Do marked police cars send fines by post?
Discussion
Was driving home from Norfolk around 1 am last night on unlit roads and notice a car behind (at times very close, then backing away). The road had speed limits change at regular intervals from 20 (yes) to 30, 40, 50 and 60 - often within yards of each other and done so with a new sign by the roadside.
So I was always slowing as I entered the new limit but my worry is it is 100% certain as I passed the sign I was say at 40 mph down from 50 and not doing the 30 until 50-100 or so yards had been completed. I rolled down to the speed limit, so to speak. I did then stick to it until it changed.
The car followed me for about 5 miles and then turned left and away...when I could then see in the mirror it was indeed a police car.
What are the odds of a still from the police car camera and a ticket in the post?
So I was always slowing as I entered the new limit but my worry is it is 100% certain as I passed the sign I was say at 40 mph down from 50 and not doing the 30 until 50-100 or so yards had been completed. I rolled down to the speed limit, so to speak. I did then stick to it until it changed.
The car followed me for about 5 miles and then turned left and away...when I could then see in the mirror it was indeed a police car.
What are the odds of a still from the police car camera and a ticket in the post?
covboy said:
In answer to the thread title I dont think they can reach the letterbox (sorry couldn't resist 
)
) Thanks all - I was of this opinion (that they would pull me over if concerned or wanting to ticket) but the thought they might do it all via Royal Mail as it the norm just had me a bit concerned.jondude said:
I was of this opinion (that they would pull me over if concerned or wanting to ticket) but the thought they might do it all via Royal Mail as it the norm just had me a bit concerned.
They could serve a NIP & s.172 request via post, but the norm (by far) would have been to pull you at the time,jondude said:
Thanks and yes, I am easing up on the worries.
On another note, when you are not warned you are approaching a new limit do you indeed have a 'grace'period whereby you can slow down and ease to the limit?
Legally, no, and I have seen a police car parked in the side lane exactly before a 60 limit changes to a 40. On another note, when you are not warned you are approaching a new limit do you indeed have a 'grace'period whereby you can slow down and ease to the limit?
On bends, you often see advance warnings with ///, //, and / countdown warnings, and much preferable to none or written signs of 300, 200, 100 etc.
jondude said:
Thanks and yes, I am easing up on the worries.
On another note, when you are not warned you are approaching a new limit do you indeed have a 'grace'period whereby you can slow down and ease to the limit?
Those white circles by the side of the road, either with a black number in the middle and red perimeter, or a black diagonal line, warn you when you're approaching a new limit. They're even kind enough to warn you what the limit will be On another note, when you are not warned you are approaching a new limit do you indeed have a 'grace'period whereby you can slow down and ease to the limit?
One point that's to be considered; For there to be a charge, they need a measured speed:- Now, Doing that from a moving vehicle is practically impossible, unless they maintain a fixed and constant position behind you to do a classic speed / distance / time, they aren't going to have a measurement to prosecute you with.
Ergo, if they were back and forward, I'd highly doubt you're in trouble.
Ergo, if they were back and forward, I'd highly doubt you're in trouble.
Haltamer said:
One point that's to be considered; For there to be a charge, they need a measured speed:- Now, Doing that from a moving vehicle is practically impossible, unless they maintain a fixed and constant position behind you to do a classic speed / distance / time, they aren't going to have a measurement to prosecute you with.
Ergo, if they were back and forward, I'd highly doubt you're in trouble.
Isn’t this why they have vascar? It does all the measuring on the move? Although I’m no expert. Ergo, if they were back and forward, I'd highly doubt you're in trouble.
Either way, a marked or unmarked car will pull you over to advise or otherwise.
Haltamer said:
One point that's to be considered; For there to be a charge, they need a measured speed:- Now, Doing that from a moving vehicle is practically impossible, unless they maintain a fixed and constant position behind you to do a classic speed / distance / time, they aren't going to have a measurement to prosecute you with.
Ergo, if they were back and forward, I'd highly doubt you're in trouble.
Seriously?! That is indeed what Vascar and other systems like it have been doing very well for many years - measuring speed from a moving vehicle without maintaining a fixed and constant position behind the target. Ergo, if they were back and forward, I'd highly doubt you're in trouble.
jondude said:
.......On another note, when you are not warned you are approaching a new limit do you indeed have a 'grace'period whereby you can slow down and ease to the limit?
The limit starts at the point where the speed limit sign sits.You cannot be guilty of breaching a speed limit before you have reached it's starting point (the speed limit sign), so there is no need for any "grace period" before the new speed limit starts.
Once you have reach the speed limit sign, you should have adjusted your speed down to the posted limit, and not when you actually reach the sign - There is no "grace period" to reduce speed after the sign limit.
(Technically, if you could reduce enough speed in an instant, then you could drive up to the new limit sign at the previous limit's speed, slow down at the sign, and then continue. In reality, the Laws of Physics make that nigh on impossible, so you need to reduce speed well in advance of the speed limit sign)
I suspect what you are asking for, is for speed limit change pre-warning signs/warnings
These are not really required, as the current system works perfectly well in general, and there are already complaints of there being far too many signs at the roadsides, and messages on the roads, so there would be no real interest in adding even more.
spikyone said:
jondude said:
Thanks and yes, I am easing up on the worries.
On another note, when you are not warned you are approaching a new limit do you indeed have a 'grace'period whereby you can slow down and ease to the limit?
Those white circles by the side of the road, either with a black number in the middle and red perimeter, or a black diagonal line, warn you when you're approaching a new limit. They're even kind enough to warn you what the limit will be On another note, when you are not warned you are approaching a new limit do you indeed have a 'grace'period whereby you can slow down and ease to the limit?
On another point, it used to be that when you saw the sign and registered the new speed, you could lift off the accelerator and slow to that speed. On modern cars, with or without a ‘coast’ function, there is little engine braking so braking seems inevitable.
Thanks all, and yes I admit this was perhaps lazy driving by me (as I only saw one other car on this road for 30 odd miles, if not longer and it was pitch black).
Will certainly do better at hitting the speed limit sign on the button (speed wise ) as yes, this has been a habit of mine for quite a while, especially when being tailgated - which for 95% of this journey I was not, so no excuses.
Will certainly do better at hitting the speed limit sign on the button (speed wise
) as yes, this has been a habit of mine for quite a while, especially when being tailgated - which for 95% of this journey I was not, so no excuses.ElectricPics said:
Seriously?! That is indeed what Vascar and other systems like it have been doing very well for many years - measuring speed from a moving vehicle without maintaining a fixed and constant position behind the target.
That's the easy part, My question in this case would be what reference do they use for a marked distance? Not so easy on a country lane without getting the measuring wheel out!Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff