Sussex Camera or ANPR Van?

[chrisgr31]

Today I drove up the A281 from Horsham to Guildford. For a short period it merges with the A29. About 50m in before the roundabout where the A29 turns off south to Bognor there was a well marked Police van which had windows above both rear doors which looked as if they had cameras in them.

Although the Van was clearly maked "Police" and had blue lights, floursecent markings etc, it didn't say it was a camera van.

There was a marked Volvo parked beside it. When I returned a few hours later the van was still there, but the Volvo had been replaced by two police bikes.

I assume this was a ANPR setup as the site is not shonw on the "Sussex Safety Camera" site although that site did say they were due to be on the A281 today. Equally there were no signs warning of cameras, well known that I saw.

I am not worried as I was not in a hurry and dawdling behind other traffic but would like to know what it was for future reference!

Incidentially if it was a camera site people wouldn't have stood a chance as it would get them just as them came over the brow of a hill!

[Alan420]

90% sure its ANPR, but according to Deltaf they can be dual purpose.

[deltaf]

Deffo an ANPR setup, as the prescence of the bikes and the car are there to deal with potential targets.
If it was being used as a Talivan money scam van, itd be most likely unaccompanied...they dont like being HI VIS!!!!

[chrisgr31]

deltaf said:

Deffo an ANPR setup, as the prescence of the bikes and the car are there to deal with potential targets. If it was being used as a Talivan money scam van, itd be most likely unaccompanied...they dont like being HI VIS!!!!

Well they were high-vis but that would be no use to any speeders had it been a camera van as there would be no time to slow for them before being done!

I was in Worthing yesterday and saw three parked cars clamped for no tax disk, and then on the A24 heading back to Crawley there was a car on a recovery truck still bearing its "this car has no valid tax" sticker. Presumably on its way to the crusher!

[mcspreader]

Was caught by a tax enforcement camera in Cornwall last month in my Tuscan. I passed police signs saying SLOW ACCIDENT then noticed an official looking van in a lay by. 1 mile on i'm flagged down by BIB. It toook me a while, disrupting traffic to pul onto the soft shoulder. My car is not even slightly an off roader. First comment from Bill. Having trouble pulling over?
Yes! this isn't a Volvo like yours is.( i'm feeling confident. i have not been speeding all day.)

You have just passed a road tax enforcement.... blah blah and we thought it unusual for a newish TVR Blah notified SORN.

Look in the window says I.

New tax 2 days old.

Carry on Sir Thank You.

Point 1 they stopped me because it was unusual to have a TVR SORNed for the Winter? Don't they stop usual offenders like filthy pikey gits in dodgy rust buckets?

I don't object to being stopped. It gives me confidence that the freeloaders are getting caught but...the comments of the BIB were disconcerting. I hope it was just an unfortunate turn of phrase as I would be most displeased to find they are only stopping those they think can or will pay.

[james_j]

"...Don't they stop usual offenders like filthy pikey gits in dodgy rust buckets? ..."

They may stop them, but I don't the pikey will have any action taken against them. It seems to me that only the unregistered (in every way) are above or beyond the law.