Camera van parking

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Discussion

206XSi

Original Poster:

48,530 posts

249 months

Friday 1st August 2003
quotequote all
I'd like to gather a few opinions (especially from the cops!) about this 'Talivan' recently parked in Reading:



As you can hopefully see - it's on a double yellow line, on hatches behind a solid white line and directly obscurring a chevron warning sign!

Is this legal or could tickets be challenged (he didn't do me!)

tonyrec

3,984 posts

256 months

Friday 1st August 2003
quotequote all
I dont agree with where it is parked....not on really!

However, if you did get a ticket at this location i really cant see you getting off with it at all....unless its obscuring a speed limit sign etc.

This sort of parking only makes the public hate the establishment (Police) even more... which is quite wrong!

>> Edited by tonyrec on Friday 1st August 20:15

Sgt^Roc

512 posts

250 months

Friday 1st August 2003
quotequote all
Thames Valley Plods are under threat via their PDR (personal devolopement review) should they not reach their targets for traffic convictions therefore their hardly likely to park near a quite spot, and are much more likly to sit near the busy areas, write to Superintendant Olney of the Thames Valley Roads policing headquarters, yep you guessed it, it is is such big busnes for them they need a completely separate headquarters to control it. Mr Olney also does not take much winding up either as I discovered after challenging his point of view quote: Firstly, 1 would like to point out that in my reply 1 explained to you that Thames Valley Police do not profit from safety cameras, they are owned by the Safer Roads Project and speed limits are set by the Local Authority. Any monies received from the fines levied against speeding motorists like yourself are used for road safety projects or returned to the Treasury. Secondly, the Department for Transport (DfT) are very keen to see an expansion of safety cameras and 1 am sure that you are aware of the recent comments made by Alistair Darling, the Transport Minister, who stated that he wanted to see more speed cameras installed across Britain and that the Government is considering increasing speed penalties to deter reckless and speeding drivers. See my point? Since Thames Valley are enjoying increases in KSI figures even they are having to bend a little from their near pathological dislike for drive are now coming up with new idea, not that the election is not that far off and that the treasury have told them to start easing off.

206XSi

Original Poster:

48,530 posts

249 months

Friday 1st August 2003
quotequote all
I think I shall write to your friend, Mr Olney.... I've already sent the pictures to everyone else (I'm hoping the HSE will enjoy them most - along with TVPA).

KenP

654 posts

249 months

Friday 1st August 2003
quotequote all
There are two legal maxims at work here (well one but from two angles). The equitable maxim that he who comes to court must do so with clean hands, ie you cannot break the law in order to rely on the law.
Evidence obtained in breach of the law is 'fruit of the poisoned tree, which the court will not entertain'.

boosted ls1

21,190 posts

261 months

Friday 1st August 2003
quotequote all
So, today I saw a talivan at 4.30pm parked completly on the pavement at Lenton, Nottingham. There were yellow lines on the road and it was nearing rush hour. I want to complain about this but who to?

206xsi

Original Poster:

48,530 posts

249 months

Friday 1st August 2003
quotequote all
Obviously you can complain to the head of the police force in question, along with the authority that monitor them.

I've found in the past that my local MP has considerable sway over the police. Oh - and don't forget the press!!! Local rags love this stuff (apart from mine who have not responded), and The Sun did have a campaign going at one point.

Plus I rang the town council parking enforcement agency and told them there was an illegally parked van

For other pranks look at this thread on the Subaru forum: www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/thread.asp?threadid=235777

Next time take a picture if you can and send to webmaster@abd.org.uk

FunkyNige

8,916 posts

276 months

Saturday 2nd August 2003
quotequote all
There is an ongoing debate in the Eastern Daily Press with sane people vs. the Norfolk Camera Safety Camera Casualty Reduction Partnership Reduction Scheme or whatever the hell they're called in the 'Letters' page. Though it basically revolves round the simple structure;
NCSCPRS: Our cameras save lives, these stats say so.
SP: those stats are meaningless because...
SP:Your vans are parked illegally
NCSOIPDHS: no they're not
SP: Oh yes they are...
NCBKJ: Oh no they're not...

You get the picture, it's quite interesting reading, and I'm sure the NCPSRF responses will be viewed in the same light as Comical Ali when looked upon by historians in years to come.

206xsi

Original Poster:

48,530 posts

249 months

Saturday 2nd August 2003
quotequote all
I'm intrigued what NCSOIPDHS and NCBKJ stand for?

will crash

202 posts

251 months

Saturday 2nd August 2003
quotequote all
Personally speaking, I wouldn`t park a Camera Van in the location pictured, but I do feel that common sense needs to be applied.
The rule of thumb that I stick to is if it`s dangerous or causes obstruction then don`t park there.
I have numerous exemptions to parking regs, as long as I don`t cause obstruction or danger.....
However no one has ever taken any pictures of me in an ANPR wagon parked on the pavement with a huge generator out the front....

Chrisgr31

13,508 posts

256 months

Saturday 2nd August 2003
quotequote all
will crash said:

However no one has ever taken any pictures of me in an ANPR wagon parked on the pavement with a huge generator out the front....


Tongue in cheek mode on:
Because being a police officer you can get out and put a parking ticket on them as soon as they stop and get out to take the picture?
toungueincheek mode off

To be honest from what you have posted I get the impression that your camera van is parked in places where the accident record proves the need, and is well marked, therefore people who get caught deserve it.

Edited because I am an idiot and sent it before I typed my comment!


>> Edited by Chrisgr31 on Saturday 2nd August 19:03

will crash

202 posts

251 months

Sunday 3rd August 2003
quotequote all
I always like to get out and speak to people who stop and take pictures, at least that way they know why the van is there.....some people just run off though.....must be guilty of something.....!!

Chrisgr31

13,508 posts

256 months

Sunday 3rd August 2003
quotequote all
will crash said:
some people just run off though.....must be guilty of something.....!!


Speeding?

206xsi

Original Poster:

48,530 posts

249 months

Monday 4th August 2003
quotequote all
I stopped and took pictures twice - (only had film camera first time). I'm afraid that I would need to see KSI statistics to believe that this van is here on safety grounds.

This piece of dual carriageway is part of the inner ring road, it's about 1/4 mile between roundabouts. Very few sideroads and pedestrian lights at each end (ie where you have to be slow anyway for the rdbts). As you can tell from the pic, visibility is excellent.

This van is a revenue earner, because everyone speeds there. I have never seen an incident, and in fact the road is heavily congested during most of the day!

206xsi

Original Poster:

48,530 posts

249 months

Monday 4th August 2003
quotequote all
OK - I am flabbergasted!!!!

I wrote to the webmaster of TVP's website, asking for Neil Olney's address on Friday night. This morning I have an email from the man himself!!!! (no I won't share his address - but I will ask if I can post his response once I question the man)

206xsi

Original Poster:

48,530 posts

249 months

Monday 4th August 2003
quotequote all
It's all go today - Our MP has taken an interest - I'll keep you posted!

lucozade

2,574 posts

280 months

Monday 4th August 2003
quotequote all
This illegal parking is a complete and utter joke. You are all hypocrits.

You plod's need to take notice of the fact that you are in fact breaking the law NOT avoiding it.

Yes ok two wrongs don't make a right but the simple fact remains that if anybody gets done for speeding from one of these illegally parked vans then the plod who parked it there in the first place should also be fined or even towed away

Double yellow lines or chevrons or both are there for a reason its a simple as that, I refer you to the Highway Code in case you've forget

HANG YOUR HEADS IN SHAME, THE PUBLIC ARE PI55ED OFF AND ARE UPRISING AGAINST YOU

tonyrec

3,984 posts

256 months

Monday 4th August 2003
quotequote all
lucozade said:
This illegal parking is a complete and utter joke. You are all hypocrits.

You plod's need to take notice of the fact that you are in fact breaking the law NOT avoiding it.


HANG YOUR HEADS IN SHAME, THE PUBLIC ARE PI55ED OFF AND ARE UPRISING AGAINST YOU




Sounds like its only you thats got the problem!

(Edited so as not to be offensive)

>> Edited by tonyrec on Monday 4th August 13:05

206xsi

Original Poster:

48,530 posts

249 months

Monday 4th August 2003
quotequote all
I think the BiB on this forum are in agreement with the public that this type of action sucks....

>> Edited by 206xsi on Monday 4th August 13:12

Mr E

21,742 posts

260 months

Monday 4th August 2003
quotequote all
At least the van is fairly clearly marked.