How does it work, one Policeman with a camera?
Discussion
For example, I saw a bike cop yesterday on the A303. He was parked halfway across a bridge, standing there in his hi-vis gear peering into some kind of speed camera device on a tripod looking for approaching speeders. A number of cars in the outside lane were doing 90ish mph. He was peerings into the speed detecting devices' viewfinder and not looking up/writing things down as they went past.
If he detects someone speeding does he just push a button which records the image, speed, time so he can go through them all back at the station later? Or does he have to write something down after pressing the button for the image of the speeder?
Following on from above, in this kind of situation, if he only has to hit the 'save' button for each speeding car, how long does it take him to get a lock on the next car if there are 3-4 cars doing a similar speed a few hundred yards apart, are they all going to receive a brown envelope or only the first one?
If he detects someone speeding does he just push a button which records the image, speed, time so he can go through them all back at the station later? Or does he have to write something down after pressing the button for the image of the speeder?
Following on from above, in this kind of situation, if he only has to hit the 'save' button for each speeding car, how long does it take him to get a lock on the next car if there are 3-4 cars doing a similar speed a few hundred yards apart, are they all going to receive a brown envelope or only the first one?
Definitely no stopping of speeders, he was set up for the morning nice and comfy and no quick way onto the A303 (and no support vehicles stopping people in sight). Therefore I assume he had a video recorder somewhere. He was a lone bike cop though - didn't realise they carried so much equipment!
Mind, I saw a total of 3 speed traps yesterday morning on this run up the A303, nice weather must bring them out. Surely speeding is more dangerous in bad weather? (I know, I know - I wouldn't want to run a speedtrap in the rain/snow either).
Mind, I saw a total of 3 speed traps yesterday morning on this run up the A303, nice weather must bring them out. Surely speeding is more dangerous in bad weather? (I know, I know - I wouldn't want to run a speedtrap in the rain/snow either).
targarama said:
Therefore I assume he had a video recorder somewhere. He was a lone bike cop though - didn't realise they carried so much equipment!
As for speeding in bad weather...
I was out in the freezing temperatures yesterday and nabbed just under a dozen drivers/riders who were exceeding the limit through a village that had ice patches on the road!
Streetcop said:
I was out in the freezing temperatures yesterday and nabbed just under a dozen drivers/riders who were exceeding the limit through a village that had ice patches on the road!
Hi Street
And I hope you exercised little discretion? May I ask what the limit was and what was your threshold?
ca092003 said:
I was out in the freezing temperatures yesterday and nabbed just under a dozen drivers/riders who were exceeding the limit through a village that had ice patches on the road!
Hi Street
And I hope you exercised little discretion? May I ask what the limit was and what was your threshold?
Hi ca..
Unfortunately, yesterday at that site..it was a no discretion zone. A 40mph road, at a crossroads, on the approach to a school, that had been the scene of many KSI's over the last 18 months.
That coupled with the fact it was 1 degree celsius, greasy road etc...
Anybody 47mph and above got 'pegged'...over the 3 hour period..I stopped 9 vehicles.
Streetcop said:
Streetcop said:
I was out in the freezing temperatures yesterday and nabbed just under a dozen drivers/riders who were exceeding the limit through a village that had ice patches on the road!
Hi Street
And I hope you exercised little discretion? May I ask what the limit was and what was your threshold?
Hi ca..
Unfortunately, yesterday at that site..it was a no discretion zone. A 40mph road, at a crossroads, on the approach to a school, that had been the scene of many KSI's over the last 18 months.
That coupled with the fact it was 1 degree celsius, greasy road etc...
Anybody 47mph and above got 'pegged'...over the 3 hour period..I stopped 9 vehicles.
Not sure if you think I'm being 'funny' with these questions. In fact, I am totally in support of this sort of rigid enforcement when the prevailing conditions warrant it. So good on 'yer!
ca092003 said:
Not sure if you think I'm being 'funny' with these questions. In fact, I am totally in support of this sort of rigid enforcement when the prevailing conditions warrant it. So good on 'yer!
Didn't think you were being 'funny' at all mate..
Not with our new found detente..
I was penned in for the duty yesterday anyway, but the conditions meant that it was more important.
I spent the first hour, stood at the side of the road with the pro-laserII on the tri-pod. However, after only one 'punter' in the hour, and my body temperature low, I retired to the warmth and heated interior of the Volvo V70.
