Discussion
I apologise in advance for the blatant ranting that will now follow, please avert your browser should you be allergic to angry whinging.
I am 95% certain I was Truvelo’d yesterday afternoon. Not in an unfamiliar area, but on the main road approx three quarters of a mile from my front door. Dual carriageway heading eastbound from Newcastle (Coast Road), in a 50 mph limit, a camera that I must drive past at least five times per week. Chatting to client sitting next to me, not really thinking about my speed but certainly not pressing on (client is not the sort to be upset by unruly driving), then as I pass the camera, suddenly realise I have forgotten about it, look down and see I am doing approx 65mph. Bugger!!
Ten seconds lapse in concentration is all it takes to get done by one of these little b**tards, all my good work (35k pa with lots in unfamiliar towns/cities), wiped out in an instant. I am naturally seething with myself for letting it happen, but the more I think about it, there is absolutely no reason for the limit in that section of road to be anything less than NSL, and certainly no ‘safety’ reason for this camera to be placed 250 metres before it changes to NSL!!!
This is not a safety issue. To my mind, the police can piss off. If they ever need anything from me they can whistle.
I now fully expect flaming from the resident coppers on here telling me that ‘I would expect them to help me though wouldn’t I’, and yes I totally agree, my response is pretty unreasonable, but to be honest, I am very angry and probably a little irrational at the moment, but positioning a camera where that one is and having such an inappropriate speed limit is also unreasonable.
65-70 mph in that area is perfectly safe, I was driving at a very moderate pace and that was the speed that felt appropriate in that area, so its not me that was driving too fast but the stupid arbitrary speed limit set too low by some useless t
t of a bureaucrat. Unfortunately however, it is the Police who enforce these things, (via safety camera partnerships, well I think so anyway), and I want to let the Police know that prosecuting drivers for arbitrary traffic offences does significant harm to relations with the general public, as I have the (probably totally ill-conceived) idea that if enough of the public take this view then it may filter up to the Police chiefs so they can explain to MPs that they can’t do their job because the public they need to assist with policing, think they are a bunch of tts, and who keep telling them to piss off all the time. Does anyone at all recognise this?? Any of the policemen frequenting this forum, do you see evidence of this at all, or is it just me, 'Irate from Newcastle' who this pisses off??
Finally, I like coppers, one of my best mates is a copper, and on speaking to him, he says that this whole bloody obsession with speeding is complete shite, and will ultimately cause problems for the police when trying to do their job. The sooner the better for mine.
Now, I anticipate much criticism for this post, however I warn you that I will simply stand back, probably agree with you, and blame these (ill-judged) views, all on the enormous anger and sense of injustice I currently feel, much like people with hangovers blame alcohol after making complete tits of themselves the night before.......
all this and I don’t even know for sure whether I have been done yet……
Edited to tone down anger-induced swearing - apologies.
>> Edited by Adom on Thursday 2nd June 18:07
I am 95% certain I was Truvelo’d yesterday afternoon. Not in an unfamiliar area, but on the main road approx three quarters of a mile from my front door. Dual carriageway heading eastbound from Newcastle (Coast Road), in a 50 mph limit, a camera that I must drive past at least five times per week. Chatting to client sitting next to me, not really thinking about my speed but certainly not pressing on (client is not the sort to be upset by unruly driving), then as I pass the camera, suddenly realise I have forgotten about it, look down and see I am doing approx 65mph. Bugger!!
Ten seconds lapse in concentration is all it takes to get done by one of these little b**tards, all my good work (35k pa with lots in unfamiliar towns/cities), wiped out in an instant. I am naturally seething with myself for letting it happen, but the more I think about it, there is absolutely no reason for the limit in that section of road to be anything less than NSL, and certainly no ‘safety’ reason for this camera to be placed 250 metres before it changes to NSL!!!
This is not a safety issue. To my mind, the police can piss off. If they ever need anything from me they can whistle.
I now fully expect flaming from the resident coppers on here telling me that ‘I would expect them to help me though wouldn’t I’, and yes I totally agree, my response is pretty unreasonable, but to be honest, I am very angry and probably a little irrational at the moment, but positioning a camera where that one is and having such an inappropriate speed limit is also unreasonable.
