possibly pinged
Discussion
Hi guys
I'm wondering if someone could cast some light on an issue for me?
I've just returned home from a meeting, I was making swift progress home along a new section of the A51, it's a section of dual carrigeway thats been open around 2 years.
Perfectly straight section of road, dry and sunny.
I had my pda and tom tom on the dash but wasn't paying much attention to it, because the section of road is newer than the maps. coming towards a bridge I could make out the shape in the middle of the bridge, as I got to 200yds or so, I could make out against the sunlight it was a copper with a tripod set up
I glanced at the speedo and i think it indicated about 75!!! but can't be sure really as to be quite honest I was enjoying the drive along the nice smooth empty section of road. It really was empty too, I passed 1 car in maybe 2 miles.
What do the police use as a limit when doing these checks?
I'm a little miffed to be quite honest that they didn't at least have their vehcile on display.
do they just look for vehicles moving at far greater speeds than other traffic...hard to judge on a empty road.
or do they zap everything and get the cash in?
Is my clean licence about to take a hit.....if so, whats the penalty on a 70mph road?
I'm wondering if someone could cast some light on an issue for me?
I've just returned home from a meeting, I was making swift progress home along a new section of the A51, it's a section of dual carrigeway thats been open around 2 years.
Perfectly straight section of road, dry and sunny.
I had my pda and tom tom on the dash but wasn't paying much attention to it, because the section of road is newer than the maps. coming towards a bridge I could make out the shape in the middle of the bridge, as I got to 200yds or so, I could make out against the sunlight it was a copper with a tripod set up
I glanced at the speedo and i think it indicated about 75!!! but can't be sure really as to be quite honest I was enjoying the drive along the nice smooth empty section of road. It really was empty too, I passed 1 car in maybe 2 miles.
What do the police use as a limit when doing these checks?
I'm a little miffed to be quite honest that they didn't at least have their vehcile on display.
do they just look for vehicles moving at far greater speeds than other traffic...hard to judge on a empty road.
or do they zap everything and get the cash in?
Is my clean licence about to take a hit.....if so, whats the penalty on a 70mph road?
I know, I feel like a mad axe man now 
I think the top indicated speed earlier in the jorney might have been a little higher, my pocket gps speedcam do dah gave a bit of a warning 30 secs or so before, which was odd as there was no icon on the screen and it showed me ploughing merrily through a field. but I did back off ....i think !!
I put this down to being a bit of a paddy on the part of tom tom being asked to plot a route through a field. Isn't hindsight a wonderful gift
I think the top indicated speed earlier in the jorney might have been a little higher, my pocket gps speedcam do dah gave a bit of a warning 30 secs or so before, which was odd as there was no icon on the screen and it showed me ploughing merrily through a field. but I did back off ....i think !!
I put this down to being a bit of a paddy on the part of tom tom being asked to plot a route through a field. Isn't hindsight a wonderful gift
nighthawk said:
do they just look for vehicles moving at far greater speeds than other traffic...hard to judge on a empty road.
or do they zap everything and get the cash in?
Officially they have to form an opinion that you're exceeding the limit and then test that opinion by measuring with their equipment.
Anyone who believes that that's what they actually do in practice is living in cloud cuckoo land, though.
Especially if the traffic was light, the road conditions, visibility, etc. were good, and you were not holding an apple ... the BiB might well apply his discretion ... which a static scamera would not! You have up to 14 days to find out. Don't forget to let us know either way - Streaky
I too believe that they just ping away merrily, but whats the range of these things?
i'm guessing he was using a laser which printed the photos too because there was a box near his feet with what looked like paper hanging out of it...blowing in the breeze kind of thing.
I'm still unsure of their criteria for this type of road....do thay have it set as 70+10% ?
i'm guessing he was using a laser which printed the photos too because there was a box near his feet with what looked like paper hanging out of it...blowing in the breeze kind of thing.
I'm still unsure of their criteria for this type of road....do thay have it set as 70+10% ?
nighthawk said:
I too believe that they just ping away merrily, but whats the range of these things?
i'm guessing he was using a laser which printed the photos too because there was a box near his feet with what looked like paper hanging out of it...blowing in the breeze kind of thing.
I'm still unsure of their criteria for this type of road....do thay have it set as 70+10% ?
If a LTI 20-20 Marksman
, the range is around 20m to 1,000m. With video camera fitted the usual shooting distance is 300m. Setting depends on the local policy.
Streaky
>> Edited by streaky on Wednesday 27th April 17:46
Nitehawk, so long as your actual speed was 78 or less you'll be OK.
