Do talivans use radar?
Discussion
This might sound like a daft question, but I am having an argument with someone about what equipment detector vans use. All I know is that my radar detector beeps like mad when I approach one of these so-called "Think" detector vans, so I say it must be radar. The other bloke says they use laser.
Who is right?
Who is right?
They normally use the LTI20-20 speedscope or related laser equipment which is a 904nm laser. Much easier at picking off £££ from a distance.
Radar is not so good with specific targets either. Laser is not as easy to detect and about a billion times quicker.
Then again some of the Bournemouth lost use mini-gatso at the front of a van (radar (K band i think))
Radar is not so good with specific targets either. Laser is not as easy to detect and about a billion times quicker.
Then again some of the Bournemouth lost use mini-gatso at the front of a van (radar (K band i think))
Cheers. I hear what you are saying, but the vans I come across in Newcaatle don't have any equipment outside the van, they are self-contained with the doors firmly closed.........it's as if they are hiding in there behind the tinted windows like cowards or snipers shooting kids.....
OK, bit strong, but as I say, my radar detector beeps like mad when I go near them, so surely the vans in Newcastle must be using radar? I think I'll stop and ask them one day, and whilst I'm at it, I will ask them why they are on a safe dual carriageway and not outside a school.
OK, bit strong, but as I say, my radar detector beeps like mad when I go near them, so surely the vans in Newcastle must be using radar? I think I'll stop and ask them one day, and whilst I'm at it, I will ask them why they are on a safe dual carriageway and not outside a school.
Beggarall said:
Does your radar detector also detect laser emission?
Yes it does, it's a Bel 550, but the laser alert is quite different to the way it alerts you to laser. The vans emit K-band radar it would seem (that's what it says on the screen).
On the other hand, when you are zapped by a laser, the Bel shouts, "LASER ALERT" at you. This doesn't happen when I approach a talivan.
I'm confused. I know the ones with the windows open at the back are generally using laser but I got done by a van with closed windows and no mini tripod outside and the photos looked like they were from an LTI 20-20.
I read somwhere laser musn't/couldn't be used THROUGH glass?
Can any plod clarify this?
I read somwhere laser musn't/couldn't be used THROUGH glass?
Can any plod clarify this?
blueyes said:
I'm confused. I know the ones with the windows open at the back are generally using laser but I got done by a van with closed windows and no mini tripod outside and the photos looked like they were from an LTI 20-20.
I read somwhere laser musn't/couldn't be used THROUGH glass?
Can any plod clarify this?
Interestingly (to me) I asked an aircraft radar genius about laser through glass and he said it would function quite normally. A beam of light, no radar to bounce off the glass.
Tafia said:
I'm confused. I know the ones with the windows open at the back are generally using laser but I got done by a van with closed windows and no mini tripod outside and the photos looked like they were from an LTI 20-20.
I read somwhere laser musn't/couldn't be used THROUGH glass?
Can any plod clarify this?
Interestingly (to me) I asked an aircraft radar genius about laser through glass and he said it would function quite normally. A beam of light, no radar to bounce off the glass.
I used to work with Argon and Krypton LASERs and glass will reflect the beam, maybe not much, but definately some.
I don't know what the guidelines are, but I don't think anything should be between the equipment and the target, no matter what medium they use to mesure with.
Tim
Hi Chaps
I have been investigating the Northumbria Safety Camera Partnership for the past three months and I have some reliable information (from officers) regarding what the score is.
1: they use a mixture of LTI 20-20 Laser guns and Radar detection equipment. I cant see link between van type and detection method but the usual vans with tinted rear windows are in my experience Radar.
2: they operate not fully to the rules - their website (www.safespeedforlife.com) shows all of the mobile locations in the Northumbria force area where vans can be located, but a van is often located in an area not listed on the website.
3: I recenly spent 15 minutes with the Lothian & Boarders camera team in Edinburgh and I have to say if you are polite enough most of the officers will let you know what they are up to, and in my case I got to have a play with the equipment (LTI 20-20)
4: I have an Origin B2 unit with the laser detctor and I got a warning when traveling home recently. I could hardly see the camera van and gues it was approx 700m away so there are only two real solutions to avoiding trouble from Laser - dont speed or fit a jammer.
Hope this helps.
Any questions - add to this topic
Paul
I have been investigating the Northumbria Safety Camera Partnership for the past three months and I have some reliable information (from officers) regarding what the score is.
1: they use a mixture of LTI 20-20 Laser guns and Radar detection equipment. I cant see link between van type and detection method but the usual vans with tinted rear windows are in my experience Radar.
2: they operate not fully to the rules - their website (www.safespeedforlife.com) shows all of the mobile locations in the Northumbria force area where vans can be located, but a van is often located in an area not listed on the website.
3: I recenly spent 15 minutes with the Lothian & Boarders camera team in Edinburgh and I have to say if you are polite enough most of the officers will let you know what they are up to, and in my case I got to have a play with the equipment (LTI 20-20)
4: I have an Origin B2 unit with the laser detctor and I got a warning when traveling home recently. I could hardly see the camera van and gues it was approx 700m away so there are only two real solutions to avoiding trouble from Laser - dont speed or fit a jammer.
Hope this helps.
Any questions - add to this topic
Paul
Hi Paul,
Very intetesting.
Are you in Newcastle? I live in Jesmond, and the beggars have got me once (when the Bel 550 wasn't on my dash). They sit on the coast road, which is silly because it is a safe road, no question. Why they aren't outside Heaton Manor School, I don't know.
I will approach them like you did. I will find out if they are all using radar. If they are, then great, my Bel 550 will do perfectly. If they aren't, I will have to fit a jammer....with all the dodgy grey area legal stuff this implies.
