'Community' speed traps

[Malh001]

What is the legal situation with community speed traps?

I was just driving home and noticed one on the road ahead,3 civilians in dayglo jackets pointing a camera at every car, etc. that went past.

As i cruised past at bang on 30 one of them adopted a 'dirty harry i've got a magnum' pose and pointed the gun at me, whilst another brought her clipboard up with pen poised ready to note down any minute deviation over the speed limit.

Assuming i was over, what happens next?

[biglepton]

The police write to you warning you about your alleged speeding. They are powerless to enforce the warning.

If they write to you, I suggest you write back and complain about them wasting your time and the tax-payers money and then make an official complaint about the do-gooders saying they were blocking the footpath and causing an obstruction.

[steelej]

So is there no need for them to form a prior opinion?

John.

[Devils Advocate]

They have!

You must be speeding and are therefore a killer

[streaky]

Malh001 said:

What is the legal situation with community speed traps?

I was just driving home and noticed one on the road ahead,3 civilians in dayglo jackets pointing a camera at every car, etc. that went past.

As i cruised past at bang on 30 one of them adopted a 'dirty harry i've got a magnum' pose and pointed the gun at me, whilst another brought her clipboard up with pen poised ready to note down any minute deviation over the speed limit.

Assuming i was over, what happens next?

Dial 999 (you can use your mobile 'phone whilst driving, this IS an emergency) and report a person acting suspiciously pointing what looked like a firearm in your direction. An ARV should be on the scene almost before you've hung up - Streaky

[chris1roll]

I went past one of these a while back, dead on 30mph, they pointed it at me whilst I was travelling towards them, gave up, and then I saw them target me again in my rear veiw mirror whilst I was travelling away from them. s


Edited twice for spelling cos I misread what I had posted and then edited it and made it wrong :box:

Edited by chris1roll on Saturday 14th July 23:43

Edited by chris1roll on Saturday 14th July 23:44

[flemke]

Doesn't the question of whether what these people do is distasteful depend on where they pitch up?

If they pitch up at the exit of a village, or anywhere else where the limit is too low for the circumstances, then fair enough - let us criticise them.

On the other hand, if they pitch up on a high street where the limit is 30, and the proper speed really is 30, or lower, then what's wrong with what they do?

For a genuine built-up area, if I had to choose between:
- speed bumps,
- Gatso,
- mobile van,
- pinch point,
- artificial 20 mph limit, or
- amateurs with a laser gun who have no enforcement power but who don't get in the way,

I know which I'd prefer.

[deeps]

flemke said:

Doesn't the question of whether what these people do is distasteful depend on where they pitch up?

If they pitch up at the exit of a village, or anywhere else where the limit is too low for the circumstances, then fair enough - let us criticise them.

On the other hand, if they pitch up on a high street where the limit is 30, and the proper speed really is 30, or lower, then what's wrong with what they do?

For a genuine built-up area, if I had to choose between:
- speed bumps,
- Gatso,
- mobile van,
- pinch point,
- artificial 20 mph limit, or
- amateurs with a laser gun who have no enforcement power but who don't get in the way,

I know which I'd prefer.

Yes you're right, but I have never seen them in a high street or double parked housing estate road where they may actually do some good, have you? Same can be said of SCP's, I've never seen a scamera van in any place other than where it can make easy money.

[flemke]

deeps said:

flemke said:

Doesn't the question of whether what these people do is distasteful depend on where they pitch up?

If they pitch up at the exit of a village, or anywhere else where the limit is too low for the circumstances, then fair enough - let us criticise them.

On the other hand, if they pitch up on a high street where the limit is 30, and the proper speed really is 30, or lower, then what's wrong with what they do?

For a genuine built-up area, if I had to choose between:
- speed bumps,
- Gatso,
- mobile van,
- pinch point,
- artificial 20 mph limit, or
- amateurs with a laser gun who have no enforcement power but who don't get in the way,

I know which I'd prefer.

Yes you're right, but I have never seen them in a high street or double parked housing estate road where they may actually do some good, have you? Same can be said of SCP's, I've never seen a scamera van in any place other than where it can make easy money.

I am familiar with two places where the community collective hang out: both are in the middle of built-up areas, one with a 40 limit, the other 30. That seemed entirely reasonable to me, although I accept that there are other set-ups that cannot be defended except if you're into people's being self-important jerks.

SCPs are an entirely other story. The vast majority of the times that I have seen them, they have not been in built-up areas, or areas that had any particular motoring risk - except to one's licence.

Recently I had a (randomly-initiated) look at the Aberdeenshire SCP camera sites. More than 70% of the sites are in NSLs:
http://www.nescamp.co.uk/sites.htm

Pathetic.

[WildCat]

streaky said:

Malh001 said:

What is the legal situation with community speed traps?

I was just driving home and noticed one on the road ahead,3 civilians in dayglo jackets pointing a camera at every car, etc. that went past.