65-70 mph in that area is perfectly safe, I was driving at a very moderate pace and that was the speed that felt appropriate in that area, so its not me that was driving too fast but the stupid arbitrary speed limit set too low by some useless t
t of a bureaucrat. Unfortunately however, it is the Police who enforce these things, (via safety camera partnerships, well I think so anyway), and I want to let the Police know that prosecuting drivers for arbitrary traffic offences does significant harm to relations with the general public, as I have the (probably totally ill-conceived) idea that if enough of the public take this view then it may filter up to the Police chiefs so they can explain to MPs that they can’t do their job because the public they need to assist with policing, think they are a bunch of tts, and who keep telling them to piss off all the time. Does anyone at all recognise this?? Any of the policemen frequenting this forum, do you see evidence of this at all, or is it just me, 'Irate from Newcastle' who this pisses off?? Finally, I like coppers, one of my best mates is a copper, and on speaking to him, he says that this whole bloody obsession with speeding is complete shite, and will ultimately cause problems for the police when trying to do their job. The sooner the better for mine.
Now, I anticipate much criticism for this post, however I warn you that I will simply stand back, probably agree with you, and blame these (ill-judged) views, all on the enormous anger and sense of injustice I currently feel, much like people with hangovers blame alcohol after making complete tits of themselves the night before.......
all this and I don’t even know for sure whether I have been done yet……
Edited to tone down anger-induced swearing - apologies.
>> Edited by Adom on Thursday 2nd June 18:07
Adom
I felt EXACTLY the same way when I thought I had got done by a scamera van in a 30 when I was doing maybe ~40 (whatever, it was safe for the clear dry conditions and wide road), minutes after crawling through the local high street (30 limit) at 15mph. I never heard anything - maybe you may be as lucky. Hope so.
I felt EXACTLY the same way when I thought I had got done by a scamera van in a 30 when I was doing maybe ~40 (whatever, it was safe for the clear dry conditions and wide road), minutes after crawling through the local high street (30 limit) at 15mph. I never heard anything - maybe you may be as lucky. Hope so.
Adom said:
To my mind, the police can piss off. If they ever need anything from me they can whistle.
Quite agree.
Police asked me to pass on criminal information to which I become privy, due to certain quirky, regular circumstances.
I have agreed to help, but not until the war on motorists ceases.
I feel the same, one local plod came to visit a while ago to talk about burglaries and home security, he recommended a water sprinkler in the garden as scroats apparantly don't like getting wet. (Official plod statistic according to him !) I didn't suggest that he gets off his fat arse and gets a life as I don't think it would have done any good.
It's interesting to watch plod cars on the A13 from the M25 in towards the Isle of Dogs, ambulances carve a swathe through the traffic like Moses did through thee sea but see a plod car trying to battle on and it's like he's invisible.
The plod say they are just doing their job, what they're told to do - but they don't seem to be complaining too much about it
It's interesting to watch plod cars on the A13 from the M25 in towards the Isle of Dogs, ambulances carve a swathe through the traffic like Moses did through thee sea but see a plod car trying to battle on and it's like he's invisible.
The plod say they are just doing their job, what they're told to do - but they don't seem to be complaining too much about it
Oh dear Adom.
Commiserations firstly but-
Could it be that through your lack of concentration (your words) that you got zapped and therefore your fault. Bit like stabbing your toe - it hurts - so you lash out and kick the dog?
Who operates the camera Police or Tyneside SCP?
Twill all seem better tomorrow when the hurt subsides.
DVD
Commiserations firstly but-
Could it be that through your lack of concentration (your words) that you got zapped and therefore your fault. Bit like stabbing your toe - it hurts - so you lash out and kick the dog?
Who operates the camera Police or Tyneside SCP?
Twill all seem better tomorrow when the hurt subsides.
DVD
Adom,
I know how you feel, and I actually agree with most of your sentiments. The use of speed cameras is disproportionate to the level of harm that speeding actually does. If 'speed kills', as BRAKE and others would have us believe, then we would be measuring deaths in the tens (if not hundreds) of thousands.
If you get a NOIP through the post, then get over to www.pepipoo.com for some good advice on legal ways to contest the charge.
I know how you feel, and I actually agree with most of your sentiments. The use of speed cameras is disproportionate to the level of harm that speeding actually does. If 'speed kills', as BRAKE and others would have us believe, then we would be measuring deaths in the tens (if not hundreds) of thousands.
If you get a NOIP through the post, then get over to www.pepipoo.com for some good advice on legal ways to contest the charge.
