Gatso Speed Cameras and Motorbikes
Gatso Speed Cameras and Motorbikes
Author
Discussion

vinnie01

Original Poster:

863 posts

150 months

Friday 20th June 2014
quotequote all
Just off New Dover road in Canterbury there is a Speed Camera on a hill no idea if it actually has film in it or is just set up to flash as a scare tactic. Anyway the otherday a convoy of motorbikes were racing up the hill (towards the camera) the was nothing in the other lane and yet sure enough *flash flash flash* My question is this, because bikes do not have a front numberplate what will happen if indeed the camera is working? confused

Landshark

2,117 posts

212 months

Friday 20th June 2014
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If it's a GATSO camera, then nothing, same as if a car drove towards it and it flashed. GATSO's are not type approved for forward facing enforcement, and generally would only flash once, however as there was several bikes I would guess it picked them all up and flashed once for each one!

Seesure

1,230 posts

270 months

Friday 20th June 2014
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Standard Gatso cameras are not approved to take front facing pictures... therefore no action.


Who me ?

7,455 posts

243 months

Friday 20th June 2014
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As above,Gatso not type approved for forward facing pictures. I've only had it happen once to me ,and I complained to local police. I had to phone back after the PC in charge of cameras came on duty at 9.AM, when I learned that a technician was on the way to investigate.I suspect that bad PR was the fear.
But locally we had a case not so long ago where some youths decided to see how many times they could set off the camera in the correct direction. Totally illegal bike, no plates, but riders wore helmets . Matter was handed to police who treated it as a major crime ,( it was, SCP not getting cash) ,and the film was scrutinised till the culprits were caught.

ging84

9,548 posts

177 months

Friday 20th June 2014
quotequote all
there was a guy got done in southampton by one of the newer cameras that do work forward facing, i believe he had been snapped by this camera many times, sometimes doing stupid things in front of the camera, enough to have annoyed the police into tracking him down by his distinctive helmet and leathers

Mastodon2

14,346 posts

196 months

Friday 20th June 2014
quotequote all
ging84 said:
there was a guy got done in southampton by one of the newer cameras that do work forward facing, i believe he had been snapped by this camera many times, sometimes doing stupid things in front of the camera, enough to have annoyed the police into tracking him down by his distinctive helmet and leathers
The thing is though, unless they laid in wait and actually saw him doing something illegal, what could they do?

"Why have you stopped me?"
"Well sir, you look like someone who we've seen committing crimes here previously. Was it you?"
"No."
"Have a nice day sir."

There is a guy in my area who has the same model year and colour scheme bike as me. I'd hate to think that I could become a victim of mistaken identity if the police decided this other bloke had been a bit naughty.

creampuff

6,511 posts

174 months

Friday 20th June 2014
quotequote all
vinnie01 said:
My question is this, because bikes do not have a front numberplate what will happen if indeed the camera is working? confused
As the others have said, the same thing will happen to the motorbikes as would happen to a motor car travelling well in excess of the speed limit in this case - nothing.

Aretnap

1,983 posts

182 months

Friday 20th June 2014
quotequote all
Mastodon2 said:
ging84 said:
there was a guy got done in southampton by one of the newer cameras that do work forward facing, i believe he had been snapped by this camera many times, sometimes doing stupid things in front of the camera, enough to have annoyed the police into tracking him down by his distinctive helmet and leathers
The thing is though, unless they laid in wait and actually saw him doing something illegal, what could they do?
They could do the same as they'd do if CCTV caught someone who looked like you punching someone or commuting a robbery - put it to the magistrates/jury and let them decide whether they're sure that it was you. There've been any number of cases of motorcyclists being identified from forward facing speed cameras. Examples -
http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news--general-...
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/news/newsresults...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/biker-l...

Mastodon2 said:
There is a guy in my area who has the same model year and colour scheme bike as me. I'd hate to think that I could become a victim of mistaken identity if the police decided this other bloke had been a bit naughty.
Yes, but is he the same height and build as you? Does he have the same leathers as you? (Maybe an argument for wearing plain black leathers biggrin) Does he have the same missing fairing bolt as you? ( Seriously)


anonymous-user

85 months

Friday 20th June 2014
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Those front facing cameras in the links appear to be a different type which are approved for front facing speed detection.

