New hidden digital cameras on M6, M62, M60 & M56
New hidden digital cameras on M6, M62, M60 & M56
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joelk

Original Poster:

175 posts

279 months

Wednesday 10th December 2003
quotequote all
This was passed to me today (more bad news I'm afriad)

From : Highways and Transportation Division

The new electronic signs on the M6 were switched on this Tuesday. The bad news is that they are rigged with the SPECS speed cameras. This probably applies to all the new signs being installed on the M62, M60 and M56. SPECS is a computer-camera based system.
As you go past the sign a digital camera reads your number plate.

When you go past the next sign your number plate is read again. The computer 'knows' how far apart the signs are so it can work out your average speed between the two, or three or four.

The system is fully automatic and will issue a ticket without any form of human intervention. It does this for every single vehicle that passes.

You will not know you have been caught until the ticket drops through your letterbox as the cameras don't flash. They work 24/7, 365 days a year, and theoretically, there's absolutely no limit on the number of tickets that the system can issue.

The whole section of the M6 between Knutsford and Preston is wired, both ways. The system is set to trigger a ticket at 78MPH. (10% tolerance - but don't take this as a guarantee) Radar detectors will be of no use as SPECS is entirely passive, there is no laser beam to detect.

Be warned and spread the news!

QUESTION - What can we do to stop this?

plewis66

260 posts

279 months

puggit

49,441 posts

271 months

Wednesday 10th December 2003
quotequote all
In this case are we justified to shoot the messanger?

joelk

Original Poster:

175 posts

279 months

Wednesday 10th December 2003
quotequote all
Whoops...

But how do you know for sure?

d-man

1,019 posts

268 months

Wednesday 10th December 2003
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Well the email is VERY similar to the one about the M4 discussed here (amongst other places) which was refuted by Thames Valley Police. This email seems to be cropping up very regularly with a variety of different motorways named

streaky

19,311 posts

272 months

Wednesday 10th December 2003
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Too many of these posts. Any chance of a 'sticky' that people might actually see before posting?

deltaf

6,806 posts

276 months

Wednesday 10th December 2003
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Highways agency has denied its true, saying "we dont do that kind of thing"....

safetyfirst

169 posts

270 months

Wednesday 10th December 2003
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I was under the impression though, that pictures taken with a digital camera were not admissable as evidence, or is it different laws for the authorities then?

buckshee

106 posts

268 months

Wednesday 10th December 2003
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If the SPECS cameras were set at 78mph to automatically send you a NIP, then on occasion 100% of the traffic would get caught. At times, all three lanes on the motorway do around 85mph or more.
There would be one very irate electorate if NIPs were routinely sent out at less than 90mph on the motorways. I don't think any politician expecting election would dare abuse the motorist THAT readily.

streaky

19,311 posts

272 months

Wednesday 10th December 2003
quotequote all
safetyfirst said:
I was under the impression though, that pictures taken with a digital camera were not admissable as evidence, or is it different laws for the authorities then?
Digital photographs from speed camera equipment are admissable. Under some circumstances, so are digital photographs taken by witnesses - Streaky

safetyfirst

169 posts

270 months

Wednesday 10th December 2003
quotequote all
OK, thanks streaky, (must remember that next time a wheel falls into a 12" pothole and damages the rim!)