If any North East PHers want to get their heads together to see if we can do anything about this camera van rubbish, I would be pleased to hear from you.
Very intetesting.
Are you in Newcastle? I live in Jesmond, and the beggars have got me once (when the Bel 550 wasn't on my dash). They sit on the coast road, which is silly because it is a safe road, no question. Why they aren't outside Heaton Manor School, I don't know.
I will approach them like you did. I will find out if they are all using radar. If they are, then great, my Bel 550 will do perfectly. If they aren't, I will have to fit a jammer....with all the dodgy grey area legal stuff this implies.
If any North East PHers want to get their heads together to see if we can do anything about this camera van rubbish, I would be pleased to hear from you.
Hi
I live in South Shields - and here they are everywhere too. I have not had the chance to stop and speak with any of the nothumbria camera van staff but will do ASAP.
I recently choped in my Snooper S5Rfor a B2 and soon to be added an LRC 100 Jammer - for the miles I do I need one no doubt.
If you come accros one of the vans before I do see if you can speak with the staff and see what the score is. Like I said they use a combination of Laser & Radar
Happy to help
Paul
I live in South Shields - and here they are everywhere too. I have not had the chance to stop and speak with any of the nothumbria camera van staff but will do ASAP.
I recently choped in my Snooper S5Rfor a B2 and soon to be added an LRC 100 Jammer - for the miles I do I need one no doubt.
If you come accros one of the vans before I do see if you can speak with the staff and see what the score is. Like I said they use a combination of Laser & Radar
Happy to help
Paul
paulwakinshaw said:
Hi
I live in South Shields - and here they are everywhere too. I have not had the chance to stop and speak with any of the nothumbria camera van staff but will do ASAP.
I recently choped in my Snooper S5Rfor a B2 and soon to be added an LRC 100 Jammer - for the miles I do I need one no doubt.
If you come accros one of the vans before I do see if you can speak with the staff and see what the score is. Like I said they use a combination of Laser & Radar
Happy to help
Paul
OK Paul I'll try to speak to them.
I work in South Shields and I have noticed the friendly talivans when I do my house calls.
blueyes said:
I'm confused. I know the ones with the windows open at the back are generally using laser but I got done by a van with closed windows and no mini tripod outside and the photos looked like they were from an LTI 20-20.
I read somwhere laser musn't/couldn't be used THROUGH glass?
Can any plod clarify this?
The Home Office approval states that they mustn't be used through glass. They work fine but are not certified to operate through glass.
If they are then it's game over for the conviction.
I have heard that mobile gatsos have been used from inside a van, again it is not certified to operate in this way.
paulwakinshaw said:
2: they operate not fully to the rules - their website (www.safespeedforlife.com) shows all of the mobile locations in the Northumbria force area where vans can be located, but a van is often located in an area not listed on the website.
I have an email from the Safety Camera Partnership of West Mercia that states they reserve the right to install upto 15% of their cameras at sites that do not meet the DfT guidelines. I've asked for clarification on the slection of such sites, as I'm sure it would be nothing to do with the limit being reduced, and the volume of traffic using the road.....
Still waiting.....
ok the definitive answer I have been meaning to type here for a while.
Northumbria Camera Partnership use both Laser LTI 20-20 and mini gatso - K band.
I recently noticed a camera van near where I live and decided I would ask the officer (yes real police not Joe public) what kit he was using. The officer in question was a really helpful guy, and he was willing to show me round the different pieces of kit.
He started by saying that he used the mini Gatso on small urban roads - usually 30MPH areas where there is a history of accidents. The mini Gatso was securely mounted in the rear of the van and was operating with the window hatch open. for the area in question he was only catching traffic from the rear, but he said it could be used to catch traffic in both directions (is this correct people?)
Then he showed me the laser gun, a LTI 20-20 with the side mounted LCD display screen. He continued saying that this device was used mainly on dual carridge ways and areas of higher speed limits as it is more accurate at targeting individual cars in fast flowing traffic.
So to answer the question - Northumbria safety camera partnership vans carry mini Gatso & Laser. I think they have 4 transit vans and 1 escort courier van. I am also under the impression that they have a ford focus (I don't know how many) which also carry repeater speed sign boards showing your current speed. these are used as a first step preventitive measure in areas of "public concern" These are areas where local communities have collectivly contacted the SCP with regards to high traffic speed in their area.
Northumbria Camera Partnership use both Laser LTI 20-20 and mini gatso - K band.
I recently noticed a camera van near where I live and decided I would ask the officer (yes real police not Joe public) what kit he was using. The officer in question was a really helpful guy, and he was willing to show me round the different pieces of kit.
He started by saying that he used the mini Gatso on small urban roads - usually 30MPH areas where there is a history of accidents. The mini Gatso was securely mounted in the rear of the van and was operating with the window hatch open. for the area in question he was only catching traffic from the rear, but he said it could be used to catch traffic in both directions (is this correct people?)
Then he showed me the laser gun, a LTI 20-20 with the side mounted LCD display screen. He continued saying that this device was used mainly on dual carridge ways and areas of higher speed limits as it is more accurate at targeting individual cars in fast flowing traffic.
So to answer the question - Northumbria safety camera partnership vans carry mini Gatso & Laser. I think they have 4 transit vans and 1 escort courier van. I am also under the impression that they have a ford focus (I don't know how many) which also carry repeater speed sign boards showing your current speed. these are used as a first step preventitive measure in areas of "public concern" These are areas where local communities have collectivly contacted the SCP with regards to high traffic speed in their area.
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