Aretnap

1,983 posts

182 months

Saturday 21st June 2014
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CaptainMorgan said:
Those front facing cameras in the links appear to be a different type which are approved for front facing speed detection.
Indeed, but to the average motorist "Gatso" means anything in a yellow box by the side of the road, so when someone says they were flashed in the face by a "Gatso" it doesn't automatically mean that they won't get a ticket.

Martin_M

2,071 posts

258 months

Saturday 21st June 2014
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[quote=Who me ?]As above,Gatso not type approved for forward facing pictures. I've only had it happen once to me ,and I complained to local police. I had to phone back after the PC in charge of cameras came on duty at 9.AM, when I learned that a technician was on the way to investigate.I suspect that bad PR was the fear.
But locally we had a case not so long ago where some youths decided to see how many times they could set off the camera in the correct direction. Totally illegal bike, no plates, but riders wore helmets . Matter was handed to police who treated it as a major crime ,( it was, SCP not getting cash) ,and the film was scrutinised till the culprits were caught.
[/quote]

Did you complain having received a fine and points?

cirian75

5,802 posts

264 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
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ging84 said:
there was a guy got done in southampton by one of the newer cameras that do work forward facing, i believe he had been snapped by this camera many times, sometimes doing stupid things in front of the camera, enough to have annoyed the police into tracking him down by his distinctive helmet and leathers
He was also at the time on a new model BMW bike of which only 3 where reg'ed in the UK at the time

mph1977

12,467 posts

199 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
quotequote all
[quote=Who me ?]As above,Gatso not type approved for forward facing pictures. I've only had it happen once to me ,and I complained to local police. I had to phone back after the PC in charge of cameras came on duty at 9.AM, when I learned that a technician was on the way to investigate.I suspect that bad PR was the fear.
But locally we had a case not so long ago where some youths decided to see how many times they could set off the camera in the correct direction. Totally illegal bike, no plates, but riders wore helmets . Matter was handed to police who treated it as a major crime ,( it was, SCP not getting cash) ,and the film was scrutinised till the culprits were caught.
[/quote]

PCoJ is a 'major crime' ...

bimsb6

8,804 posts

252 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
quotequote all
ging84 said:
there was a guy got done in southampton by one of the newer cameras that do work forward facing, i believe he had been snapped by this camera many times, sometimes doing stupid things in front of the camera, enough to have annoyed the police into tracking him down by his distinctive helmet and leathers
A guy from dunstable was also done for similar offences .

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-455259/V-w...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1551779/Bik...

Edited by bimsb6 on Sunday 22 June 15:28


Edited by bimsb6 on Sunday 22 June 15:31

jimbop1

2,441 posts

235 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
quotequote all
[quote=Who me ?]As above,Gatso not type approved for forward facing pictures. I've only had it happen once to me ,and I complained to local police. I had to phone back after the PC in charge of cameras came on duty at 9.AM, when I learned that a technician was on the way to investigate.I suspect that bad PR was the fear.
But locally we had a case not so long ago where some youths decided to see how many times they could set off the camera in the correct direction. Totally illegal bike, no plates, but riders wore helmets . Matter was handed to police who treated it as a major crime ,( it was, SCP not getting cash) ,and the film was scrutinised till the culprits were caught.
[/quote]

Lads!

Who me ?

7,455 posts

243 months

Sunday 22nd June 2014
quotequote all
mph1977 said:
PCoJ is a 'major crime' ...
And stopping any Gov't dept , whether Quango or not getting their cut is an even more serious one.
MartinM- I know where the local cash collection points are and to date ,they haven't had the pleasure, I'd suggest the yoofs did more for road safety than the camera half hidden in uncut trees ever did. I fail to be persuaded that this obsession with speed and it's associated persecution and pillorying is any different from the roofing con men .

Mastodon2- I'd suggest you fix something distinctive to your bike, on front and back ( prevents cloning) and take date stamped photos .