How many people been caught this way

[Winnebago Nut]

I found this post on another bbs, And it has got me wondering how many people have been nicked this way.

Gotta say I don't know a whole lot about S172 (too busy catching criminals) but I've never liked GATSOs, and to illustrate one of my reasons why, let me tell you a story...

A while ago a blue BMW was stopped by an officer in Camden. The car was registered to a chap in South London. The officer wasn't happy with the number plates or the chassis number and thought the car was a "Ringer". The driver (a known scrote) was subsequently arrested - but maintained that he'd just bought the car.

The Camden officer requested that a local officer make enquiries at the registered keeper's address. So I went round. And there on the drive was an identical blue BMW.

It turned out that the South London car was the genuine one. The one from Camden was a ringer. So, two cars with the same reg number.

The thing was that the legitimate owner had a heap of GATSO tickets and parking tickets for places he'd never been to. He'd even been found guilty of a number of offences that it was now obvious he hadn't committed. He'd pleaded "Not Guilty" every time, but until the clone car was discovered he was unable to prove his innocence. (Yes PROVE his INNOCENCE...).

And that's the problem. Just because the GATSO photo shows your number doesn't even prove it's your car - much less that it's you driving.

And that's where it all falls down.

Innocent until proven guilty? Doesn't look like it. I wonder how many innocent people are convicted of offences after their plates are stolen or copied?

And that's why I don't like GATSOs.
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ATB Derek.


>>> Edited by Winnebago Nut on Monday 3rd March 22:22

[P*Ting]

Probably not that many, but it's not good for those that get stung.

There was also that thing in the news ages ago about 'dyslexic' digital cameras that were handing out tickets to the wrong reg plate. That also involved drivers trying to prove they weren't guilty.

[deltaf]

Theres almost total reliance on these scameras nowadays.
Theres an overwhelming feeling that cos the camera "saw" you, or what looks to be you, that it was indeed you.....yeah...right.
If you ask me these cameras are a symptom of the laziness that police forces are displaying regarding crime detection.
Its so much easier to stuff a gatso up and let it do the "detecting" of dangerous (allegedly) speeders.
If only they persued burglars, muggers, rapists, murderers,shoplifters,fraudsters,pickpockets and terrorists with such zeal...what a great country this would be.
Shame that they leave it to an unintelligent box of scrap on a pole to make life changing decisions for the people it ****s over.

[pbrettle]

Interesting point - though rare I suspect. The cornerstone of English law is "innocent until proven guilty" which the whole GATSO thing throws out the window.... you have to prove that you werent there, but only to get endorsed anyway cos they dont care. Its daft that we have this stupid situation, if were anywhere else I doubt that it would have got this far....

Cheers

Paul

[outlaw]

pbrettle said: Interesting point - though rare I suspect. The cornerstone of English law is "innocent until proven guilty" which the whole GATSO thing throws out the window.... you have to prove that you werent there, but only to get endorsed anyway cos they dont care. Its daft that we have this stupid situation, if were anywhere else I doubt that it would have got this far....

Cheers

Paul

Its not rear at all I is very common.

[Nightmare]

outlaw said: Its not rear at all I is very common.

and getting more and more commen. The problem (IMO) here is that as you get more reliant on technology you stop thinking. Its much, much easier to cheat an electronic system than most people because they cannot think in anything but straight lines (or to whatever extent the've been prograamed). As a result, the criminal minded find ways around it (like the one outlined here) and the more upstanding memebers of society get more dicked......