I think DVD has a point here - all the police guys I know hate cameras more than I do (and that is really, really going some).
The camera partnerships and the police are not the same. There may be some policemen in the partnerships (and some of them are decent guys - I've met a few), but they ain't the same as the scammers we see posting here on occasions and spinning, ducking, weaving, sliming and dodging in the media when faced with the nasty fact that their toys don't save lives.
The camera partnerships and the police are not the same. There may be some policemen in the partnerships (and some of them are decent guys - I've met a few), but they ain't the same as the scammers we see posting here on occasions and spinning, ducking, weaving, sliming and dodging in the media when faced with the nasty fact that their toys don't save lives.
MMC said:
I think DVD has a point here - all the police guys I know hate cameras more than I do (and that is really, really going some).
The camera partnerships and the police are not the same. There may be some policemen in the partnerships (and some of them are decent guys - I've met a few), but they ain't the same as the scammers we see posting here on occasions and spinning, ducking, weaving, sliming and dodging in the media when faced with the nasty fact that their toys don't save lives.
Adom said:
This is not a safety issue. To my mind, the police can piss off. If they ever need anything from me they can whistle. `
That will include when your car is stolen, your house burgled or you happen to get punched on the nose for your wallet then
Adom said:
.....idea that if enough of the public take this view then it may filter up to the Police chiefs so they can explain to MPs that they can’t do their job because the public they need to assist with policing, think they are a bunch of t
Oh yes!
Most of those who get caught for something they could have avoided if they had been paying attention
Who do you think the police police for?
Is it for the benefit of the police?
There will always be police
Adom said:
Any of the policemen frequenting this forum, do you see evidence of this at all, or is it just me, 'Irate from Newcastle' who this pisses off??
It pisses a lot of Policemen and women off as well. They drive cars and occasionally they get caught and end up in the same boat as you! Some get away with it just the same as some of you!
Adom said:
Finally, I like coppers, one of my best mates is a copper, and on speaking to him, he says that this whole bloody obsession with speeding is complete shite, and will ultimately cause problems for the police when trying to do their job.....
Until you talk to 'residents' and those who have been injured or had relatives killed by someone who happens to have been driving faster than they should have been, ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT PERSON WAS NOT CONCENTRATING ON THE JOB IN HAND!!!!
Adom said:
Now, I anticipate much criticism for this post, however I warn you that I will simply stand back, probably agree with you, and blame these (ill-judged) views, all on the enormous anger and sense of injustice I currently feel, much like people with hangovers blame alcohol after making complete tits of themselves the night before.......
I will not criticise you other than your post about never helping the police again. Have you in the past?
If you have, who do you think benefited from the help you gave? Was it some poor victim of crime?
Adom said:
all this and I don’t even know for sure whether I have been done yet……
15 days will no doubt give you the answer!
>> Edited by gone on Friday 3rd June 00:12
WildCat said:
I think DVD has a point here - all the police guys I know hate cameras more than I do (and that is really, really going some).
The camera partnerships and the police are not the same. There may be some policemen in the partnerships (and some of them are decent guys - I've met a few), but they ain't the same as the scammers we see posting here on occasions and spinning, ducking, weaving, sliming and dodging in the media when faced with the nasty fact that their toys don't save lives.
Trouble is these partnerships increase the alienation of the general public to the police and the authorities . Our office's sole proponent of speed cameras soon changed his views after receiving an NIP for 37mph in a 30 on a downhill stretch of road immediately after the speed limit decreases from 40.
Too true, this war on motorists. No coincidence that when I've been a victim of crime I've had a hell of a job getting police assistance, but if I'm seen speeding in good conditions on an empty road - they've got all the time in the world for me.
Recently had a 'discussion' with a magistrate friend re sill speed limits. She told me that it's not for me to decide what's safe on a particular stretch of road. My reply was that I could probably do it better than the people whose job it is.
EG: My last ticket - 36 in a 30. Dual carriageway, no concealed entrances, no junctions, dead straight, houses on the left side only but set well back and with their own little road for access. Hidden camera.
Small village nearby on A-road, houses with driveways and gardens direct onto road, many roads coming off it, children in residence and a school, though not actually on the A-road, only 50m down a side road. Speed limit - 50!!! I ask you.
