Police officers with handheld speed radar.

[MrSanti]

Driving on the M4 the other day I saw what appeared to be a police officer in an emergency services only layby pointing something (blue in colour, looked to my unknowledgeable eyes like a speed radar device) at oncoming traffic.

I was on the opposite side so got a relatively good look.

I hadn't seen any other police vehicles except for the one next to the copper. Just wondering what the craic is with this, does he jump in his car to catch up to the highest speeding drivers? Is there an inbuilt camera? Does he simply note your plate?

[Kevin-2g5x2]

If it's a hand held device such as a 'muniquip' it will record the speed digitially then you lock the speed on the screen for you to show the offender. If you didn't see another Police vehicle further on then unlikely doing a check more likely checking the equipment or acting as a deterrant, very unlikely to jump in the car and follow any offenders on the M4, they'd be way in front by the time he got moving!.

[LosingGrip]

MrSanti said:

Driving on the M4 the other day I saw what appeared to be a police officer in an emergency services only layby pointing something (blue in colour, looked to my unknowledgeable eyes like a speed radar device) at oncoming traffic.

I was on the opposite side so got a relatively good look.

I hadn't seen any other police vehicles except for the one next to the copper. Just wondering what the craic is with this, does he jump in his car to catch up to the highest speeding drivers? Is there an inbuilt camera? Does he simply note your plate?

Could radio it up for someone a head.
Could go after them to stop them themselves.
Could make a note of the VRM and issue a NIP when back at the station.

Second is most likely from my experience. I've never done three and only done one once or twice in 15 years.

[Patio]

Given the number of fixed speed cameras already littered across most motorways I'd have thought he'd have more luck on the A roads

[s p a c e m a n]

I've heard recently that there's now a handheld gun that takes images and video so no need for a second vehicle to pull you, think that it was the car throttle podcast which is based somewhere around Oxford area.

Edited by s p a c e m a n on Tuesday 14th January 05:21

[2020vision]

MrSanti said:

Driving on the M4 the other day I saw what appeared to be a police officer in an emergency services only layby pointing something (blue in colour, looked to my unknowledgeable eyes like a speed radar device) at oncoming traffic.

I was on the opposite side so got a relatively good look.

I hadn't seen any other police vehicles except for the one next to the copper. Just wondering what the craic is with this, does he jump in his car to catch up to the highest speeding drivers? Is there an inbuilt camera? Does he simply note your plate?

There you go…and it’s blue too.
https://lasertech.com/product/trucam-ii-speed-enfo...

[HantsRat]

1 - It'll be laser not radar.
2 - As suggested above, the officer could stop them at the time or note down VRN's and send an NIP. The latest handheld devices record video so can easily be processed back at the station just the same as mobile speed camera vans.

[Busa mav]

MrSanti said:

Driving on the M4 the other day I saw what appeared to be a police officer in an emergency services only layby pointing something (blue in colour, looked to my unknowledgeable eyes like a speed radar device) at oncoming traffic.

I see them often on the M4 Westbound just after jct 15