Speed vans and bikes...
Discussion
Right, so I'm sure this has been done to death, but I keep finding conflicting info...
Let's assume someone was riding a bike down the motorway a bit too quickly and spotted a speed camera van parked on an upcoming bridge.
Am I right in thinking that all they need to prosecute is to write down the reg number after the bike has gone past?
Let's assume someone was riding a bike down the motorway a bit too quickly and spotted a speed camera van parked on an upcoming bridge.
Am I right in thinking that all they need to prosecute is to write down the reg number after the bike has gone past?
Farky said:
I believe they have camera recording equipment facing the other way. Could be wrong tho.....just what ive heard
If this is true, and it probably is because these fkers are sneaky, your best bet is to pop and big wheelie, get your plate pointing down at the road so they can't read it and hold it until you're out of view. Maybe.I doubt it.
They need an operator to point the camera in the right direction so unless they quickly spin round to grab the other camera it's highly unlikely. Also, where are they going to mount it?
They do have cameras on the outside but I think that's just CCTV to protect the operator from attacks.
They need an operator to point the camera in the right direction so unless they quickly spin round to grab the other camera it's highly unlikely. Also, where are they going to mount it?
They do have cameras on the outside but I think that's just CCTV to protect the operator from attacks.
mx5tom said:
Am I right in thinking that all they need to prosecute is to write down the reg number after the bike has gone past?
That is quite corre4ct but the newer vans do have multiple cameras on them.I did hear mouting your number plate on spring washers makes them unreadable once your moving but of course stops your plate from cracking so often, officer..
GTIR said:
I doubt it.
They need an operator to point the camera in the right direction so unless they quickly spin round to grab the other camera it's highly unlikely. Also, where are they going to mount it?
They do have cameras on the outside but I think that's just CCTV to protect the operator from attacks.
God I hope you're right.They need an operator to point the camera in the right direction so unless they quickly spin round to grab the other camera it's highly unlikely. Also, where are they going to mount it?
They do have cameras on the outside but I think that's just CCTV to protect the operator from attacks.
mx5tom said:
GTIR said:
I doubt it.
They need an operator to point the camera in the right direction so unless they quickly spin round to grab the other camera it's highly unlikely. Also, where are they going to mount it?
They do have cameras on the outside but I think that's just CCTV to protect the operator from attacks.
God I hope you're right.They need an operator to point the camera in the right direction so unless they quickly spin round to grab the other camera it's highly unlikely. Also, where are they going to mount it?
They do have cameras on the outside but I think that's just CCTV to protect the operator from attacks.
The cameras are used for the side if a motorbike pass on a "normal road". However, I am pretty confident in saying these cameras are no where near good enough to pick up a reg from a-high.
EDIT - In the van I was in, there was no camera in the middle of the van. OP, was the scam van sideways pointing down?
Long'un said:
I'm sorry to say they must have cameras to catch your number plate on the way past...
I was caught on my bike by a camera van, and I thought I might have got away with it with no front number plate. Apparently not!
+1I was caught on my bike by a camera van, and I thought I might have got away with it with no front number plate. Apparently not!
They have thought of the possibility that bikes may pass them, surprisingly.
podman said:
That is quite correct but the newer vans do have multiple cameras on them.
I did hear mounting your number plate on spring washers makes them unreadable once your moving but of course stops your plate from cracking so often, officer..
May also result in perverting the course of justice or something, there was a thread in SP&L last year sometime about it.I did hear mounting your number plate on spring washers makes them unreadable once your moving but of course stops your plate from cracking so often, officer..
Mr Trophy said:
EDIT - In the van I was in, there was no camera in the middle of the van. OP, was the scam van sideways pointing down?
The van was parked on a motorway bridge, with the side of the van facing the carriageway. For them to have gotten the reg, they would have had to have had a camera on the opposite side of the van to get me after I'd gone under the bridge...(Also, I had considered stopping on the hard shoulder under the bridge and waiting until they'd gone home... But figured it would cause more problems than it was worth.)
mx5tom said:
The van was parked on a motorway bridge, with the side of the van facing the carriageway. For them to have gotten the reg, they would have had to have had a camera on the opposite side of the van to get me after I'd gone under the bridge...
