Camera van - 60 into 30
Discussion
Bozeat village in Northants... There’s a big Japanese car meet in the area first thing this morning and clearly the camera van is there because of that. No sign of any manned camera on a tripod or officer though, just the van.
I am doing less than 60 but more than 30, quite how much I don’t know, definitely slowing as I approach the village, much more so when I clock the van and slam on the anchors!
Now, where I’d like clarification please.
The van was facing me (rather than the side/rear) and was immediately behind the 30 MPH sign in a lay-by.
Can they zap you from the front, or only through the side and back?
I reckon it was there to catch drivers going too fast through the village towards the NSL sign, but perhaps I was unlucky in getting done going the other way.
Is some leeway allowed to slow down into the village as I suppose, technically speaking, we should all slow to 30 or less before actually coming into line with the sign.
Clean license for the last few years and hoping to keep it that way!
Thanks for your thoughts.
I am doing less than 60 but more than 30, quite how much I don’t know, definitely slowing as I approach the village, much more so when I clock the van and slam on the anchors!
Now, where I’d like clarification please.
The van was facing me (rather than the side/rear) and was immediately behind the 30 MPH sign in a lay-by.
Can they zap you from the front, or only through the side and back?
I reckon it was there to catch drivers going too fast through the village towards the NSL sign, but perhaps I was unlucky in getting done going the other way.
Is some leeway allowed to slow down into the village as I suppose, technically speaking, we should all slow to 30 or less before actually coming into line with the sign.
Clean license for the last few years and hoping to keep it that way!
Thanks for your thoughts.
carlingofblack said:
Bozeat village in Northants... There’s a big Japanese car meet in the area first thing this morning and clearly the camera van is there because of that. No sign of any manned camera on a tripod or officer though, just the van.
I am doing less than 60 but more than 30, quite how much I don’t know, definitely slowing as I approach the village, much more so when I clock the van and slam on the anchors!
Now, where I’d like clarification please.
The van was facing me (rather than the side/rear) and was immediately behind the 30 MPH sign in a lay-by.
Can they zap you from the front, or only through the side and back?
I reckon it was there to catch drivers going too fast through the village towards the NSL sign, but perhaps I was unlucky in getting done going the other way.
Is some leeway allowed to slow down into the village as I suppose, technically speaking, we should all slow to 30 or less before actually coming into line with the sign.
Clean license for the last few years and hoping to keep it that way!
Thanks for your thoughts.
Wait, so let me get this right; you were approaching a 30 limit sign, that had a camera van right behind it. The road was NSL. You were doing less than 60. I am doing less than 60 but more than 30, quite how much I don’t know, definitely slowing as I approach the village, much more so when I clock the van and slam on the anchors!
Now, where I’d like clarification please.
The van was facing me (rather than the side/rear) and was immediately behind the 30 MPH sign in a lay-by.
Can they zap you from the front, or only through the side and back?
I reckon it was there to catch drivers going too fast through the village towards the NSL sign, but perhaps I was unlucky in getting done going the other way.
Is some leeway allowed to slow down into the village as I suppose, technically speaking, we should all slow to 30 or less before actually coming into line with the sign.
Clean license for the last few years and hoping to keep it that way!
Thanks for your thoughts.
Presumably you were doing 30 or near enough when you passed since you popped on the anchors when you saw it.
You can't get fined for speeding when doing more than 30 when *approaching* a 30 sign. You could get fined for speeding if you were doing more than 30 once past the sign.
That’s right - I’m worried in that I’m sure I was above 30, but how much I don’t know once just past the 30MPH sign but definitely slowing... more so when I saw the van which was only feet away from it!
I’m not concerned about being too fast during the NSL bit only while slowing into the village where the van was stationed. Presumably they can still ‘get you’ from the front? Not just the back and sides....
I’m not concerned about being too fast during the NSL bit only while slowing into the village where the van was stationed. Presumably they can still ‘get you’ from the front? Not just the back and sides....
carlingofblack said:
That’s right - I’m worried in that I’m sure I was above 30, but how much I don’t know once just past the 30MPH sign but definitely slowing... more so when I saw the van which was only feet away from it!
I’m not concerned about being too fast during the NSL bit only while slowing into the village where the van was stationed. Presumably they can still ‘get you’ from the front? Not just the back and sides....
If he was parked up next to the sign as you depict, then presumably you were almost already level with him as you were passing the sign. I’m not concerned about being too fast during the NSL bit only while slowing into the village where the van was stationed. Presumably they can still ‘get you’ from the front? Not just the back and sides....
He was probably looking for people coming the other way speeding in the 30; otherwise its just odd positioning.
If you were still doing 30+ once passed him, then you might expect a letter.
Unlike fixed cameras camera van operators have discretion but that in itself will depend if the operator is feeling mean or feeling fair. Take the piss & you'll get zapped. Respond to the van by slowing down & you may well get away with it.
This view as a consequence of several off-the-record conversations with operators.
This view as a consequence of several off-the-record conversations with operators.
WJNB said:
Unlike fixed cameras camera van operators have discretion but that in itself will depend if the operator is feeling mean or feeling fair. Take the piss & you'll get zapped. Respond to the van by slowing down & you may well get away with it.
This view as a consequence of several off-the-record conversations with operators.
What record?This view as a consequence of several off-the-record conversations with operators.
mygoldfishbowl said:
WJNB said:
Unlike fixed cameras camera van operators have discretion but that in itself will depend if the operator is feeling mean or feeling fair. Take the piss & you'll get zapped. Respond to the van by slowing down & you may well get away with it.
This view as a consequence of several off-the-record conversations with operators.
