bga said:
rek said:
In Sandhurst I saw a group of people with a camera and an electronic smiley/frowny face that changed according to the speed people were doing, Someone at work got a letter about speeding but I think that was all, no fine etc...
That's all that happens around here (Mid-Sussex). A bit of a grumpy letter that basically says we could tell you off if you want to etc.
I saw one of these about two months ago, Theres a 50mph where the speed limit suddenly drops to 30 at the end of the bend. There was two people stood there with electronic smiley device which presented sad smiley when i went past at 40. Funnily enough the very next week the speed limit was changed from 30 to 40! So probably trying to get some evidence to stop the increase

jesta1865

3,448 posts

208 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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rscott said:
Devil2575 said:
Lurking Lawyer said:
(That said, I'm not quite sure why there were standing where they were - it was on the outgoing edge of a small built-up area with a 30 limit, just before the limit goes back to NSL. They were pointing the gun at traffic about to leave the built up area rather than just about to enter it. Go figure....)
That's an easy one to answer.

They have decided in advance that there is a problem with people speeding so have stood at the point where they feel they are best placed to prove themselves right.

A case of knowing the answer and designing a test to give the desired result.
Not the case in Essex. Community Speedwatch can only operate in the exact location (and direction!) approved by the police. Elf & Safety..
not in the one my old man's in, they point it both ways.

yes it's out there my dad is a member of the traffic taliban, oh the shame!

jesta1865

3,448 posts

208 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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Johnnytheboy said:
I've been studying this for a while and come to the conclusion that there are only three templates for community speed watch volunteers:

1. Old woman that looks like a librarian
2. Old man, a bit on the plump side with full white beard
3. Old man who looks somewhat cadaverous and has no beard

I assume they are cloned somewhere.
worryingly my dad doesn't fit that list, maybe he's really undercover and i don't have to be ashamed of him anymore smile

oh no i may have just blown his cover, argh dad i'm sorry! smile

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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Most of the people they 'catch' live in the same village or the next one down the road.

boobles

15,241 posts

214 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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Approach them & ask them what they are doing. If they say monitoring people's speed etc kindly remind that impersonating a police officer is a criminal offence.

jesta1865

3,448 posts

208 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
boobles said:
Approach them & ask them what they are doing. If they say monitoring people's speed etc kindly remind that impersonating a police officer is a criminal offence.
sorry fella all their jackets and things say speedwatch, never mention plod.

DoubleSix

11,691 posts

175 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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mikeveal said:
.....as confirmed by the holy fluorescent jacket of busybody.
Didn't think I would laugh because I'm miserable. But the bit above got me...

boobles

15,241 posts

214 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
jesta1865 said:
sorry fella all their jackets and things say speedwatch, never mention plod.
But can you clearly see that whilst approaching them in the car?

Regardless, they have zero power other than reporting motorists to the police who are more likely to ignore them anyway. If that stretch of road was that important to the police they would stand there with speed guns & make lots of money.

Edited by boobles on Wednesday 17th September 12:06

Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

185 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
mikeveal said:
You may consider that since these speed gun wielding NIMBYs have no authority what so ever that any letter sent as a result of their endeavours has fewer teeth than the gun weilder and may be safely ignored (or even treated as a badge of honour).
rofl

I've been musing on what letter I will send back if I ever get one of these.

I was thinking of getting my OH to sign a letter in the reply-to-fanmail mould, saying "Johnnytheboy regrets that he can't answer your letter personally, but hopes you'll appreciate this signed photo".

Haven't decided what picture to send them.

jesta1865

3,448 posts

208 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
boobles said:
jesta1865 said:
sorry fella all their jackets and things say speedwatch, never mention plod.
But can you clearly see that whilst approaching them in the car?
if you can't then you shouldn't be driving, they stick out like a sore thumb.

i did try and suggest to my dad that they jump out on people, he said no, but did laugh at the recreation of the spanish inquisition sketch on his drive smile

Jon1967x

7,175 posts

123 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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boobles said:
jesta1865 said:
sorry fella all their jackets and things say speedwatch, never mention plod.
But can you clearly see that whilst approaching them in the car?
Come on, get real... impersonating a copper because they have a yellow jacket and holding something in the air... The zimmer frame they are leaning against gives it away anyway.

If you are not speeding you have nothing to worry about either way

boobles

15,241 posts

214 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
Jon1967x said:
Come on, get real... impersonating a copper because they have a yellow jacket and holding something in the air... The zimmer frame they are leaning against gives it away anyway.

If you are not speeding you have nothing to worry about either way
Hey I don't give a st if they stand there or not, just asking the question thats all.

Knickers/twist.

KarlMac

4,457 posts

140 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
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Johnnytheboy said:
rofl

I've been musing on what letter I will send back if I ever get one of these.

I was thinking of getting my OH to sign a letter in the reply-to-fanmail mould, saying "Johnnytheboy regrets that he can't answer your letter personally, but hopes you'll appreciate this signed photo".

Haven't decided what picture to send them.
Has to be a picture of you doing a massive burnout, shirley?

TheAllSeeingPie

865 posts

134 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
Personally I'd prefer a strongly worded letter caused by some giffers than a SAC or 3 points. As others have said, if you're not speeding then what does it matter? Anyway old people need to get some fresh air and exercise to stop being a burden on the NHS so standing outside trying to catch speeders seems like quite a positive outcome on many levels.

muzza289

Original Poster:

169 posts

219 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
Breadvan72 said:
Worst "I've got an M3" thread in EVAH.
damn....rumbled again biggrin


TheAllSeeingPie said:
............. As others have said, if you're not speeding then what does it matter? Anyway old people need to get some fresh air and exercise to stop being a burden on the NHS so standing outside trying to catch speeders seems like quite a positive outcome on many levels.
+1

OK - have got my answers - many thanks to all - perhaps we could end the topic/thread - before everyone goes off into how much they hate speeders/30mph limits/small fluffy bunnies/old people/speed cameras etc - depending on which side of the argument you are on

Devil2575

13,400 posts

187 months

Wednesday 17th September 2014
quotequote all
Variomatic said:
Breadvan72 said:
Worst "I've got an M3" thread in EVAH.
I refer my learned friend to this:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php...

Note that, because of the OP on that forum's habit of liberally sprinkling "M3" through his replies to all threads, the thread I linked was not only a flagrant "I've gotta" but was also entirely redundant because the entire site already knew he had one. In fact, he hijacked one thread to explain how it should be illegal for anyone in a lesser car than a 6 cyl BMW to overtake!

Surely a worse crime than the Op here?
Wow, that guy is epic laugh