Speed Guns by Motorbike Cops (NIP without being stopped)

[GrandTour]

Hi chaps!

I have been using the search function but most threads seem years old.

I have received a NIP for doing 45 in a 30 (first one ever!)

I recall going past a police officer stood next to his motorbike with a handheld device soon after the speed limit dropped from 60 to 30 through a village (nice and early in the morning!)

They have now sent the S172 Form.

There doesn't seem to be any useful information on there like a photo of the car, camera serial number, etc.

I guess I want to know what people's experiences are with this situation - the online consensus seemed to indicate that you would expect to be stopped and given a summons at the roadside if caught by a handheld gun.

Thanks for your advice!

[OzzyR1]

GrandTour said:

Hi chaps!

I have been using the search function but most threads seem years old.

I have received a NIP for doing 45 in a 30 (first one ever!)

I recall going past a police officer stood next to his motorbike with a handheld device soon after the speed limit dropped from 60 to 30 through a village (nice and early in the morning!)

They have now sent the S172 Form.

There doesn't seem to be any useful information on there like a photo of the car, camera serial number, etc.

I guess I want to know what people's experiences are with this situation - the online consensus seemed to indicate that you would expect to be stopped and given a summons at the roadside if caught by a handheld gun.

Thanks for your advice!

No experience of this situation personally, but I would assume that if you are caught via a handheld device then the obvious outcome would be a notification in the post.

How could they stop you on the roadside? Unless there are some other vehicles up the road waiting for the operator to radio through details of everyone he nabs going over the limit and they pull them in it's impossible.

Its similar to getting caught by a camera van parked up in a lay-by, they don't pull you over, you just get a letter in the post.

[Mandat]

OzzyR1 said:

How could they stop you on the roadside? Unless there are some other vehicles up the road waiting for the operator to radio through details of everyone he nabs going over the limit and they pull them in it's impossible.

I've had experience of continental speed traps, where you get stopped there and then, at the point of speed measurement.

It's far from impossible, but perhaps not usually practised in the UK.

[vonhosen]

GrandTour said:

Hi chaps!

I have been using the search function but most threads seem years old.

I have received a NIP for doing 45 in a 30 (first one ever!)

I recall going past a police officer stood next to his motorbike with a handheld device soon after the speed limit dropped from 60 to 30 through a village (nice and early in the morning!)

They have now sent the S172 Form.

There doesn't seem to be any useful information on there like a photo of the car, camera serial number, etc.

I guess I want to know what people's experiences are with this situation - the online consensus seemed to indicate that you would expect to be stopped and given a summons at the roadside if caught by a handheld gun.

Thanks for your advice!

Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.
Photos/video aren't mandatory, neither is stopping vehicle at the time.

[Earthdweller]

We used to do speed checks all the time in the days before scamera vans being everywhere

Static roadside checks usually involved check then stop but on some fast roads it was dangerous or inappropriate to do so

There the cop would record the speed and Vehicle details and send out an NIP followed by a summons

There is very unlikely to be any pictures just the officer’s word and evidence from the speed gun that the car was speeding

Which is sufficient evidentially

[agtlaw]

As above, nothing unusual here.

45/30 is too fast for a course but well within the threshold for a £100 Fixed Penalty with 3 points.

Ignore anything you’ve read on the internet about “new speeding fines.”

Edited by agtlaw on Sunday 27th October 14:17

[4rephill]

agtlaw said:

As above, nothing usual here.

45/30 is too fast for a course but well within the threshold for a £100 Fixed Penalty with 3 points.

Ignore anything you’ve read on the internet about “new speeding fines.”

I suspect you meant: "....nothing unusual here."

[phumy]

It happened to me in 2017, i came out of a 50 limit into a 30 limit and was slowing as i crossed the 30 sign, however i was not slowing enough and was caught at 38mph in a 30mph limit. I saw the motor bike cop and his camera and swore to myself at the time, the NIP came through, i accepted it and paid the fees and got the points.

If you know youve done it i would be very reluctant to argue the case.

[Gafferjim]

I got done some years ago, same scenario, bike cop with speed gun, 36 in a 30 just 200 yds before the limit lifted to 50, NIP through the post, speed awareness course offered & taken.

[Uppy89]

Certainly in Avon and Somerset, the speed enforcement unit use speed camera motorcyclists as well as camera vans. They look like regular Police motorcycles but without the blue lights and they are also operated by Police staff rather than a warranted officer. For that reason, they operate in exactly the same way as the camera vans so you wouldn't get pulled over at the time.

https://www.trafficchoices.co.uk/somerset/traffic-... - halfway down the page.

Possibly a similar sort of thing to what caught you.

[HantsRat]

We have vans as well as camera MC's. It doesn't need to be a camera though. We can clock a speed on a hand held device and simply NIP the driver by post. Granted It is more common to be stopped at the roadside with a hand held laser but it's not compulsory.

[BobSaunders]

Happens regularly in Cheshire, police office with a speed gun in a farm field entrance/exit.

Personally, i would prefer it to be a camera van, rather than a police officer, if there really was a choice. Taking a front line officer away from from line duties is insane.