Also, my friendly copper buddy tells me that they almost never clock you at a range of less than 400m.
For you to be doing a true 78 your speed would need to be reading at least 80, or more if, say, the tyres on your driven wheels are partly worn.
Don't worry too much. If you do get an NiOP, you can go to Pepipoo and fight it with a good chance of success.
Also, my friendly copper buddy tells me that they almost never clock you at a range of less than 400m.
For you to be doing a true 78 your speed would need to be reading at least 80, or more if, say, the tyres on your driven wheels are partly worn.
Don't worry too much. If you do get an NiOP, you can go to Pepipoo and fight it with a good chance of success.
I can't find anything in Cheshire police's policy for this, or anything about what the use 
How come road police units can get away with taking pix without a visable presence?
After all, a highly visable polic car parked on the bridge would be far better than a guy standing on a bridge partially obscured by the railings and silhouetted against the sun!
I was under 100meters away by the time i could make out it wasn't a resting walker etc.
edit for cooperman
Tyres are brand new on the 05plate (sub 15.k) car I was driving.
>> Edited by nighthawk on Wednesday 27th April 18:03
How come road police units can get away with taking pix without a visable presence?
After all, a highly visable polic car parked on the bridge would be far better than a guy standing on a bridge partially obscured by the railings and silhouetted against the sun!
I was under 100meters away by the time i could make out it wasn't a resting walker etc.
edit for cooperman
Tyres are brand new on the 05plate (sub 15.k) car I was driving.
>> Edited by nighthawk on Wednesday 27th April 18:03
nighthawk said:
How come road police units can get away with taking pix without a visable presence?
What's that gotta do with anything? You were being naughty by exceeding a speed limit and just be thankful you didn't kill yourself or anyone else. I'm surprised the copper didn't jump out the way as you approached.
JoolzB said:
What's that gotta do with anything? You were being naughty by exceeding a speed limit and just be thankful you didn't kill yourself or anyone else. I'm surprised the copper didn't jump out the way as you approached.
I don't know if thats a serious observation or not....are you suggesting the nice police officer should have given up his task and thrown himself off the bridge, maybe if he had...this thread wouldn't exist
nighthawk said:
are you suggesting the nice police officer should have given up his task and thrown himself off the bridge, maybe if he had...this thread wouldn't exist
I'm sure if his boss had told him that was the current procedure he would've done thus causing a fatality and an excuse for a new scam.
As for yer 78 in a 70 I'd reckon you'll be fine, just be more pro-life in the future please.
nighthawk said:
Hi guys
I've just returned home from a meeting, I was making swift progress home along a new section of the A51, it's a section of dual carrigeway thats been open around 2 years.
Perfectly straight section of road, dry and sunny.
I had my pda and tom tom on the dash but wasn't paying much attention to it, because the section of road is newer than the maps. coming towards a bridge I could make out the shape in the middle of the bridge, as I got to 200yds or so, I could make out against the sunlight it was a copper with a tripod set up
I glanced at the speedo and i think it indicated about 75!!! but can't be sure really as to be quite honest I was enjoying the drive along the nice smooth empty section of road. It really was empty too, I passed 1 car in maybe 2 miles.
I *think* the road you're referring to is the A500 - the Basford, Hough & Shavington bypass that links Nantwich (almost to) the M6?
I got zapped there at 85MPH almost 2 yrs ago just bowling along at 7.30PM on a mid summer evening. Driving towards Nantwhich (heading West) I was therefore driving into the sun (although it was still high in the sky). The tripod and operator where standing off to the left of the bridge in the shadow of the trees. The operator wasn't wearing a high-viz jacket. I didn't see him until the last minute.
Much to my annoyance I was in the same place a few wks ago, and, as always thinking about driving and not necessarily the speedo and as I got close to the bridge there was an operator (this time with hi-viz jacket) with Camera standing right in the centre of the bridge. It's really weird that he kind of merged into the concrete centre support/railings and the sky so he was very difficult to see. I was doing ~80ish. Last time it took 7 wks for the NIP to come (company car) so I've still got a few wks to know if I'm going to get done again.
I'm furious about this road and location being targeted - it's a very high standard road and I'm not aware of there being any accidents on it, let alone serious ones. It's a quiet road, with no pedestrians, but is an absolutely perfect revenue raising spot. A few months ago there where proper Bib (rather than Scamera operators) hiding on the embankment under the bridge and zapping approaching drivers.
I did draft out a stinking letter to the Chief Con but, as I live in Cheshire and don't really want to be specially targeted, I thought better of sending it.
>> Edited by deva link on Thursday 28th April 21:17
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