(Also, I had considered stopping on the hard shoulder under the bridge and waiting until they'd gone home... But figured it would cause more problems than it was worth.)
I think you should be OK, keep us posted.(Also, I had considered stopping on the hard shoulder under the bridge and waiting until they'd gone home... But figured it would cause more problems than it was worth.)
While I’m sure they can note down the reg number, I’m not sure that would be viable in the stated circumstance. On the bridge over the motorway the scam van is going to have to be parked on one side and will probably be up on the kerb. The operator is going to have to “clock” the OP then get safely out of the van, leg it across the road and record the bikes number in that split second it’s readable before the bike is too far down the road. Even on a very narrow road, that’s going to be difficult.
The only other way to do it would be to record everything on camera and “zoom” to the reg. number later when reviewing the footage.
However, I thought that in order to prosecute using camera footage, they had to have a continuous shot of the offending vehicle from the moment of the offence to the collection of the reg. number. I know some scam vans were fitted with three cameras specifically to catch bikes.
The first camera facing the on-coming traffic was used to show the vehicle speeding (with speed info etc. “in shot”), the second was a fish eye camera that showed the vehicle passing the van and the third picked up the rear of the vehicle. The idea was that the fish eye camera would pick up the offending vehicle before it left the view of the front facing camera, and then would still have a view of the vehicle until after it was picked up by the rear facing camera.
In the OPs situation, there is no way the van can keep a continuous shot of him as going under the bridge will block the view.
The only other way to do it would be to record everything on camera and “zoom” to the reg. number later when reviewing the footage.
However, I thought that in order to prosecute using camera footage, they had to have a continuous shot of the offending vehicle from the moment of the offence to the collection of the reg. number. I know some scam vans were fitted with three cameras specifically to catch bikes.
The first camera facing the on-coming traffic was used to show the vehicle speeding (with speed info etc. “in shot”), the second was a fish eye camera that showed the vehicle passing the van and the third picked up the rear of the vehicle. The idea was that the fish eye camera would pick up the offending vehicle before it left the view of the front facing camera, and then would still have a view of the vehicle until after it was picked up by the rear facing camera.
In the OPs situation, there is no way the van can keep a continuous shot of him as going under the bridge will block the view.
black-k1 said:
While IThe operator is going to have to “clock” the OP then get safely out of the van, leg it across the road and record the bikes number in that split second it’s readable before the bike is too far down the road.
So what you're saying is... Next time, don't slow down, speed up? mx5tom said:
black-k1 said:
While IThe operator is going to have to “clock” the OP then get safely out of the van, leg it across the road and record the bikes number in that split second it’s readable before the bike is too far down the road.
So what you're saying is... Next time, don't slow down, speed up? Years ago I was on a ZX9 following my mate on his Ducati. We were properly hoofing it around MK at 7am on a Sunday. We came down one of the many carriageways doing silly speeds and both straight lined the roundabout. My mate was in front - and to be honest I was struggling to keep up - and I heard him ease off over the other side of the roundabout then a split second later open it up again.
On the exit was a TrafPol just setting up his speed camera. As I went past he just pointed his finger at me and followed me as I went past.
Luckily nothing came of it but we did get out of dodge sharpish.
He still recalls the story at every meet up.
On the exit was a TrafPol just setting up his speed camera. As I went past he just pointed his finger at me and followed me as I went past.
Luckily nothing came of it but we did get out of dodge sharpish.
He still recalls the story at every meet up.
If there is a lorry around, simply nip in front of it and hide (speed match) until you're well clear of the bridge.
I have ridden under many camera vans on the Mway, sometimes a bit faster than I should have (if they aren't in the usual places), and never heard anything.
I have ridden under many camera vans on the Mway, sometimes a bit faster than I should have (if they aren't in the usual places), and never heard anything.
Edited by DrDoofenshmirtz on Monday 1st September 16:59
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