Somewhat perplexed
Discussion
I was driving up from Newcastle to Edinburgh this evening along the Coldstream road, & experienced something that bothers me somewhat.
As I rounded a corner before a village, I noticed a police van parked in full view about 1/2 a mile away. With this in mind I took *extra* care to ensure my speed was at 30MPH before the village 30 signs. Then as I drove along the 30 zone, the bend in the road revealed the expected police officer with hair-dryer. (I check speed again - still 30) At this point he was pointing it in the other direction at a car coming the other way. A few seconds later he points it at me (I check speedo - still 30)
As I near the officer, he signals me to pull over, which I do, and wind down the window - he gives me the usual question - what is the speed in this area? 30 I tell him, which is what I was doing....
He then shows me the back of his gun, which is displaying a LED readout of 37MPH, and says words to the effect of "well that's a machine & that's what it says"
I then tell him that in my view I was definately driving 30MPH, and that I am surprised to see 37 on his gun. He then tells me do drive safely & sends me on my way....All's well that ends well, you might say, but I am a bit unsettled by it all.
So here's the question: how many speeds can these things store? (Dunno whether it was radar or laser)
I am 100% sure that I was driving at 30MPH by my speedo whilst in the 30 zone. I am also confident that my speedo overreads by about 10% according to one of these "Flash your speed" signs that I drove through earlier on in the same journey.
The other thing (that I obviously didn't mention at the time) is that my detector didn't bleep at all, so I have a severe doubt in my mind as to whether he actually got a reading from me at all (my detector bleated at various earlier speed traps in the day, so I am confident that it works)
Could this guy just be using this as an excuse to pull over someone in a sportscar, just to give me the once-over & send me on my way?
As I rounded a corner before a village, I noticed a police van parked in full view about 1/2 a mile away. With this in mind I took *extra* care to ensure my speed was at 30MPH before the village 30 signs. Then as I drove along the 30 zone, the bend in the road revealed the expected police officer with hair-dryer. (I check speed again - still 30) At this point he was pointing it in the other direction at a car coming the other way. A few seconds later he points it at me (I check speedo - still 30)
As I near the officer, he signals me to pull over, which I do, and wind down the window - he gives me the usual question - what is the speed in this area? 30 I tell him, which is what I was doing....
He then shows me the back of his gun, which is displaying a LED readout of 37MPH, and says words to the effect of "well that's a machine & that's what it says"
I then tell him that in my view I was definately driving 30MPH, and that I am surprised to see 37 on his gun. He then tells me do drive safely & sends me on my way....All's well that ends well, you might say, but I am a bit unsettled by it all.
So here's the question: how many speeds can these things store? (Dunno whether it was radar or laser)
I am 100% sure that I was driving at 30MPH by my speedo whilst in the 30 zone. I am also confident that my speedo overreads by about 10% according to one of these "Flash your speed" signs that I drove through earlier on in the same journey.
The other thing (that I obviously didn't mention at the time) is that my detector didn't bleep at all, so I have a severe doubt in my mind as to whether he actually got a reading from me at all (my detector bleated at various earlier speed traps in the day, so I am confident that it works)
Could this guy just be using this as an excuse to pull over someone in a sportscar, just to give me the once-over & send me on my way?
If you were really doing 37mph then we would expect that you would have been prosecuted there and then. It's way above the 31mph threshold now seemingly routinely applied.
Therefore it suggests that you weren't. Is it possible that the speed related to the previous car he was pointing at, but that the sound of a nasty powerful sports car somehow distracted him?
But why would he use someone else's speed against you? To frighten you, perhaps? I guess that the speed gun he was using did not have picture evidence on it, or a timestamp, or anything else that could be used to identify the actual culprit? So what's to stop any such speed trap "evidence" being used to prosecute anyone who the operator happens NOT to fancy?
Therefore it suggests that you weren't. Is it possible that the speed related to the previous car he was pointing at, but that the sound of a nasty powerful sports car somehow distracted him?
But why would he use someone else's speed against you? To frighten you, perhaps? I guess that the speed gun he was using did not have picture evidence on it, or a timestamp, or anything else that could be used to identify the actual culprit? So what's to stop any such speed trap "evidence" being used to prosecute anyone who the operator happens NOT to fancy?
Never ever admit to any speed on site, make a note of the time, distance etc recorded on the device. 
I was curious once:
When eventually stopped by
on the A303, yes I had previously been going very fast indeed. But the place where they had caught me up & said they'd got me on vascar within proper visible range Ie less than a mile away I was not doing the speed listed on said device. I think the car was video equipped too & I did ask ask if I could see myself on TV they declined & said just take the SP60 & £60 fine.
In the light of the speed I had been doing (3.75 numpty units!)I did get off rather lightly.
It did later occur to me I may well have been to able to get off if the video evidence was seen by Mr
.
But was it worth the risk?.............
No, not when they said it took 15 miles to catch up with me
I now am a little more cautious on the UK's autobahnesque roads after my Eurolander autobahn jaunts
>> Edited by cptsideways on Tuesday 8th June 10:01
>> Edited by cptsideways on Tuesday 8th June 10:04
I was curious once:
When eventually stopped by
on the A303, yes I had previously been going very fast indeed. But the place where they had caught me up & said they'd got me on vascar within proper visible range Ie less than a mile away I was not doing the speed listed on said device. I think the car was video equipped too & I did ask ask if I could see myself on TV they declined & said just take the SP60 & £60 fine. In the light of the speed I had been doing (3.75 numpty units!)I did get off rather lightly.
It did later occur to me I may well have been to able to get off if the video evidence was seen by Mr
. But was it worth the risk?.............
No, not when they said it took 15 miles to catch up with me
I now am a little more cautious on the UK's autobahnesque roads after my Eurolander autobahn jaunts
>> Edited by cptsideways on Tuesday 8th June 10:01
>> Edited by cptsideways on Tuesday 8th June 10:04
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