camera van in bustop
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Discussion

DAVEVO9

Original Poster:

3,469 posts

298 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
pretty sure I just got done coming out of my village, when I saw the van was doing 45 as you can see from pic road is on a crest, I did see it straight away and braked hardish to get down to 30, I am guessing this only took a couple of secs from the time I saw it.. I have altered this post from saying 2 to 3 secs after I saw the van I then reacted, I would have been day dreaming then wouldn't I?

I thought it was illegal for them to be parked in a bustop? after taking these pics, coming back the other way there were now 2 little old dears stood right by the van on the edge of the road to try and see the bus coming, there are also no warning signs anywhere around our village for mobile speed traps







Edited by DAVEVO9 on Monday 1st October 10:56


Edited by DAVEVO9 on Monday 1st October 20:21

cptsideways

13,893 posts

283 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
Interesting way to gain a "prior opinion of speed" too, perhaps you ask the CC how its done or do these vans have X-Ray vision.


Safety my ass

Jasandjules

72,676 posts

260 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
cptsideways said:
Interesting way to gain a "prior opinion of speed" too, perhaps you ask the CC how its done or do these vans have X-Ray vision.


Safety my ass
My understanding is, thus far:

If in the opinion of the SCP/Police that a fine can be issued and money raised to cover the wages and existence, then a prior opinion of speed follows. This is then confirmed, and the tax note issued. biggrin

DAVEVO9

Original Poster:

3,469 posts

298 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
so does anyone know then if they are allowed to park in bus stops?

GPSHead

657 posts

272 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
DAVEVO9 said:
so does anyone know then if they are allowed to park in bus stops?
The long and the short of it is that it doesn't matter either way. They can do what they like and still take your money; any rules they break do not affect subsequent prosecutions. But I think they are allowed to park at bus stops if they get the council's permission.

I notice it's Thames Valley (can you tell us where?) If you approached the van from its front then you'll be OK. Even if you approached from the back you may also be OK. I'm fairly sure that at least some of those vans don't use lasers, but a Gatso-like device instead. You can see this for yourself because a lot of their ambush points (which are quite often in bus stops) are accompanied by the white ladder markings on the road. That indicates to me that as long as you slow down before you pass the back of the van, you're OK. I may be wrong though, and that may not apply to all of their vans. Does anyone know more about this, as it's something that I've been curious about for a while?

eltax91

10,784 posts

237 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
This shit really boils my urine! How the can they generate a "prior opinion of speed" based on the visability here.

If you get a NIP, i would challenge the case on this fact alone. Not sure on the bus stop rules, DVD or VH will be along shortly to inform i'm sure...

Puggit

49,829 posts

279 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
They just need to seek permission from the relevant bus company - which in the case of Reading, is wholly owned by the council, so blanket permission is given.

However, Reading Buses recently introduced new, longer buses - so the vans had to leave... hehe

...and were replaced with motorbikes banghead

If it helps I went past a TV 'safer' roads vans in a similar position (Remenham near Henley) with a bump and only a short distance and I didn't get done...

DAVEVO9

Original Poster:

3,469 posts

298 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
GPSHead said:
DAVEVO9 said:
so does anyone know then if they are allowed to park in bus stops?
The long and the short of it is that it doesn't matter either way. They can do what they like and still take your money; any rules they break do not affect subsequent prosecutions. But I think they are allowed to park at bus stops if they get the council's permission.

I notice it's Thames Valley (can you tell us where?) If you approached the van from its front then you'll be OK. Even if you approached from the back you may also be OK. I'm fairly sure that at least some of those vans don't use lasers, but a Gatso-like device instead. You can see this for yourself because a lot of their ambush points (which are quite often in bus stops) are accompanied by the white ladder markings on the road. That indicates to me that as long as you slow down before you pass the back of the van, you're OK. I may be wrong though, and that may not apply to all of their vans. Does anyone know more about this, as it's something that I've been curious about for a while?
cheers for that.. It's in kennington a village just on the outskirts of oxford.. will see what happens will count the days LOL

SS2.

14,712 posts

269 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
GPSHead said:
I'm fairly sure that at least some of those vans don't use lasers, but a Gatso-like device instead. You can see this for yourself because a lot of their ambush points (which are quite often in bus stops) are accompanied by the white ladder markings on the road.
Mobile Gatso units do not require timing marks (for example) as a secondary check if they are being used in 'attended mode'. This is because the Gatso is providing corroboration of the operator's prior opinion of a vehicle's excess speed.

However, some form of corroborative evidence would be required if the Gatso was being used in unmanned / unattended mode.

DAVEVO9

Original Poster:

3,469 posts

298 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
Puggit said:
They just need to seek permission from the relevant bus company - which in the case of Reading, is wholly owned by the council, so blanket permission is given.

