mobile speed camera vans! how do they work
Discussion
my question is when you see those mobile speed camera vans either on a bridge above the motorway or at the side how exactly do they work.
this morning on the A23 i passed 2 the first was on a bridge overhead i saw it quite early but was doing around 80 when i saw it i naturally slowed down but i have no idea at what kind of range they measure your speed.
i also passed another slightly further on at the side and wondered if maybe it took an average. anyone that knows anything about these feel free to inform me.
this morning on the A23 i passed 2 the first was on a bridge overhead i saw it quite early but was doing around 80 when i saw it i naturally slowed down but i have no idea at what kind of range they measure your speed.
i also passed another slightly further on at the side and wondered if maybe it took an average. anyone that knows anything about these feel free to inform me.
The way they are supposed to work is the police officer manning the van is supposed to form an opinion of your speed and if he/she thinks it is in excess of the limit they then ping you with the laser speed gun.
In reality the person(s) manning the van (may or may not be a police officer) will ping everybody regardless, if enough over the limit then expect a NIP in the post.
Laser speed detection equipment operatable at long range. If you were going 80 according to the speedo then psobably OK as this is likely to be a real 75ish. If multiple vans then possible an ANPR operation not speeding.
In reality the person(s) manning the van (may or may not be a police officer) will ping everybody regardless, if enough over the limit then expect a NIP in the post.
Laser speed detection equipment operatable at long range. If you were going 80 according to the speedo then psobably OK as this is likely to be a real 75ish. If multiple vans then possible an ANPR operation not speeding.
They can work up to a km but are usually used at shorter range.
The camera attached is a video camera, so what they'll sometimes do, which is dubious, is record your speed at long distance then use a later frame to identify your vehicle.
If you were at indicated 80 then you should be OK as the speedo over-reads. I got done by one while bowling along on a summer's evening and didn't notice my indicated speed, but the ticket said 85. Camera was "hidden" off to the side of a bridge and impossible to see until close up due to the setting sun behind the operator.
The camera attached is a video camera, so what they'll sometimes do, which is dubious, is record your speed at long distance then use a later frame to identify your vehicle.
If you were at indicated 80 then you should be OK as the speedo over-reads. I got done by one while bowling along on a summer's evening and didn't notice my indicated speed, but the ticket said 85. Camera was "hidden" off to the side of a bridge and impossible to see until close up due to the setting sun behind the operator.
Having seen a few of the pictures they take they are so poor I wondered whether anyone had challenged them as some I've seen you couldn't tell what model of car it was .
Only the plate was clear which is hardly "beyond all reasonable doubt" as anyone can buy any plate they like off the internet.
Only the plate was clear which is hardly "beyond all reasonable doubt" as anyone can buy any plate they like off the internet.
redgriff500 said:
Having seen a few of the pictures they take they are so poor I wondered whether anyone had challenged them as some I've seen you couldn't tell what model of car it was .
Only the plate was clear which is hardly "beyond all reasonable doubt" as anyone can buy any plate they like off the internet.
I would take great care in using that approach.Only the plate was clear which is hardly "beyond all reasonable doubt" as anyone can buy any plate they like off the internet.
I suspect a few of the 'attending officers' could possibly advise us as to the potential costs involved in that sort of argument, should the prosecution choose to trundle in a few expert witnesses, and then you should lose the case.
When you are offered 3 fixed points and a £60 fine, that is the best 'offer' you are ever likely to get. Think carefully before you decide you want to 'bargain' a 'better deal'.
Edit;
BTW redgriff500, I love the comments on your ex-Griff.
Owning one of 'the other' 500s, I can only partially sympathise.
Mine is and always has been quite reliable
Edited by Goaty Bill on Monday 7th November 12:30
liamsxi said:
i also passed another slightly further on at the side and wondered if maybe it took an average. anyone that knows anything about these feel free to inform me.
They do this near me, sometimes. One van, then a other mile or so afterwards, a second van.They want to catch those who think 'ha! it must be safe to boot it now'.
liamsxi said:
my question is when you see those mobile speed camera vans either on a bridge above the motorway or at the side how exactly do they work.
I think via a combination of three foot pedals. One makes the vehicle go, one makes it stop, the third de-couples the transmission allowing the user to change gear. Turning is achieved by a wheel that dictates the angle of the front wheels, and the whole thing is powered by an internal combustion engine.HTH
14-7 said:
Kevin VRs said:
In reality the person(s) manning the van (may or may not be a police officer) will ping everybody regardless, if enough over the limit then expect a NIP in the post.
Now that is from someone with an informed opinion 
.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10327666
BBC News said:
Ryder Cup golf captain Colin Montgomerie has won his driving licence back after a judge ruled that a laser gun reading was invalid.
A court heard Cumbria Police had instructed a civilian worker to target all motorists regardless of whether they were breaking the speed limit.
The judge went on to explain:A court heard Cumbria Police had instructed a civilian worker to target all motorists regardless of whether they were breaking the speed limit.
BBC News said:
The conviction was overturned on Tuesday by Judge Peter Hughes QC at Carlisle Crown Court.
Judge Hughes pointed out that the civilian employee was wrongly targeting motorists at random, including those driving only at 10mph, and he had even trained his gun on pedestrians and joggers
This operator was trained by our very own Pitsmansboots/Puff the Magic... - or whatever he is calling himself this week, during his time as manager of the Cumbria Safety Camera Partnership!Judge Hughes pointed out that the civilian employee was wrongly targeting motorists at random, including those driving only at 10mph, and he had even trained his gun on pedestrians and joggers
Mill Wheel said:
This operator was trained by our very own Pitsmansboots/Puff the Magic... - or whatever he is calling himself this week, during his time as manager of the Cumbria Safety Camera Partnership!
What's happened to the old submariner -has some kind person depth charged him in his bath ,or will he resurface somewhere else ?Or has he had a gatso flash of inspiration (as in the bible) an realised that he's had his trousers on the wrong end an now needs to go to his Naval tailors for as smaller cap,and is doing penance by keeping stum .
In general by the time you have seen the van it's too late - they will have pinged you.
As noted above the second van is almost certainly there to catch people who see the first van, brake, think "phew, that was close", then accelerate back up to warp 6 thinking they are now in the clear.
As noted above the second van is almost certainly there to catch people who see the first van, brake, think "phew, that was close", then accelerate back up to warp 6 thinking they are now in the clear.
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
I think via a combination of three foot pedals. One makes the vehicle go, one makes it stop, the third de-couples the transmission allowing the user to change gear. Turning is achieved by a wheel that dictates the angle of the front wheels, and the whole thing is powered by an internal combustion engine.
HTH
this is the post of a sad lonely manHTH
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff