M5 Speed camera on bridge. Have I been caught?

[thehype]

Hi all - I'm new to these forums.

Just wondering if I could get the opinions of people on here as to whether or not I've been caught speeding. Driving southbound on the M5 on friday night I passed under a bridge (about 15 miles outside of Bristol) and only noticed at the last minute there was a police van with side windows looking down on the carriageway - almost definitely a speed camera but didn't have time to really look. I reckon my speedo must have been measuring just over 80 (possibly 82-83), no more. Does anyone know what sort of speed these mobile cameras are likely to be set to? (I've had a look through the survey results on this site but nothing crops up.) Also, If my speedo reads 83 was I actually going a bit slower? Finally I'm sure this is a stupid question - do these sort of cameras still operate as well in the dark?

I much appreciate any thoughts on this and I'd prefer people to be honest - it's just I've already got 6 points and could really do without any more!!!

Thanks in advance for any comments!

[SS2.]

Modern speedos have to display actual speed +0% to -10%. If 83 was displayed then you would have been travelling anywhere between 75 & 83.

The ACPO 'guidelines' suggest a prosecution threshold of speed + 10% +2mph - 79 on a motorway.

If the car is registered to you then it looks like you have an uncomfortable 15 day wait to find out whether you are 'safe' or not. This could be longer if the car is not registered to you or if ownership has changed recently.

[J500ANT]

Exactly where were you? (as a warning to others)

[thehype]

I'm afraid I can't be anymore precise than southbound, about 15 miles out of Bristol - and it was on a bridge over the carriageway. I guess it would be Avon & Somerset Police but I can't find a list of sites where they're currently using camera's on their website.

[KITT]

As far as I'm aware they're not authorised to use Talivans on the M5 and there's no mention of them on their website (www.safecam.org.uk ). I know that Wiltshire opperate them on the M4 though. There are however major roadworks at the moment between junctions 19 and 20 which are enfored with those Monitron scameras which are just small Gatsos.

I would imagine it was an ANPR van catching tax dodgers

(edit to fix the link)

>> Edited by KITT on Monday 28th November 10:06

[thehype]

Thanks for that Kitt - at least that's given me a glimmer of hope. I found the 'safecam.org.uk' site just after I posted my last message and like you say I couldn't find any reference to camera's being used on that part of the M5. Would they using tax dodger cameras that late at night (it was about 8pm)? As far as i can remember it was a small van (possibly a Citroen) and it clearly had side windows because I could see the interior was lit. Not much I can do now but wait the 15 days and hope...

[KITT]

I've seen a Citroen ANPR van in Bristol once, so perhaps it was that one. It's run by the DVLA (or at least that's what was written on the side). The scamera pratnership use Galaxies for their evil deeds.

[ledfoot]

I have often seen plod on bridges of M5 going south towards Bristol, so tend to slow down when aproaching the bridges and keep eyes peeled. Not seen any talivans though, and suspect probably ANPR van, which I have seen before on the M5.

>> Edited by ledfoot on Monday 28th November 22:57

[deeps]

15 miles South of Bristol would put you between Clevedon and Weston juctions. (unless you mean 15 miles North of Bristol but on the Southbound carriageway?)

Did you go through the conta flow, then see the van after that?

If yes, I do that stretch every day and alot of evenings and have never seen a plod or a scamera van operating on those bridges.
Did you see any reflective markings on the van? Could it have been one of those traffic monitoring people, they are there alot. Do the ANPR people work at night? I've never seen it.

[thehype]

Yeah sorry, I meant I was heading southwards, so I was 15 miles or so north of Bristol. I know the contra flow you're referring to, it's littered with those 'mini' Gatsos and the speed limit's either 40 or 50 depending on which lane your in.

I'm hoping and praying it was just a tax or surveillance camera - come to think of it I didn't see any markings on it - but then I did only get a brief glimpse (maybe if I'd been going slower I might have seen it clearer )

Anyway, if 15 days is how long it takes, 4 down, 11 to go.

Cheers everyone.