Recently had a 'discussion' with a magistrate friend re sill speed limits. She told me that it's not for me to decide what's safe on a particular stretch of road. My reply was that I could probably do it better than the people whose job it is.
EG: My last ticket - 36 in a 30. Dual carriageway, no concealed entrances, no junctions, dead straight, houses on the left side only but set well back and with their own little road for access. Hidden camera.
Small village nearby on A-road, houses with driveways and gardens direct onto road, many roads coming off it, children in residence and a school, though not actually on the A-road, only 50m down a side road. Speed limit - 50!!! I ask you.
I've said it before but the only way to remove the cameras is direct action. If you feel agrieved about a ticket then remove/destroy/break the camera for the sake of other drivers who might get nabbed in the future. 
I would imagine that even a quick spray painting would give a great deal of satisfaction!
We all know that they don't do a jot for safety so if each respectable,responsible member of the public who has already been turned into a criminal by this cash drive took some revenge, then there would be an end to the fleecing and we might get a worthy road safety policy that actually focuses on saving lives.
I would imagine that even a quick spray painting would give a great deal of satisfaction!
We all know that they don't do a jot for safety so if each respectable,responsible member of the public who has already been turned into a criminal by this cash drive took some revenge, then there would be an end to the fleecing and we might get a worthy road safety policy that actually focuses on saving lives.
gone said:
This is not a safety issue. To my mind, the police can piss off. If they ever need anything from me they can whistle. `
That will include when your car is stolen, your house burgled or you happen to get punched on the nose for your wallet then
>> Edited by gone on Friday 3rd June 00:12
Ahh that'll be when we get the 'service' providing us with a 'crime number' then!
Sorry gone but the public perception is what they see and quite frankly what I see now is not what I expect of the police. I have been mugged, burgled and beaten up and nothing ever came of it, yet I'll be made to feel the full weight of the law for nothing more than a minor motoring infringement which is putting no-one in any danger whatsoever.
You can't possibly tell me you don't realise this, over the last 5 or so years the police seem to have become little more than an extension of the inland revenue.
Adom - its all about cash and absolutely f
k all else, just treat it like the war that it is and be on the constant lookout for snipers.Er, is there a single 'Safety Camera Partnership' in which the Police are not a 'Partner'?
20 years ago, if Mr & Mrs Nice got stopped for speeding then first, they were probably travelling way over the limit and second, they would nevertheless have felt aggrieved in a 'haven't you got any proper criminals to catch/' sort of a way and this would have been reflected in the next contact they had with the Police.
What's changed is that they are now far, far more likely to be zapped, if they are it'll be for a significantly lesser transgression than before, and it'll quite possibly somewhere where the limit has recently been lowered to a questionable level.
As a result they'll feel considerably more aggrieved about it - and, so far as they're concerned, the finer points of who 'owns' the camera don't register - it's the Police that do you for speeding, and it's the Police whose relationship with Mr & Mrs Nice will deteriorate as a result.
20 years ago, if Mr & Mrs Nice got stopped for speeding then first, they were probably travelling way over the limit and second, they would nevertheless have felt aggrieved in a 'haven't you got any proper criminals to catch/' sort of a way and this would have been reflected in the next contact they had with the Police.
What's changed is that they are now far, far more likely to be zapped, if they are it'll be for a significantly lesser transgression than before, and it'll quite possibly somewhere where the limit has recently been lowered to a questionable level.
As a result they'll feel considerably more aggrieved about it - and, so far as they're concerned, the finer points of who 'owns' the camera don't register - it's the Police that do you for speeding, and it's the Police whose relationship with Mr & Mrs Nice will deteriorate as a result.
gone said:
That will include when your car is stolen, your house burgled or you happen to get punched on the nose for your wallet then
That happens now, how many forces turn out for car crime these days ? Some of them specifically state that they will not send an officer for a break in to a car, they just issue a crime number by telephone.
As for the rest, it seems to largly depend on where you live !
Nick_F said:
20 years ago, if Mr & Mrs Nice got stopped for speeding then first, they were probably travelling way over the limit and second, they would nevertheless have felt aggrieved in a 'haven't you got any proper criminals to catch/' sort of a way and this would have been reflected in the next contact they had with the Police.
I agree, pre-scameras if you got 12 points and therefore banned you probably richly deserved it and were a genuine danger to everybody and much better off in a bus. Now you can get 12 points in a weekend for doing nothing dangerous or even marginally unsafe.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff