Smart Car with Telescopic Camera
Discussion
First I've seen of it, so I've searched and answers aren't conclusive, to me at least.
So, driving on the A244 in Oxshott, Surrey, I rise over the brow of a hill and am greeted with a Smart Car on the other side, sign written with Camera signs. The boot is open and sitting on it is a chap with what looks like an SLR held to his face with a telescopic lens.
Speed checked, I was ok, and I wasn't fooling about with a phone or what not so I'm not nervous. Any idea what this guy is trying to sting people for?
So, driving on the A244 in Oxshott, Surrey, I rise over the brow of a hill and am greeted with a Smart Car on the other side, sign written with Camera signs. The boot is open and sitting on it is a chap with what looks like an SLR held to his face with a telescopic lens.
Speed checked, I was ok, and I wasn't fooling about with a phone or what not so I'm not nervous. Any idea what this guy is trying to sting people for?
creampuff said:
Local council. Looking to boost their revenue by detecting all manner of petty infractions while making your life difficult.
Yep. They're all over London. Saw one this morning. Put half a wheel in a bus lane, stop for a millisecond on a box junction, etc etc and bingo, you're on camera and fined.It's probably a fantastic business model. Smart car for, what, £10k? Another grand for the camera, and minimal wages for the drivers, all paid for (and more) from the fine revenue.
Swole said:
This is interesting. So, where does the line stop?
Will they try to fine people for not driving with hands at 10 & 2? Who glanced away for a second from the road ahead (I.e looking at speedo, fuel, radio perhaps)? Who scratched their head, leg, balls?
No, just for the offences that have been devolved to local councils to deal withWill they try to fine people for not driving with hands at 10 & 2? Who glanced away for a second from the road ahead (I.e looking at speedo, fuel, radio perhaps)? Who scratched their head, leg, balls?
(Bus lanes, No Right Turn, No U turn, Pedestrian crossings, Box junctions etc etc).
Ok, so this car was signed as Police and had the blue/yellow reflectives in places.
They were sitting in this lay-by on the left in picture 1. Picture 2 shows the opposite side of the road, and picture 3 the road approaching the lay-by. In Picture 3 the road looks longer than it is in reality, to the brow of the hill. This lay-by has been designed to catch people out with no visibility of any police/camera vehicles; I bet it's a speed van cash cow.
There really was nothing around for people to get wrong. No red-route, not yellow boxes, bus lanes so I can only assume it was phones and seatbelts.
They were sitting in this lay-by on the left in picture 1. Picture 2 shows the opposite side of the road, and picture 3 the road approaching the lay-by. In Picture 3 the road looks longer than it is in reality, to the brow of the hill. This lay-by has been designed to catch people out with no visibility of any police/camera vehicles; I bet it's a speed van cash cow.
There really was nothing around for people to get wrong. No red-route, not yellow boxes, bus lanes so I can only assume it was phones and seatbelts.
Edited by Swole on Thursday 26th October 20:32
That lay-by was put in for police camera cars about 2 years ago (at great cost I would imagine), who used to park on the grass. Instead there are the little concrete square things that have grass between them. Every now and again there is a normal looking camera van in there.
Never seen the smart car about, but there has been issues with really heavy traffic recently in the area causing quite an issue, could it be simply traffic monitoring? From there they could also be monitoring the entrance to the private school (which generates half the traffic!).
or it's the goole maps car on a break!
Never seen the smart car about, but there has been issues with really heavy traffic recently in the area causing quite an issue, could it be simply traffic monitoring? From there they could also be monitoring the entrance to the private school (which generates half the traffic!).
or it's the goole maps car on a break!
gavgavgav said:
That lay-by was put in for police camera cars about 2 years ago (at great cost I would imagine), who used to park on the grass. Instead there are the little concrete square things that have grass between them. Every now and again there is a normal looking camera van in there.
They put something similar in the central reservation of our local DC (30 limit). Actually only useable as two single carriageways due to parked cars.
It was used about twice and then it appears someone reckoned they could do better by hiding among the parked cars, helped by a slight left-hand curve for concealment.
gavgavgav said:
That lay-by was put in for police camera cars about 2 years ago (at great cost I would imagine), who used to park on the grass. Instead there are the little concrete square things that have grass between them. Every now and again there is a normal looking camera van in there.
Never seen the smart car about, but there has been issues with really heavy traffic recently in the area causing quite an issue, could it be simply traffic monitoring? From there they could also be monitoring the entrance to the private school (which generates half the traffic!).
or it's the goole maps car on a break!
Ah, I know where that is. Street View from the Google car is deceptive.Never seen the smart car about, but there has been issues with really heavy traffic recently in the area causing quite an issue, could it be simply traffic monitoring? From there they could also be monitoring the entrance to the private school (which generates half the traffic!).
or it's the goole maps car on a break!
The hill going down towards the bend is quite a bit steeper than it looks.
It's dead easy to creep up to 35/36on the approach which will get you pinged.
Not when its congested though. It's snail's pace at those times.
Another spot they like to lurk is between here and the lights at Milbourne Lane/Claremont Drive.
https://goo.gl/maps/tyt5oJaodrK2
creampuff said:
Local council. Looking to boost their revenue by detecting all manner of petty infractions while making your life difficult.
You have to wonder at the mindset of the individuals that dream up all these petty offences and ever devious means of enforcing them, is a life so difficult to get?catso said:
You have to wonder at the mindset of the individuals that dream up all these petty offences and ever devious means of enforcing them, is a life so difficult to get?
I try to minimise my driving in this country now as it is just not pleasant any more. I now no longer go for recreational drives at all andvive cut back on driving to places I used to like to go. I either stay at home or do something else which involves less driving. Too much traffic and too many cameras. Even if you don't do anything wrong, you are always watching yourself because someone is watching you. Swole said:
This is interesting. So, where does the line stop?
Will they try to fine people for not driving with hands at 10 & 2? Who glanced away for a second from the road ahead (I.e looking at speedo, fuel, radio perhaps)? Who scratched their head, leg, balls?
If a ticket was issued for this you could argue that since the introduction of airbags a safer driver position would be 3 & 9 Will they try to fine people for not driving with hands at 10 & 2? Who glanced away for a second from the road ahead (I.e looking at speedo, fuel, radio perhaps)? Who scratched their head, leg, balls?
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