Sorry, another GATSO question
Sorry, another GATSO question
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Discussion

MRDave

Original Poster:

8 posts

260 months

Tuesday 1st June 2004
quotequote all
Hi, first visit to pistonheads, so scream at me if this question has been answered more than 100 times in previous posts (don't worry, I've just spent the last hour searching!).
Couple of days ago was flashed by a GATSO. However, I was just beyond the final markings and an oncoming car was just at the same point when the second flash happened. Don't know who it was, but logically it was me.
Thing is, in surprise (I drive the road day-in day-out) I checked speedo to see 32mph (30 zone - aren't I a good boy!?). Now judging by previous posts, my speedo should if anything be over, i.e. I was probably going less than 32mph. Either my speedo is way out (by about 15-20%) which I doubt, as never been flashed before, or the GATSO is out of calibration.
Out of principle (it's the principle of the thing...), there is no way I am going to get my license endorsed for such a p*ssing little discrepancy, so what should I do if I receive the little NIP in the next 2 weeks?
Do I go out and get my speedo calibrated, then submit a statement of my speed with copies of my calibration certificate, and the certificate of the calibration equipment, and insist I'm doing the rozzers a favour by highlighting faulty equipment?
Any quick summary would be greatly appreciated. Thanks loads, Dave.

deltaf

6,806 posts

275 months

Tuesday 1st June 2004
quotequote all
Driving towards or away from it?

MRDave

Original Poster:

8 posts

260 months

Tuesday 1st June 2004
quotequote all
I was driving away from it. Am I the lucky one?

deltaf

6,806 posts

275 months

Tuesday 1st June 2004
quotequote all
If you were beyond the lines then id say youre ok.....
More likely the other guy set it off...hell, it might have been me!
Usually they go off when youre just past the box for the first pic, a second pic taken with you beyond the last marker would indicate a very high speed.....i havent beaten one yet..
Think its just a case of waiting for a coupla weeks to see if anything comes of it.
Alternative is to go back to the scamera and have a look at it.
If you examine the upper left window and cant see a lens then youre ok, if you can see a lens, then...maybe...
hope this helps....

MRDave

Original Poster:

8 posts

260 months

Wednesday 2nd June 2004
quotequote all
Cheers, I'll just have to hope it's that. The guy coming the other way was honking it, and I saw him slam his brakes on immediately after the second flash.

BTW, Can GATSOs be bi-directional?

I've been in a car coming TOWARDS the camera about a month ago, which got flashed. As I was going away from the camera two days ago, maybe, just maybe...yeah, I'll just give it the two weeks and hope.

deeps

5,432 posts

263 months

Wednesday 2nd June 2004
quotequote all
It deffo sounds like the other guy, Gatso's will flash whichever way you pass them, how can they not?
I dont think they prosicute if you're going towards them tho, does anyone know why? And if thats correct does anyone know why scamera vans can?

deltaf

6,806 posts

275 months

Wednesday 2nd June 2004
quotequote all
Not type approved for frontal photography due to the flash going off in peoples faces, and also identification and infrigement of civil liberties issues i think.

WMHV70

13,253 posts

262 months

Wednesday 2nd June 2004
quotequote all
Fixed Gatsos usually only detect offences moving away from them. The housings are sometimes installed with "Dummy" units that flash in both directions, but do not have a camera in.

I can only comment on the camera vans I have operated, which use LTI20-20 speedscope, and video recorder/thermal still printer. These can detect offences in both directions, ie towards AND away from the van.

puggit

49,425 posts

270 months

Wednesday 2nd June 2004
quotequote all
You were doing 32 in a 30??!?! What do you think this is, a fun park?

My god - you could have started world war III at that rate of knots - what were you thinking!

In pennance, your task is to find a new supply of oil on the Moon - so that prices here drop

MRDave

Original Poster:

8 posts

260 months

Thursday 3rd June 2004
quotequote all
I'm already on my way, although at 29mph, it's gonna take a while...