Am I in trouble and if so how much???
Discussion
Driving up the A3 Kingston Bypass last night at about midnight in the 50mph limit noticed a plod on the side of the road holding a hair dryer type contraption that looked suspiciously like some form of speed camera. I was well over the speed limit (somewhere between 70 and 75mph) and I'm pretty certain he pinged me.
My confusion comes in that he was in a position where it would have been hard to have chased me (there was a junction less than a mile from his point) and I wasn't subsequently flagged down. Do the police now have the capability to take a roadside reading and then fire a speeding submission at you through the post?
If they do given the speed I was going franly how much sh*t am I in....?
My confusion comes in that he was in a position where it would have been hard to have chased me (there was a junction less than a mile from his point) and I wasn't subsequently flagged down. Do the police now have the capability to take a roadside reading and then fire a speeding submission at you through the post?
If they do given the speed I was going franly how much sh*t am I in....?
[quote=George 500]Driving up the A3 Kingston Bypass last night at about midnight in the 50mph limit noticed ....
midnight...?
Wasn't it dark? From memory, thought the mobile / hand held cameras didnt work in the dark?
Hence the need for a flash from a GATSO...?
Or am i talking complete b*ll*cks?
midnight...?
Wasn't it dark? From memory, thought the mobile / hand held cameras didnt work in the dark?
Hence the need for a flash from a GATSO...?
Or am i talking complete b*ll*cks?
But newer cameras can read in the dark without flshing can't they? The whole exercise seemed a little odd. If he'd come roaring after me or some other fella had waved me down I might be able to understand but this just seems sinister and I was wondering if they've got some new kind of weapon to subjugate us with
The Tuscan Rat said:
The guys were looking for much faster trust me, and they got them. Those that were seen at speed were dealt with there and then.
Just a quick Q: is 70-75 not being "seen at speed" in a 50 limit zone..?
In similar circumstances as to road traffic, weather conditions, time of day, etc., it makes prosecuting someone for doing 35 in a 30 a mockery, then...
Edited by Troesma on Monday 16th July 14:28
Thank you TR you have made my day that is exactly the kind of car I was zapped by (five series estate) and where I was zapped (he was sitting at the junction past Tolworth). Out of interest if 70 isn't "faster" what kind of speed do some nutters end up going through there???
P.S You can consol yourself with the fact that now suitably frightened by the prospect shall think a little more carefully about bundling along at 70 in a 50
P.S You can consol yourself with the fact that now suitably frightened by the prospect shall think a little more carefully about bundling along at 70 in a 50
The Tuscan Rat said:
Troesma said:
The Tuscan Rat said:
The guys were looking for much faster trust me, and they got them. Those that were seen at speed were dealt with there and then.
Just a quick Q: is 70-75 not being "seen at speed" in a 50 limit zone..?In similar circumstances as to road traffic, weather conditions, time of day, etc., it makes prosecuting someone for doing 35 in a 30 a mockery, then...
Edited by Troesma on Monday 16th July 14:28
Okay, remember Traffic Police are not cameras, we work the roads, we know the roads and we have discretion. Cameras are run by people in offices that don't.
I expect, in fact I can almost guarantee that the above speeds you mention are convictions that you have personally seen, so it must be true, that have come from cameras. I have NEVER prosecuted anyone for 35 in a 30 zone, and knowing the officers on the A3 last night know that they have not either.
Do you know that stretch of road in question in this thread ? Three lanes, full motorway protection barriers ? 70-75 on the A3 at that time of night, not a great problem, 90 - 100 + is because of the above mentioned blind crests, bends etc. When doing a check at that location at that time of the morning you take a few factors into question before giving chase
A – Has he seen us and slowing ?……..Shows observation
B – Is he slowing to a safe speed to go over the summit ?
There are enough idiots doing much faster, who have no awareness of what’s going on around them / Hazard perception to keep you busy. Thus targeting the right people.
As for 35 in a 30, not me fortunately, but 2 friends got NIPed : one for 35 in a 30, the other for 38 in a 30. And yep, caught by speed cams. Neither of them thought fighting in court worthwhile (although it got their urine boiling) and paid. Their time is much more valuable than the fine.
Fair point on my knowledge of that particular stretch of road; maybe I passed through it once, but not my area... so true, I cannot claim any clear photogenic memory and/or experiential knowledge of the spot.
Appreciate and value your judgment as a police officer on deciding who to nick and what to look for (as you say, situational awareness is key) but I'm afraid some of your colleagues show less sympathy in similarly good stretches of road. Not that I can speak of myself (never been penalised for a traffic offence in 27 years driving; touch wood) but for friends/relatives, who got hammered for far less.
Anyway, take all your comments on board. Fair call. And it shows the need for more "sensible" road policing rather than cameras. Interestingly, was speaking to my neighbour (former chief constable, QPM and OBE) about road policing and speeding, and the fact that police has virtually dissapeared from our roads. His view was that, indeed, policing has been moved towards dealing with other "more pressing" issues, that the reliance on camera-regulated enforcement is not helping (as priorities are elsewhere) and that, as a result, standards (as law enforcement is becoming, in his words, "one-dimensional" ) are going down the drains. BTW he is one of the nicest, clear-minded chaps I have met in my life.
Edited by Troesma on Monday 16th July 15:17
George 500 said:
It's so encouraging to hear that there is still sensible enforcement like this occurring and surely a far better exercise than miles of average speed cameras with all of us spending 50% of the time looking at our speedos rather than the road
Well said indeed.I was being tailgated by a knobjockey in a Transit at 80+ mph in the middle lane of the Mway recently. I stuck my toe in and got up to just under 100mph to get out of his way, then pulled into the left hand lane. Then I lifted off, ran back down to indicated 80mph.
Jockeyboy then sticks his foot in and goes flying past at 100mph+ with smoke puring from his exhuast.
Seconds later, the car following, a blue Volvo estate, follows him doing about 120mph. It slows as it passes me and and BiB in passenger seat makes a "you, slow it down......" gesture - he then grins like a cheshire cat and points at knobjockey boy before making a "cut throat" gesture and laughing. They sped off at full throttle.
Who did I see two miles further down the road but fatty in his transit being given a dressing down on the hard shoulder.
I pipped and waved. BiB waved back
Edited by Vesuvius 996 on Monday 16th July 15:25
George 500 said:
It's so encouraging to hear that there is still sensible enforcement like this occurring and surely a far better exercise than miles of average speed cameras with all of us spending 50% of the time looking at our speedos rather than the road
Tuscan Rat - I'm in Epsom (your patch I would assume). Must buy you a jar sometime. You sound like a human being. Just wish there were more like you on the road.
ukwill said:
George 500 said:
It's so encouraging to hear that there is still sensible enforcement like this occurring and surely a far better exercise than miles of average speed cameras with all of us spending 50% of the time looking at our speedos rather than the road
Tuscan Rat - I'm in Epsom (your patch I would assume). Must buy you a jar sometime. You sound like a human being. Just wish there were more like you on the road.
Good sensible policing, if only it were everywhere
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