As i cruised past at bang on 30 one of them adopted a 'dirty harry i've got a magnum' pose and pointed the gun at me, whilst another brought her clipboard up with pen poised ready to note down any minute deviation over the speed limit.

Assuming i was over, what happens next?

Dial 999 (you can use your mobile 'phone whilst driving, this IS an emergency) and report a person acting suspiciously pointing what looked like a firearm in your direction. An ARV should be on the scene almost before you've hung up - Streaky

But look at this photo. They allegedly enforce a 20 mph per the relatives who sent it to us.




But - there are speed humps They claim 2 out of 3 above this 20 mph

[s2art]

biglepton said:

The police write to you warning you about your alleged speeding. They are powerless to enforce the warning.

If they write to you, I suggest you write back and complain about them wasting your time and the tax-payers money and then make an official complaint about the do-gooders saying they were blocking the footpath and causing an obstruction.

You might actually try requesting the name of the person making the accusation. I would think its a potential libel.

[BertBert]

flemke said:

Doesn't the question of whether what these people do is distasteful depend on where they pitch up?

If they pitch up at the exit of a village, or anywhere else where the limit is too low for the circumstances, then fair enough - let us criticise them.

On the other hand, if they pitch up on a high street where the limit is 30, and the proper speed really is 30, or lower, then what's wrong with what they do?

For a genuine built-up area, if I had to choose between:
- speed bumps,
- Gatso,
- mobile van,
- pinch point,
- artificial 20 mph limit, or
- amateurs with a laser gun who have no enforcement power but who don't get in the way,

I know which I'd prefer.

I'm with you on this one. The only one I have seen is in Ripley in Surrey where there is a very narrow road with houses with front doors a few feet away from the kerb. It's a good place to be driving very slowly. Astounding the people who don't.

Bert

[anonymous-user]

I think people have a lot better things to do with their time than pratt about with imitation speed guns but come on all you cleverass ph's, when you have kid's etc apart from from moving house how do you stop complete a***holes racing around inappropriately, I alway's find kicking a football from behind a hedge or a handfull of gravel into the rear window work's wonders for a quick braking manouvere. :-)

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 15th July 21:47

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 15th July 21:47

[nelly1]

It's spreading....



Thing is - one of the sites they mention - North Stifford (no jokes!) - has speed humps like fg BMX ramps every 40 yards!

The residents are mostly coffin dodgers of the '40mph in a NSL & 40mph in a 30' brigade, who have nothing but time to write to the council complaining about the 'noisy cars' who are only noisy because they have no choice but to brake / accelerate repeatedly due to these stupid speed 'hillocks'.

[Mr2Mike]

I fully sympathise with people that have to suffer cars being driven at inappropriate speeds through built up areas, villages etc. However, the vigilante groups formed by local busy bodys with nothing else to do certainly don't get my sympathy or respect. They are also making themselves potnential targets for some of the less mentaly stable drivers out there.

[nelly1]

Mr2Mike said:

I fully sympathise with people that have to suffer cars being driven at inappropriate speeds through built up areas...

Couldn't agree more.

I live in a fairly busy 'cut-through' between two main roads, and some nights it's like Santa Pod down here!

A number of residents have complained, but apparently there have not been enough crashes or something - so nothing gets done!

But get a quiet village of oldies (several of whom are on the town guild) and away you go....

[GreenV8S]

flemke said:

On the other hand, if they pitch up on a high street where the limit is 30, and the proper speed really is 30, or lower, then what's wrong with what they do?

The last thing we need in a hazardous area is something distracting drivers from real hazards. I don't want drivers looking out for cameras and hair dryers and double checking their speedo when they drive past a school, I want them looking out for children.

[derestrictor]

However, more often than not these stalwarts in the art of socio-economic constriction, are precisely the sort who, had they been sauntering around Berlin in the late 30s would more than likely have been happy to donate their zeal to a spot of Christalnacht.

[rsv gone!]

derestrictor said:

However, more often than not these stalwarts in the art of socio-economic constriction, are precisely the sort who, had they been sauntering around Berlin in the late 30s would more than likely have been happy to donate their zeal to a spot of Christalnacht.

I was going to post that in other circumstances, they would be considered Fifth Columnists.

[MilnerR]

I lower my speed a lot in built up areas due to simple manners. My car is noisy enough as it is without me zooming past. Having said that I've been past a couple of these community speed idiots in Goostry, Chesire. On one occasion I saw them standing there and checked my speedo, it read a very sensible 25-30 mph (real speed closer to 23-26 mph). The busy bodies kept firing the radar gun, checking the speed and firing again. Eventually as I came level with them they started to gesticulate at me, so I slowed down even more and wound down my window. One of the old dears was shouting at me to slow down. I pulled over and asked them what speed I was doing (I was fuming), the reply I got was that the speed didn't matter, I just needed to learn to slow down. They reacted on my car rather than my driving!

As already mentioned, had I got a letter from them what where would I stand regarding redress. I was under the impression that malicious accusations of a criminal offence constituted defamation. Where do you stand in this instance?