What to do.....

[Mrs Fish]

James here:

Driving home from Somerset late last night with the Atom on a trailer I got double flashed from a Gatso...

...now the interesign part....

It was the Belfry camera which unless they have invented invisible signs is in a 60 zone A road, now my limit is 50 as I was towing. I was doing 47mph as per a morpheous GPS.

So is it just a defective camera or is it one set to go off and HGV's and mistook my road train as an HGV and triggered...

Do I bother ringing anyone as late at night the flashes are very noticible.

Thoughts people.

Worst case is I get a NIP and waste loads of time defending my innocence, as I know Iwas doing 47

[Parrot of Doom]

The markings on the road should see you right, presuming of course the camera timings are accurate

[pies]

Its probably a case of the gatso thinking your a lorry,as gatso's can tell the size by the amount of returned radar.I doubt your hear anything

[Fish]

That could be why then

wasn't sure they could do that

[bermyandy]

Out of interest, anyone know why gatsos sometimes flash if you drive towards it? Theres one in clapham, and have seen the southbound camera flash at cars travelling northbound?

[turbobloke]

bermyandy said:

Out of interest, anyone know why gatsos sometimes flash if you drive towards it? Theres one in clapham, and have seen the southbound camera flash at cars travelling northbound?

Previously, 'dummies' with active scanning and flash, but no film, were set up to flash once at oncoming traffic over the catch speed, and this was often set below the catch speed for 'normal' up the chuff shooting. Then they started flashing twice head on, and the ABD started getting reports of a-friend-of-a-friend getting a NIP from a forward flashing GATSO. Like the 41 in a 40 it could well be true, this isn't doubting the word of those who have actually seen such paperwork, but we never got any (paperwork) so I reckon there's still far less chance of anything happening that way - in terms of the law anyway...

When this first happened to me, at night and in the period before camera partnerships, I had been overtaken approaching a GATSO on the opposite side of the road and the thing went off with the overtaking car almost level with the camera and me in full eyeshot. Having been temporarily blinded, I slowed very quickly and stopped up the road a bit, waiting until I could see more clearly before getting back underway at normal speed. A telephone call to the local nick later that night got me a number to phone the next day, when a sgt in the camera unit told me that being temporarily blinded was less dangerous than speeding.

[scobbo]

If you didn't commit the offence - and you get an NIP, refuse an FPN and go not guilty if you get a summons (Which I doubt!). They can't convict you because THEY WON'T HAVE THE EVIDENCE!

[FourWheelDrift]

bermyandy said:

Out of interest, anyone know why gatsos sometimes flash if you drive towards it? Theres one in clapham, and have seen the southbound camera flash at cars travelling northbound?

Sure it isn't a Truvelo not a Gatso, they are front flashing cameras recognised by 3 very closely set lines across the road in front of them.

[deeps]

In my experience all live Gatsos flash if you're at their trigger speed, no matter which direction you're going. The only difference being you don't get done if you're going towards it. I've set quite a few off like that.

[TripleS]

deeps said:

In my experience all live Gatsos flash if you're at their trigger speed, no matter which direction you're going. The only difference being you don't get done if you're going towards it. I've set quite a few off like that.

I read some story about them not being 'type approved' or something, for forward facing use, so they can only get you from the rear if that's true - but maybe that information is out of date - I'm not sure. In any case I prefer not to take chances with them.

Best wishes all,
Dave.