Trafpol speedtrapping without a flouresecent jacket
Discussion
I spotted a Police speedtrap yesterday whilst on my way to the coast with the kids. I'm sure it was police because we'd already spotted a some trafpol cars and bikes having a 'discussion' with a couple of bikers in a layby a few hundred yards earlier, and there was no sign of any pratnership presence.
What surprised me was that the trafpol manning the speedtrap (it looked like an LTI on a tripod) wasnt wearing a flourescent jacket. He'd parked his car completely out of sight from oncoming traffic and was standing about 2 feet from the road in a field entrance, and from his positioning he appeared to be targeting traffing coming the other way. There were a lot of bikers around, obviously out on a run to somewhere, so I guess this was the focus of the operation. FWIW this was near Beccles in Suffolk, on the long 50mph section from the supermarket towards Lowestoft
I'm not inclined to make a big deal out of this, but was wondering if this is normal procedure, i.e, can he / should he man a speedtrap without a jacket ? Even if its not against the ACPO 'guidelines' it strikes me as somewhat less than safe.
What surprised me was that the trafpol manning the speedtrap (it looked like an LTI on a tripod) wasnt wearing a flourescent jacket. He'd parked his car completely out of sight from oncoming traffic and was standing about 2 feet from the road in a field entrance, and from his positioning he appeared to be targeting traffing coming the other way. There were a lot of bikers around, obviously out on a run to somewhere, so I guess this was the focus of the operation. FWIW this was near Beccles in Suffolk, on the long 50mph section from the supermarket towards Lowestoft
I'm not inclined to make a big deal out of this, but was wondering if this is normal procedure, i.e, can he / should he man a speedtrap without a jacket ? Even if its not against the ACPO 'guidelines' it strikes me as somewhat less than safe.
njwc said:
I'm not inclined to make a big deal out of this, but was wondering if this is normal procedure, i.e, can he / should he man a speedtrap without a jacket ? Even if its not against the ACPO 'guidelines' it strikes me as somewhat less than safe.
1. You state he was not stood in the road but in a field entrance?
2. He ws not involved in stopping vehicles himself?
Then there is no safety issue for the camera operator if vehicle speed was what he was measuring.
Why do you consider it to be not safe?
mg6b said:
1. You state he was not stood in the road but in a field entrance?
2. He ws not involved in stopping vehicles himself?.
Why do you consider it to be not safe?
Correct on both counts. I dont think it was particularly safe because he had his back to the traffic approaching on his side of the road so he wouldnt see any wayward vehicles heading for him, plus he wasnt especially visible despite wearing a white shirt.
Are there any regs governing the wearing of flouros or is it down to the officers discretion ? As I said before, its not a big deal. I'm just curious
njwc said:
mg6b said:
1. You state he was not stood in the road but in a field entrance?
2. He ws not involved in stopping vehicles himself?.
Why do you consider it to be not safe?
Correct on both counts. I dont think it was particularly safe because he had his back to the traffic approaching on his side of the road so he wouldnt see any wayward vehicles heading for him, plus he wasnt especially visible despite wearing a white shirt.
Are there any regs governing the wearing of flouros or is it down to the officers discretion ? As I said before, its not a big deal. I'm just curious
"I'm sorry, I just saw this guy in the middle of the road in a white shirt pointing a gun at me and I assumed he was a terrorist...so I ran him over!"
Ignoring the issues re hiding the van, etc ...... has anyone tried wearing a Hi-Viz jacket on a very hot day for any length of time ..... It was 30 degrees in the open yesterday ..... has anyone thought he may just be a bit hot !
Having said that I firmly believe that if you are going to do speed enforcement with a Laser then it should be by parking the car somewhere highly visible and wearing a Hi-Viz ......
Having said that I firmly believe that if you are going to do speed enforcement with a Laser then it should be by parking the car somewhere highly visible and wearing a Hi-Viz ......
vonhosen said:
monkeyhanger said:
Doesn't have to be a jacket, lightweight vests are available.
Anyone standing next to a busy road for an extended period without a hi-vis deserves to be run over, no matter who they are.
Anyone standing next to a busy road for an extended period without a hi-vis deserves to be run over, no matter who they are.
How do you work that out.
Shouldn't the cars be on the road ?
Right on cue.
I thought that would draw you out
Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff