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SPEEDER'S REVENGE Jan 26 2004
Exclusive Driver nicks speedtrap cops doing 82 mph
By Steven Ventura
THE driver of a police van which photographs speeding motorists has been caught doing more than double the limit.
The mobile speed camera unit was clocked doing 82 mph on a 40 mph stretch of the A77 Ayr to Glasgow road.
The notorious road has one of the highest number of speed traps in Scotland.
Just hours before, a man was killed in a car crash along the nightmare route.
The Strathclyde Police vehicle, which normally sits near Fenwick, Ayrshire, was tailed by disgusted driver Joe Murphy.
Joe, 31, said: ''I saw it sitting there while I was heading towards Kilmarnock earlier in the day.
''On the return journey to Glasgow, the van pulled out in front of me at speed.
''That section of road has a 40 mph restriction but it was going faster and faster.
''I was furious because I have been done for speeding in the past.
''I decided to keep up and got my mate to witness the speeds they were doing.
''At one point, they reached 82 mph.''
Statement The speed is reduced to 40 mph for the safety of the roadworkers who are doing engineering work next to the A77 for the new motorway.
But motorists regularly flout the restrictions.
Only 36 hours earlier, a man was killed in a five vehicle pile-up on the same stretch of road.
The 39-year-old's death was the 18th on the A77 in the past four years.
Joe said: ''I was disgusted, especially coming so close to a fatal road smash.''
Joe, of Paisley, followed them back to the police traffic complex in Govan, Glasgow, and reported them.
His friend and witness, Michael Docherty, 51, of Paisley, also gave cops a statement.
Joe, a builder, said: ''A few hours later, officers came to my house and said they wanted to test my car's speedometer.
''They checked it over and could find no fault with it.''
A Strathclyde Police spokesman confirmed the driver had been reported to the procurator fiscal.
Earlier this month, cops announced plans to increase the number of speed cameras and patrol cars after catching 300 drivers in a speeding blitz on the highway.
Chief Inspector Bob Barbour said at the time: ''Speeding on the A77 won't be tolerated.
''Drivers have now been warned and if you speed, we will catch you.''
Joe added: ''It's the hypocrisy of the whole thing.
''The rules are there for everyone and that includes the police.''
Strathclyde Police have three mobile camera sites in East Ayrshire the A70 at East Tarelgin, A77 at Fenwick and A77 at Floak.
Exclusive Driver nicks speedtrap cops doing 82 mph
By Steven Ventura
THE driver of a police van which photographs speeding motorists has been caught doing more than double the limit.
The mobile speed camera unit was clocked doing 82 mph on a 40 mph stretch of the A77 Ayr to Glasgow road.
The notorious road has one of the highest number of speed traps in Scotland.
Just hours before, a man was killed in a car crash along the nightmare route.
The Strathclyde Police vehicle, which normally sits near Fenwick, Ayrshire, was tailed by disgusted driver Joe Murphy.
Joe, 31, said: ''I saw it sitting there while I was heading towards Kilmarnock earlier in the day.
''On the return journey to Glasgow, the van pulled out in front of me at speed.
''That section of road has a 40 mph restriction but it was going faster and faster.
''I was furious because I have been done for speeding in the past.
''I decided to keep up and got my mate to witness the speeds they were doing.
''At one point, they reached 82 mph.''
Statement The speed is reduced to 40 mph for the safety of the roadworkers who are doing engineering work next to the A77 for the new motorway.
But motorists regularly flout the restrictions.
Only 36 hours earlier, a man was killed in a five vehicle pile-up on the same stretch of road.
The 39-year-old's death was the 18th on the A77 in the past four years.
Joe said: ''I was disgusted, especially coming so close to a fatal road smash.''
Joe, of Paisley, followed them back to the police traffic complex in Govan, Glasgow, and reported them.
His friend and witness, Michael Docherty, 51, of Paisley, also gave cops a statement.
Joe, a builder, said: ''A few hours later, officers came to my house and said they wanted to test my car's speedometer.
''They checked it over and could find no fault with it.''
A Strathclyde Police spokesman confirmed the driver had been reported to the procurator fiscal.
Earlier this month, cops announced plans to increase the number of speed cameras and patrol cars after catching 300 drivers in a speeding blitz on the highway.
Chief Inspector Bob Barbour said at the time: ''Speeding on the A77 won't be tolerated.
''Drivers have now been warned and if you speed, we will catch you.''
Joe added: ''It's the hypocrisy of the whole thing.
''The rules are there for everyone and that includes the police.''
Strathclyde Police have three mobile camera sites in East Ayrshire the A70 at East Tarelgin, A77 at Fenwick and A77 at Floak.
well i have recently driven along that road since the works started, 6 or so different access sites, blasting sites, and 2 lanes in each direction with no central reservation, driving at those speeds on that road is just plain stupid, police or otherwise, Suicide with a total disregard for his life or anyone elses 
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