Speed cameras in patrol cars?
Discussion
A friend may have driven past a marked police car somewhat over the speed limit 70-90mph (Broke when spotted) in a 50, and looking for some info if anyone knows?
Spotted in Essex on A127, patrol car parked on the pavement facing with flow of traffic, over brow of slight hill. Doors closed nobody standing next to vehicle visibly operating speed gun as they've seen before.
Do police operate cameras through back windows of cars to hide operating cameras?
FPN and points likely? Suspension? Person has no previous convictions but has done speed awareness 2 years ago.
Obviously not me, a friend of course, and they're aware of how chuffing stupid they are.
Spotted in Essex on A127, patrol car parked on the pavement facing with flow of traffic, over brow of slight hill. Doors closed nobody standing next to vehicle visibly operating speed gun as they've seen before.
Do police operate cameras through back windows of cars to hide operating cameras?
FPN and points likely? Suspension? Person has no previous convictions but has done speed awareness 2 years ago.
Obviously not me, a friend of course, and they're aware of how chuffing stupid they are.
You’re friend will be fine. Chances are if they had captured the speed they would have stopped them at the time.
It is possible that they’ll get a NIP through the post, but unlikely. They’ll have to wait two weeks (assuming they are the registered keeper of the car).
If they are unlucky enough to get one, up to 76MPH (I think maybe 75mph without looking) will be a ticket. Three points £100 fine.
Above that and it will be dealt with via SJPN and the courts.
Personally I think they’d be unlucky to get court if not stopped at the time.
It is possible that they’ll get a NIP through the post, but unlikely. They’ll have to wait two weeks (assuming they are the registered keeper of the car).
If they are unlucky enough to get one, up to 76MPH (I think maybe 75mph without looking) will be a ticket. Three points £100 fine.
Above that and it will be dealt with via SJPN and the courts.
Personally I think they’d be unlucky to get court if not stopped at the time.
Your “friend” will be fine. If it was a normal patrol car (Astra/Peugeot 308 etc) rather than a traffic car, they have no speed measurement equipment and no ANPR on board.
A much larger than expected proportion of “normal” response cops also have basically zero interest in cars or traffic. Excess speed is also difficult to prove on its own without the clever kit. If “they” weren’t stopped at the time, they have nothing to worry about.
A much larger than expected proportion of “normal” response cops also have basically zero interest in cars or traffic. Excess speed is also difficult to prove on its own without the clever kit. If “they” weren’t stopped at the time, they have nothing to worry about.
timbob said:
Your “friend” will be fine. If it was a normal patrol car (Astra/Peugeot 308 etc) rather than a traffic car, they have no speed measurement equipment and no ANPR on board.
A much larger than expected proportion of “normal” response cops also have basically zero interest in cars or traffic. Excess speed is also difficult to prove on its own without the clever kit. If “they” weren’t stopped at the time, they have nothing to worry about.
What’s stopping them following at a constant speed and using two fixed points to corroborate the follow check? Pretty sure they don’t need a fancy traffic car for that.A much larger than expected proportion of “normal” response cops also have basically zero interest in cars or traffic. Excess speed is also difficult to prove on its own without the clever kit. If “they” weren’t stopped at the time, they have nothing to worry about.
They don’t have to prove an exact speed, only that you were speeding. It would be pretty obvious in the event someone was doing 70-90 in a 50 that they were over.
In the OP’s friend’s case they’re probably fine. They may have been waiting to spot someone, or any number of other reasons. More than likely they would’ve joined the carriageway had they wanted to pull him over.
Durzel said:
What’s stopping them following at a constant speed and using two fixed points to corroborate the follow check? Pretty sure they don’t need a fancy traffic car for that.
They don’t have to prove an exact speed, only that you were speeding. It would be pretty obvious in the event someone was doing 70-90 in a 50 that they were over.
In the OP’s friend’s case they’re probably fine. They may have been waiting to spot someone, or any number of other reasons. More than likely they would’ve joined the carriageway had they wanted to pull him over.
That’s how the VASCAR system in traffic cars works.They don’t have to prove an exact speed, only that you were speeding. It would be pretty obvious in the event someone was doing 70-90 in a 50 that they were over.
In the OP’s friend’s case they’re probably fine. They may have been waiting to spot someone, or any number of other reasons. More than likely they would’ve joined the carriageway had they wanted to pull him over.
dvs_dave said:
That’s how the VASCAR system in traffic cars works.
VASCAR formalises that process, sure, but a cop saying "I followed X for 0.5 miles and measured their speed by following at a constant speed, timing it between two fixed points" is presumably going to be good enough for prosecution if the speed excess is significant enough? Perhaps its vulnerable to being challenged more so than VASCAR footage would be.I was disputing the suggestion that only traffic cops can prosecute people for speeding.
Durzel said:
VASCAR formalises that process, sure, but a cop saying "I followed X for 0.5 miles and measured their speed by following at a constant speed, timing it between two fixed points" is presumably going to be good enough for prosecution if the speed excess is significant enough? Perhaps its vulnerable to being challenged more so than VASCAR footage would be.
I was disputing the suggestion that only traffic cops can prosecute people for speeding.
I don’t have any such system in my bog standard patrol car. What you have described sounds a lot like vascar.I was disputing the suggestion that only traffic cops can prosecute people for speeding.
Excess speed is unlike stopping someone for going through a red light when all that is required is the ticket with my brief statement on then back as to the circumstances. What I witnessed and wrote in that statement is the evidence. It goes in the internal post to the tickets dept and somebody reads what I wrote and determines if there is a realistic prospect of conviction.
With excess speed, they tend to want some form of corroboration. If I notice a car (at night usually, as most people spot a fully liveried panda a mile off) speeding down the dual carriageway, catch up to it, turn my body worn video camera on and give a short commentary as to what’s going on “maintaining distance, neither gaining or losing ground on the vehicle ahead, speedometer indicating 110mph”, and then stop the vehicle and issue the ticket for excess speed, then I believe that will stick. The speed is far enough above the limit, for a sustained period that the calibration (or lack thereof) of the panda’s speedometer won’t be an issue. I don’t need to time anything between fixed points or suchlike.
If however I notice a car flying up the road, “had to do 90 to catch up to it”, by which time it’s braked and slowed down, then nobody’s getting prosecuted for it. Any good defence solicitor will bat it straight out of court as it’s not clear cut enough to stick.
Durzel said:
dvs_dave said:
That’s how the VASCAR system in traffic cars works.
VASCAR formalises that process, sure, but a cop saying "I followed X for 0.5 miles and measured their speed by following at a constant speed, timing it between two fixed points" is presumably going to be good enough for prosecution if the speed excess is significant enough? Perhaps its vulnerable to being challenged more so than VASCAR footage would be.I was disputing the suggestion that only traffic cops can prosecute people for speeding.
I had thought I’d read any using fixed points during this “follow check” but perhaps I misunderstood or that it’s outdated info.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff