Placement of Traffic car

[RumbleBee]

Last night I was travelling along a stretch of A road in clear good conditions. When I got about 10 feet away from it, I saw an outstretched arm with a speed gun on it pointing at me from behind a hedge. The officer was in a traffic car which was behind the hedge next to the road. On my speedo I was doing 68mph.

I thought that traffic cars with speed guns on board were meant to be placed in a position that they could be clearly seen and as such I feel that this is was bit unfair. Im not worried about paying the fine, but more the effect that 3 points will have on my insurance and if it will prevent me from becoming and IAM observer. Up until now my liscence has been clean since I got it and I am an IAM driver and I would like to do everything possible to protect my good record. Is it worth contesting this if I do get points?

Many thanks for your help.

[bigdods]

I am sure that if the officer intended to hit you with a penalty he would have stopped you there and then. Thats the advantage of real police over speed cameras - discretion. I often see them in bicester hiding behind a hedge with their speed guns so thats fairly normal I would say.

[Mad Man]

Was it a speed gun as in hand held? If so they usually pull you over road side & use some common sense.

If its on a tripod they tend to go the photo fixed penalty route, still tend to be more flexible than the SCP gestapo though from my experience (got flagged down & warned rather than the plod taking the photo & dishing out the points which was nice)

[RumbleBee]

Yes it was a handheld speed gun. Your posts are very re-assuring, thankyou. I do know that our local traffic plod do take a firm but sensible approach after speaking with one of them a few months back. Thanks for your posts.

[havoc]

RumbleBee said:

On my speedo I was doing 68mph.

If it was in the TVR you're probably OK anyway, assuming it was a 60-limit.

Older speedos can over-read quite substantially:-
- Integra over-reads by about 5mph at 60-actual.
- Focus over-read by only 2mph at 60-actual.

...so chances are you were actually doing 62/63/64, and the coppers will have had more important things to worry about...


...nonetheless, keep everything crossed for 14 days!

[EU_Foreigner]

Slight correction - the notice must be received by you within 14 days not counting the day of offence

[Greendubber]

RumbleBee said:

Last night I was travelling along a stretch of A road in clear good conditions. When I got about 10 feet away from it, I saw an outstretched arm with a speed gun on it pointing at me from behind a hedge. The officer was in a traffic car which was behind the hedge next to the road. On my speedo I was doing 68mph.

I thought that traffic cars with speed guns on board were meant to be placed in a position that they could be clearly seen and as such I feel that this is was bit unfair. Im not worried about paying the fine, but more the effect that 3 points will have on my insurance and if it will prevent me from becoming and IAM observer. Up until now my liscence has been clean since I got it and I am an IAM driver and I would like to do everything possible to protect my good record. Is it worth contesting this if I do get points?

Many thanks for your help.

It no different to being followed and clocked over the limit really is it, its a Bib enforcing the limit, just a different method.

Tough break I'd say, just keep your eye on the post.

T

[goskins17]

ACPO guide lines say only the officer stopping the vehicles need be visible, the officers using the laser do not have to visible at all.

[vonhosen]

EU_Foreigner said:

Slight correction - the notice must be received by you within 14 days not counting the day of offence

Slight correction - the notice must be served within 14 days not counting the day of the offence.

[robwales]

RumbleBee said:

Yes it was a handheld speed gun. Your posts are very re-assuring, thankyou. I do know that our local traffic plod do take a firm but sensible approach after speaking with one of them a few months back. Thanks for your posts.

I thought that they had to use a tripod, as handheld/resting on wing mirror isn't stable enough?

[delboy735]

Think you'll find that for plod to enforce a fine, he/she should have been wearing flourescent jackets, and also operating from a marked and visible car. If not, contest any possible fines.

[carrotchomper]

delboy735 said:

Think you'll find that for plod to enforce a fine, he/she should have been wearing flourescent jackets, and also operating from a marked and visible car. If not, contest any possible fines.

Wrong!

[streaky]

delboy735 said:

Think you'll find that for plod to enforce a fine, he/she should have been wearing flourescent jackets, and also operating from a marked and visible car. If not, contest any possible fines.

And wearing regulation underwear and socks too . Why do these myths persist? - Streaky

[7db]

RumbleBee said:

I am an IAM driver and I would like to do everything possible to protect my good record.

Everything apart from keeping to the speed limit, one assumes? Do you not sign the IAM declaration each year saying that you won't break the law?

[delboy735]

carrotchomper said:

delboy735 said:

Think you'll find that for plod to enforce a fine, he/she should have been wearing flourescent jackets, and also operating from a marked and visible car. If not, contest any possible fines.

Wrong!

No its not.Guidelines set out in 2002 by the government say so.

The Radar gun also has many outside influences affecting the accuracy of the device. So question the reading anyway.
1 Was the officer on foot?
2 Was yours the only vehicle in the field of view of the "gun"?
3 the device must be held towards the alledged speeding vehicle for at least 3seconds when the speed is indicated. was that done ?
4 For a vehicle travelling at 45MPH ( you were going quicker) the Bib must have a clear view of at least 165metres along the road where you were caught.Was this the case?
5 wind and rain can affect the reading, glass, timber, arm movement, Cb radio, mobile phones, bushes moving etc can all affect the reading given.
6 the radar should never be used from inside a car because the metal vehicle body can also distort the reading.

[delboy735]

streaky said:

delboy735 said:

Think you'll find that for plod to enforce a fine, he/she should have been wearing flourescent jackets, and also operating from a marked and visible car. If not, contest any possible fines.

And wearing regulation underwear and socks too . Why do these myths persist? - Streaky

Because my old fruit, it isn't myth.

[JustinP1]

delboy735 said:

carrotchomper said:

delboy735 said:

Think you'll find that for plod to enforce a fine, he/she should have been wearing flourescent jackets, and also operating from a marked and visible car. If not, contest any possible fines.

Wrong!

No its not.Guidelines set out in 2002 by the government say so.

The Radar gun also has many outside influences affecting the accuracy of the device. So question the reading anyway.
1 Was the officer on foot?
2 Was yours the only vehicle in the field of view of the "gun"?
3 the device must be held towards the alledged speeding vehicle for at least 3seconds when the speed is indicated. was that done ?
4 For a vehicle travelling at 45MPH ( you were going quicker) the Bib must have a clear view of at least 165metres along the road where you were caught.Was this the case?
5 wind and rain can affect the reading, glass, timber, arm movement, Cb radio, mobile phones, bushes moving etc can all affect the reading given.
6 the radar should never be used from inside a car because the metal vehicle body can also distort the reading.

This would of course all be relevant if it was a radar speedmeter was used.

I am 99% sure it would be a laser one.

[delboy735]

JustinP1 said:

delboy735 said:

carrotchomper said:

delboy735 said:

Think you'll find that for plod to enforce a fine, he/she should have been wearing flourescent jackets, and also operating from a marked and visible car. If not, contest any possible fines.

Wrong!

No its not.Guidelines set out in 2002 by the government say so.

The Radar gun also has many outside influences affecting the accuracy of the device. So question the reading anyway.
1 Was the officer on foot?
2 Was yours the only vehicle in the field of view of the "gun"?
3 the device must be held towards the alledged speeding vehicle for at least 3seconds when the speed is indicated. was that done ?
4 For a vehicle travelling at 45MPH ( you were going quicker) the Bib must have a clear view of at least 165metres along the road where you were caught.Was this the case?
5 wind and rain can affect the reading, glass, timber, arm movement, Cb radio, mobile phones, bushes moving etc can all affect the reading given.
6 the radar should never be used from inside a car because the metal vehicle body can also distort the reading.

This would of course all be relevant if it was a radar speedmeter was used.

I am 99% sure it would be a laser one.

Fair comment. However laser can only be used by properly trained officers who would need the skill of a marksman to obtain an accurate reading, with the laser, human error is more likely to be the cause of inaccurate readings.Laser cannot be used in reduced visibility either ( fog rain snow etc) But they can be used at night-time unlike Radar.
Strangely, Laser doesn't cope very well with certain surfaces,ie Chrome, Black, Dark Blue/Green etc, and sleek vehicles are also difficult to track.

On the basis of the above posts, I think it unlikely you will get a summons, usually, you are pulled over further down the road and spoken to!

[JustinP1]

delboy735 said:

JustinP1 said:

delboy735 said:

carrotchomper said:

delboy735 said:

Think you'll find that for plod to enforce a fine, he/she should have been wearing flourescent jackets, and also operating from a marked and visible car. If not, contest any possible fines.

Wrong!

No its not.Guidelines set out in 2002 by the government say so.

The Radar gun also has many outside influences affecting the accuracy of the device. So question the reading anyway.
1 Was the officer on foot?
2 Was yours the only vehicle in the field of view of the "gun"?
3 the device must be held towards the alledged speeding vehicle for at least 3seconds when the speed is indicated. was that done ?
4 For a vehicle travelling at 45MPH ( you were going quicker) the Bib must have a clear view of at least 165metres along the road where you were caught.Was this the case?
5 wind and rain can affect the reading, glass, timber, arm movement, Cb radio, mobile phones, bushes moving etc can all affect the reading given.
6 the radar should never be used from inside a car because the metal vehicle body can also distort the reading.

This would of course all be relevant if it was a radar speedmeter was used.

I am 99% sure it would be a laser one.

Fair comment. However laser can only be used by properly trained officers who would need the skill of a marksman to obtain an accurate reading, with the laser, human error is more likely to be the cause of inaccurate readings.Laser cannot be used in reduced visibility either ( fog rain snow etc) But they can be used at night-time unlike Radar.
Strangely, Laser doesn't cope very well with certain surfaces,ie Chrome, Black, Dark Blue/Green etc, and sleek vehicles are also difficult to track.

On the basis of the above posts, I think it unlikely you will get a summons, usually, you are pulled over further down the road and spoken to!

Contrary to this belief you do not need to have this level of skill with a laser device... similarly conditions, guidelines and car colour do not matter.

All that is actually needed to convict you is the testimony from an operator that they pointed the device in your direction and the 'result' of your speed on the device!

[delboy735]

Light moves. It is deflected by glass, moisture ( rain, snow) etc. It needs to hit a flat surface to return to the "gun" to give an accurate reading. Highly reflective surfaces can give innacurate readings.