[WJNB]

[quote=GrandTour]Hi chaps!
I recall going past a police officer stood next to his motorbike with a handheld device soon after the speed limit dropped from 60 to 30 through a village (nice and early in the morning!)
quote]

I find such posts as this & some replies useful warning me of scenarios that might ensnare me, such as always being sure to be at the posted limit whilst passing the relevant sign. Relying on not spotting a camera van or speed cop loitering ahead no reason not to do so. Such precise adjustment of speed as the limit sign comes into view can sometimes annoy those following but that's their problem not mine. My experience is that if being tailgated as limit signs are approached (nearly always a 4x4 BMW/Audi) then exaggerated diminishing of speed minimises the risk & speed of being struck from behind. Use of brakes is avoided as illumination of the brake lights can sometimes communicate deliberate antagonism when all I'm considering is MY safety.

[kiethton]

WJNB]randTour said:

Hi chaps!
I recall going past a police officer stood next to his motorbike with a handheld device soon after the speed limit dropped from 60 to 30 through a village (nice and early in the morning!)
quote]

I find such posts as this & some replies useful warning me of scenarios that might ensnare me, such as always being sure to be at the posted limit whilst passing the relevant sign. Relying on not spotting a camera van or speed cop loitering ahead no reason not to do so. Such precise adjustment of speed as the limit sign comes into view can sometimes annoy those following but that's their problem not mine. My experience is that if being tailgated as limit signs are approached (nearly always a 4x4 BMW/Audi) then exaggerated diminishing of speed minimises the risk & speed of being struck from behind. Use of brakes is avoided as illumination of the brake lights can sometimes communicate deliberate antagonism when all I'm considering is MY safety.

Waze also helps but is not 100% fool-proof

[GrandTour]

WJNB]randTour said:

Hi chaps!
I recall going past a police officer stood next to his motorbike with a handheld device soon after the speed limit dropped from 60 to 30 through a village (nice and early in the morning!)
quote]

I find such posts as this & some replies useful warning me of scenarios that might ensnare me, such as always being sure to be at the posted limit whilst passing the relevant sign. Relying on not spotting a camera van or speed cop loitering ahead no reason not to do so. Such precise adjustment of speed as the limit sign comes into view can sometimes annoy those following but that's their problem not mine. My experience is that if being tailgated as limit signs are approached (nearly always a 4x4 BMW/Audi) then exaggerated diminishing of speed minimises the risk & speed of being struck from behind. Use of brakes is avoided as illumination of the brake lights can sometimes communicate deliberate antagonism when all I'm considering is MY safety.

There was 2 Subaru's up my a** for much of that journey but that is not an excuse from me!

Will update thread with outcome in due course.

[martinbiz]

BobSaunders said:

Happens regularly in Cheshire, police office with a speed gun in a farm field entrance/exit.

Personally, i would prefer it to be a camera van, rather than a police officer, if there really was a choice. Taking a front line officer away from from line duties is insane.

Whilst I agree with the sentiment, getting stopped at the time often has a better outcome for minor infringements, human factors, interaction, discretion etc assuming of course the attitude test is passed, none of which ‘robot’ operated camera vans or fixed cameras possess

[Gertrude]

BobSaunders said:

Happens regularly in Cheshire, police office with a speed gun in a farm field entrance/exit.

Personally, i would prefer it to be a camera van, rather than a police officer, if there really was a choice. Taking a front line officer away from from line duties is insane.

Happens regularly in Derbyshire too, but it's not the police, it's DCC's 'Derby & Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership' who issue the tickets, so no impact on front line policing.....

[QBee]

I am not having a go at anyone on here, but if we assume that 30 signs are there for a reason, then going through them at 45/50 could be seen as dangerous.

Where I live, I am in a 60 zone on a country lane before a large village, 200 metres before the start of a 30 zone. Said 4x4s, BMWs and Audis (he's right, they are the stereotypical culprats) come powering past my house at 60 and above, and rarely get down to 30 by the 30 signs. These signs are followed by two blind bends, where the road isn't wide enough for evasive action. There then follows a few hundred metres of houses with driveways, and then the primary school.

It's half a mile to the school from my house, and no way can I allow my two grand children to walk to school. There are over 1000 kids at that school. They deserve our consideration.

[/rant over]

[GrandTour]

I don't disagree about the 30 signs being there for a reason.

I agree with the 30 MPH speed limit.

However, standing straight after the sign with a head-on radar gun before 8 am on a Sunday is a bit sly.

If they really cared about the children/elderly they would put warning signs (like they do for roundabouts/motorway exits/etc) to say that the speed limit is going to change. Even then you need time to slow down - so many people slam on for average speed 50 signs on the motorway, it can't be much better going from 60 to 30.

This is why people see them as a bunch of sly thieves rather than community-spirited heroes.

[QBee]

Fair, balanced comment.
My 30 limit is visible for about 200 metres, but no prior slow down warning, so most pass the signs at more than 30.
20 limits need to be enforced at relevant times, I agree.