However, Reading Buses recently introduced new, longer buses - so the vans had to leave... hehe

...and were replaced with motorbikes banghead

If it helps I went past a TV 'safer' roads vans in a similar position (Remenham near Henley) with a bump and only a short distance and I didn't get done...
I have seen them there on the left just before the shell garage?

as soon as I saw them I was braking hard so maybe they didn't get a fix on me quick enough?

GPSHead

657 posts

272 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
DAVEVO9 said:
cheers for that.. It's in kennington a village just on the outskirts of oxford.. will see what happens will count the days LOL
Fingers crossed. I know Kennington...downright sneaky having a camera there, as you'd think they would stick to A and B roads. frown

SS2. said:
GPSHead said:
I'm fairly sure that at least some of those vans don't use lasers, but a Gatso-like device instead. You can see this for yourself because a lot of their ambush points (which are quite often in bus stops) are accompanied by the white ladder markings on the road.
Mobile Gatso units do not require timing marks (for example) as a secondary check if they are being used in 'attended mode'. This is because the Gatso is providing corroboration of the operator's prior opinion of a vehicle's excess speed.

However, some form of corroborative evidence would be required if the Gatso was being used in unmanned / unattended mode.
Thanks for that...interesting. I wonder if all the TV vans just contain mobile Gatsos then. They seem to be a lot smaller than most other SCPs' vans, and maybe that's the reason. Thereagain I could be completely wrong. smile

Puggit said:
...and were replaced with motorbikes banghead
eek

That paves the way for new locations as well, e.g. rural DCs where there's no layby. In fact, pretty much anywhere. Wonderful. furious

over_the_hill

3,338 posts

277 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
A question I asked in another thread recently was do the doors or windows have to be open when they are in operation - apparently yes - they should not be aiming through the glass. Given this I would say that the angles here would mean that they could not get a fix much beyond the second lampost back.

wmg100

1,698 posts

245 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
So would it be OK to queue for the bus directly infront of the camera lens?

scratchchin

over_the_hill

3,338 posts

277 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
or pull in behind to check your map or take a telephone call.

Lostusernamedamn

4,364 posts

237 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
The excuse or false justification of "prior opinion of speed" is as much bullsh1t as the claim that they are "reducing accidents" or that the money received will go to "good causes". It's just that the Labour government have given a great number of people employment in the revenue camera industry, people who otherwise would probably not be employable anywhere else. The rest of the money props up the country (i.e. goes to the Treasury) to fund Brown's mismanegement of the economy from all the years he was chancellor.

Puggit

49,829 posts

279 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
The early TV vans (which I no longer see on the roads) certainly contained radar devices - my warning device told me!

I don't see them on my commute any more party so don't carry the device...

SS2.

14,712 posts

269 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
GPSHead said:
wonder if all the TV vans just contain mobile Gatsos then. They seem to be a lot smaller than most other SCPs' vans, and maybe that's the reason. Thereagain I could be completely wrong. smile
The (small) TVP van which pinged me a while back was equipped with an LTi20-20.

Deva Link

26,934 posts

276 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
DAVEVO9 said:
was doing 45 as you can see from pic road is on a crest and the van was only in my view for about 2-3 secs max before I reacted and got it down to 30 so I don't know if it got a fix on me in time, we will see ..
Well, to be honest, if drivers are reqularly doing 45MPH in a 30 limit and with the hazards that are visible from your snaps, then you can imagine why there's a scamera van there....
DAVEVO9 said:
there were now 2 little old dears stood right by the van on the edge of the road to try and see the bus coming,
That would have been a good pic to have sent to the local rag.

Dwight VanDriver

6,583 posts

275 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
Noted is the absence of yellow lines indicative no Traffic Regulation Order - no offence. Even if they had been down TRO may have contained a clause to allow vehicles used for police purposes.

OK - Highway Code only says DO NOT park on a Bus Stop not MUST NOT.

Dependant on circumstances one ponders whether one could 'bend' the offence of obstruction/dangerous position (note the junction t'other side of road opposite)to fit. Probably not?

dvd

streaky

19,311 posts

280 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
GPSHead said:
DAVEVO9 said:
so does anyone know then if they are allowed to park in bus stops?
The long and the short of it is that it doesn't matter either way. They can do what they like and still take your money; any rules they break do not affect subsequent prosecutions. But I think they are allowed to park at bus stops if they get the council's permission.

I notice it's Thames Valley (can you tell us where?) If you approached the van from its front then you'll be OK. Even if you approached from the back you may also be OK. I'm fairly sure that at least some of those vans don't use lasers, but a Gatso-like device instead. You can see this for yourself because a lot of their ambush points (which are quite often in bus stops) are accompanied by the white ladder markings on the road. That indicates to me that as long as you slow down before you pass the back of the van, you're OK. I may be wrong though, and that may not apply to all of their vans. Does anyone know more about this, as it's something that I've been curious about for a while?
DS2 type, possibly? - Streaky