I then parked the Volvo, (marked up; Battenburg), side on to the road, with the pro-laser out of the opened driver's window and still they hurtled down the road. Hiding, I certainly wasn't....
Streetcop said:
Not sure if you think I'm being 'funny' with these questions. In fact, I am totally in support of this sort of rigid enforcement when the prevailing conditions warrant it. So good on 'yer!
Didn't think you were being 'funny' at all mate..
Not with our new found detente..
I was penned in for the duty yesterday anyway, but the conditions meant that it was more important.
I spent the first hour, stood at the side of the road with the pro-laserII on the tri-pod. However, after only one 'punter' in the hour, and my body temperature low, I retired to the warmth and heated interior of the Volvo V70.
I then parked the Volvo, (marked up; Battenburg), side on to the road, with the pro-laser out of the opened driver's window and still they hurtled down the road. Hiding, I certainly wasn't....
Good man.. What was the highest speed you detected?
ca092003 said:
Good man.. What was the highest speed you detected?
57mph.
although I 'pegged' 6 drivers at 48mph and a motorcyclist at 47mph...
I must admit, my tolerance yesterday was much lower than usual.
A combination of the conditions, the past history of the site and that fact that I was there solely for speed enforcement.
Usually, I'm also looking for other 'offences' etc..and my tolerance is usually in the next 10 mph..
ie: 41mph in a 30, 51mph in a 40, 61 in 50mph.....
even then...depends on how the driver is behaving and where exactly on the road they are breaking the limit..
ie: i'm more inclined to ignore a 51mph in a 40mph zone, when done on a straight stretch without junctions/driveways, as opposed to done past a junction/crossroads etc.
Streetcop said:
ie: i'm more inclined to ignore a 51mph in a 40mph zone, when done on a straight stretch without junctions/driveways, as opposed to done past a junction/crossroads etc.
Of course you are. You have a mind of your own and are not just a revenue generating machine (speed camera). Discretion is the key thing, isn't it?
ca092003 said:
Discretion is the key thing, isn't it?
Discretion IS a good thing..but can be overdone at times...in all offences...
I've mentioned before about ticketting someone for an offence, be it speeding in a 30, no seat belt, use mobile phone/drive whatever...only to be informed by the driver how surprised they are as they've always been given a warning by BiB before..
and that's not a once in a lifetime occurance. I hear it at least once a week, usualy more.
I'm also a bit time orientated when it comes to speeding...ie: bad times to speed...7.30am-10.00, 12.00-1400, 1500-1900, 2230-0030.
Now those times sound a bizarre and some people might never have heard a BiB relate speed to time, but my thoughts are speeding when there is a high volume of other traffic, schoolchildren, or potential drunken pedestrians...is a
Streetcop said:
Discretion is the key thing, isn't it?
Discretion IS a good thing..but can be overdone at times...in all offences...
I've mentioned before about ticketting someone for an offence, be it speeding in a 30, no seat belt, use mobile phone/drive whatever...only to be informed by the driver how surprised they are as they've always been given a warning by BiB before..
and that's not a once in a lifetime occurance. I hear it at least once a week, usualy more.
I'm also a bit time orientated when it comes to speeding...ie: bad times to speed...7.30am-10.00, 12.00-1400, 1500-1900, 2230-0030.
Now those times sound a bizarre and some people might never have heard a BiB relate speed to time, but my thoughts are speeding when there is a high volume of other traffic, schoolchildren, or potential drunken pedestrians...is a
I agree. I'd put all of the above in the category of prevailing conditions. If I am happy that I can stop in the distance I can see to be clear and know tht the road I am on (usually a B road) is unlikley to have kids/pedestrians, etc.. then it is maximum progress when safe and appropriate.
The other thing I have to stress is that enforcement of speed limits, and other motoring offences come to think of it, depends a lot on the officer in question and their mood.
There are days when the BiB is very busy with 'other stuff' and simply 'lets things go'....and other days when everything and everyone gets stopped and 'pegged'.
I don't know if that's morally right or wrong..but I know i've suffered from it before...and continue to do so..
There are days when the BiB is very busy with 'other stuff' and simply 'lets things go'....and other days when everything and everyone gets stopped and 'pegged'.
I don't know if that's morally right or wrong..but I know i've suffered from it before...and continue to do so..
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