What record?This view as a consequence of several off-the-record conversations with operators.
carlingofblack said:
technically speaking, we should all slow to 30 or less before actually coming into line with the sign.
For better or worse you've hit the nail on the head here. "Technically: according to the facts or exact meaning of something; strictly."When speed limits are enforced in this manner there is no "come on, really?" defence.
I'm speaking as someone who once failed to spot a brightly-liveried camera van as I was planning an overtake and had a tense 2 weeks after so I feel your frustration!
Hmm sit tight for a few weeks (unless the car you were travelling in was registered to someone else/another address)
Seen this done some time ago, I ended up sitting tight for a few weeks, and rightly (or wrongly for someone of our more moronic drivers) I slow in good time prior to them now for that reason, flipside is slowing down gradually does mean smoother progress and little to no braking.
Seen this done some time ago, I ended up sitting tight for a few weeks, and rightly (or wrongly for someone of our more moronic drivers) I slow in good time prior to them now for that reason, flipside is slowing down gradually does mean smoother progress and little to no braking.
The vans, as you have intimated zap you from the rear or side hatch, not the front. Lasers cant be used through glass, hence why they have a hatch. They do in some areas have CCTV on the front / sides - this is purely to get the registration plates for bikes after they have been zapped from the front (no number plate to read). In other areas, they can or used to connect into piezo strips in the road and no laser required, but not heard of that MO for years now.
So, if I read you post right, as long as you were doing <30 as you passed the rear of the van and came into its field of view for the actual speed detection device (laser) you will, of course, be OK.
The above obviously is based on me reading your post right - in that you were heading towards a village, 60 to a 30 and the van was parked in the 30 with its rear door facing AWAY from you into the village and so into the 30mph zone. He was probably there catching people coming the other way at >30
So, if I read you post right, as long as you were doing <30 as you passed the rear of the van and came into its field of view for the actual speed detection device (laser) you will, of course, be OK.
The above obviously is based on me reading your post right - in that you were heading towards a village, 60 to a 30 and the van was parked in the 30 with its rear door facing AWAY from you into the village and so into the 30mph zone. He was probably there catching people coming the other way at >30
carlingofblack said:
Bozeat village in Northants... There’s a big Japanese car meet in the area first thing this morning and clearly the camera van is there because of that.
This - http://www.japshow.co.uk/index.phpcarlingofblack said:
I reckon it was there to catch drivers going too fast through the village towards the NSL sign, but perhaps I was unlucky in getting done going the other way.
Here - https://goo.gl/maps/6cfDoQ9HgfJ2The opposite direction - https://goo.gl/maps/NFop5ViBRik
Bozeat is a known hotspot for Japshow attendees with an itchy right foot.
Many thanks all. Those images are interesting - there’s now a make shift lay-by immediately behind the 30/NSL signs which is exactly the right size for a speed camera van!
I’m sure you’re all right - I should be fine as I was surely 30 or below on passing the rear of the van.
12 more working days to sit and wait!
I’m sure you’re all right - I should be fine as I was surely 30 or below on passing the rear of the van.
12 more working days to sit and wait!
A couple of weeks ago I passed a speed van that was facing towards me. However, it had a small device out of a side window. It might have been a small camera bit I am not sure. It looked like a bullet type camera to me. I was not speeding so no worries.
But, was there some other speed calculating device I didn’t see that was linked to it? Could the speed sensor trigger a video/photo? Has such a device been authorised as suitable for a prosecution?
After passing the van I checked in my mirror and no open window for the standard cameras.
But, was there some other speed calculating device I didn’t see that was linked to it? Could the speed sensor trigger a video/photo? Has such a device been authorised as suitable for a prosecution?
After passing the van I checked in my mirror and no open window for the standard cameras.
sospan said:
A couple of weeks ago I passed a speed van that was facing towards me. However, it had a small device out of a side window. It might have been a small camera bit I am not sure. It looked like a bullet type camera to me. I was not speeding so no worries.
But, was there some other speed calculating device I didn’t see that was linked to it? Could the speed sensor trigger a video/photo? Has such a device been authorised as suitable for a prosecution?
After passing the van I checked in my mirror and no open window for the standard cameras.
Normally a video camera to get the plates of speeding motorbikes. Obviously when facing the front the speed camera one can't see the plate.But, was there some other speed calculating device I didn’t see that was linked to it? Could the speed sensor trigger a video/photo? Has such a device been authorised as suitable for a prosecution?
After passing the van I checked in my mirror and no open window for the standard cameras.
Which way was the van facing? That tells you who they were pinging since it very obviously has all of the equipment in the back and the camera points out the rear of the van? 
A van just behind a 30mph sign pinging cars entering it makes no sense at all to me, unless it doesn't go to NSL or something.
Stepping on the anchors is largely pointless because at the point you've seen them they've seen (and probably pinged) you.
A van just behind a 30mph sign pinging cars entering it makes no sense at all to me, unless it doesn't go to NSL or something.
Stepping on the anchors is largely pointless because at the point you've seen them they've seen (and probably pinged) you.
Despite the best knowledge of people who have nothing whatsoever to do with speed enforcement and camera vans it would seem that they have reached a consensus that is incorrect.
There are some, and the number is growing, camera vans that can work out of the rear, sides AND the front.
The last case I was involved with in court operated out of the front, much to the ire of the chap who had apparently revved-up and fu*ked-off when he thought he was out of the sights of the laser.
There are some, and the number is growing, camera vans that can work out of the rear, sides AND the front.
The last case I was involved with in court operated out of the front, much to the ire of the chap who had apparently revved-up and fu*ked-off when he thought he was out of the sights of the laser.
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