Devious Dorset Police

[Derek Withers]

I was driving down the A31 to Bournemouth this morning when I saw a black object in the central reservation. It was only when I got much closer and passed some shrubs in the central reservation that I spot a Police Van. Basically the copper had parked off the road in the opposite direction to me and taken the camera out on a tripod and plonked it in the central reservation.



The camera is the black spec in the distance under the red arrow. The van is approximately where the white rectangle is hidden behind the trees. Can they do this? He might as well have hung a cam net on the front of it. It was just a weird black shape until I got much closer.

[CAFEDEAD]

Sounds like ANPR rather than a speed camera. So, yes.

[TooMany2cvs]

Even if it was a speed camera - yes.

Seems like a very good place for one, tbh.

[anonymous-user]

Would you prefer this?

[Derek Withers]

TooMany2cvs said:

Even if it was a speed camera - yes.

Seems like a very good place for one, tbh.

It wasn't an ANPR camera it was definitely a speed Camera.

I thought they couldn't hide behind bushes with a camera?

[pork911]

Do you not have a closer pic or were you going too fast?

[surveyor]

Breadvan72 said:

Would you prefer this?

Sounds like a plan.

[roddyp]

Do you drive a Google streetview car, or am I missing something? (If so, you can hardly complain about cameras...)

[Tribal Chestnut]

TooMany2cvs said:

Seems like a very good place for one, tbh.

Why? Does that stretch of road have a high frequency of speed related accidents?

[Johnnytheboy]

Good old SPL, must be the OP's fault somehow.

My only comment is that if this the A31 from Southampton it'll be Hampshire.

Hampshire SCP love collecting on the A31, especially round the Shell Station.

[Tribal Chestnut]

Johnnytheboy said:

Hampshire SCP love collecting on the A31, especially round the Shell Station.

Must be because it's so dangerous. Hopefully Citroen boy will be along g with those accident stats in a second. He seemed to know the road well.

[anonymous-user]

Tribal Chestnut said:

Why? Does that stretch of road have a high frequency of speed related accidents?

I was thinking that, looks to be a clear road with decent visibility tbh, surely better places it dangerous motorists using excessive speed?

[Mk3Spitfire]

Derek Withers said:

It wasn't an ANPR camera it was definitely a speed Camera.

I thought they couldn't hide behind bushes with a camera?

How do you know it wasn't an ANPR camera?
How do you know it was a cop?

And no, there is no legislation that speed cameras have to be positioned so as to be visible. Different forces have different policies and guidelines, but essentially they could hide up a tree of they wanted to. And if they could get the van up the tree.

Edited by Mk3Spitfire on Sunday 12th October 21:02

[Derek Withers]

I thought I must be on the BRAKE forum for a moment.

I thought the French Police were well known for hiding behind bushes and ours weren't allowed to? Its just a simple question.

[Mk3Spitfire]

And you've had a simple answer.
Although haven't answered my questions?

[Derek Withers]

Mk3Spitfire said:

And you've had a simple answer.
Although haven't answered my questions?

I missed your post. The ANPR cameras that I have seen are all left unattended whereas speed cameras would surely need an operator behind them?

[Red Devil]

Johnnytheboy said:

My only comment is that if this the A31 from Southampton it'll be Hampshire.

The New Forest, about a mile past the Emery Down/Fritham junction.
Classic speed trap territory. A long straight with a dip in the middle providing an excellent field of view.

Edited by Red Devil on Sunday 12th October 21:15

[Durzel]

They can park where they want, how they want. They don't need to warn you of their presence.

I don't know where this commonly held misconception that they have to "play fair" originated.

[Derek Withers]

Its just seems to be a way to increase revenue rather than a safety thing. I only ever see cameras sited around bends or over a brow so that they are hidden rather than in obvious accident black spots.

I often drive over the Hogs Back in Surrey and the vans hide around bends, and under the brow of dips. Any tailbacks are caused by accidents on the A3 particularly when its raining. The road surface is so bumpy that its not even conducive to driving fast.

Edited by Derek Withers on Sunday 12th October 21:21

[Red Devil]

Derek Withers said:

...whereas speed cameras would surely need an operator behind them?

No they don't. A tripod mounted camera positioned at the roadside or on a bridge can be set to work in unattended mode.
http://www.motordefenceteam.co.uk/speed-cameras-gu...