Andrew Dixon

I'm trying to help out a mate on a speeding fine related issue. Any advice would be most welcome!

My mate was flashed head-on at night doing 60 in a 50 zone. The letter duly arrived so he decided that rather than fill in the necessary details, he would use the 'blank sheet' to write a letter to the Police asking to see the photographic evidence He also complained strongly that the head-on flash was potentially very dangerous and had blinded him temporarily whilst travelling at speed.

Yesterday (2 months after recieving the initial letter from the Police) he recieved a copy of the photograph showing the front of his car brightly lit up. The accompanying letter states that the original end-date to send in the paperwork still applies (26th December). Oddly though, they have neglected to include the necessary forms.

It's obviously been over a month since the due date, so he's not quite sure how to proceed given that he now has now form to return.

Personally I was amazed that they are allowed to use flash cameras head on, epecially at night, but the evidence is right there. I was also surprised that he seems to have been expected to plead guilty or innocent before even being allowed to see the evidence!

What do you reckon would be the best course of action?

Thanks in advance. Andrew.

beemerboy

fact: He was speeding...
penalty: pay the fine, and consider himself lucky

i think speeding is dangerous and he should be strung up!!!

BB

Diablo

Notwithstanding the fact he shouldn't have been speeding, I thought Gatsos (assuming it is from the flash) were not used to prosecute speeding motorists coming towards them?

D

Andrew Dixon

Thought the same thing too. It does worry me a little that the authorities are seemingly so desperate to catch speeding motorists that they are willing to risk causing an accident!

With regards to my original request, I think the question is not so much "Can he get away with it?" as "What should he do next to avoid getting in even more hot water?"!

Oh and no need to moralise over the speeding offence, I am sure he feels sufficiently ashamed of his evil act ...

A

SWRTWannabe

I wouldn't have thought there was an issue with the camera flashing towards you at night - it's only as likely to cause an accident as a flash of lightning, or a roadside photographer for that matter.

Could be worth looking at the abd site to see about the legallity of the camera though

Neil Smalley

Normal Gatso Cameras are not calibrated or authorised for prosecuting people going towards them.

The Truvelo(blue with a red lens) ones are. Get him to check which type it is.

black knight

remembered abt 3yrs ago, got flashed almost everynight travelling on Mxx during roadworks (routed to the fast lane of opposite direction). the gatso was used for the other 2 lanes going the opposite way but somehow it flashed when i passed head on.

to summarise, at least a dozen times but nothing received. suspect ran out of film? or they are not calibrated to do oncoming cars?

Richard Askew

..but Truvelo's dont flash do they?

Andrew Dixon

Hmm. I suppose it could just be a freak coincidence ...

E.g. He witnessed a head-on flash from a GATSO on the opposite carriageway, and then within a short space of time got caught unawares by a head-on Truvelo?

Might be worth him re-driving the route he took that night to see what types of cameras he passed.

Do the Truvelos use an infra-red flash?

TelBoy

Yes they do Andrew.

If he definitely got caught be a forward-facing Gatso, that would mean the goalposts have changed.

And i don't think the Govt would get away with it without informing the general public beforehand.

Mice_Elf

Technically, this is invasion of privacy and will not stand up. The police are NOT allowed to use flash cameras head on - IR cameras are used for that.

You'll need the proper warning information on that so best bet would be to place a request on the Law & Related forum on 5ive-o. Although Burr and Nathan do pop in here.

TelBoy

Ah there speaks the voice of experience!!

Did you get done in the end Mice? And did you check your e-mail today?

davyboy

Truevelo's do indeed flash.

I know from experience.

Mice_Elf

Just someone who likes to know the finer points of law.

No. They didn't have a chance once I'd quoted the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1984 Section 1 1(c) at them!

Yes, I did.... Hmmmmmmmmmmmm....

TelBoy

Ok, thanks bunches cute blondie m8.

Freak

If they do get you head on im expecting about 600o penalty points worth of summons to come throught the post....ive been setting them off in the opposite direction for years-knowing full well you cant be prosecuted for it.
Wastes the film.......

davyboy

Anyone who thinks that forward facing camera's dont flash, please feel free to drive through Northampton town centre at 37mph.

ademid

Yep can deffo confirm that the front facing camera's do flash in Northants. Me doing 36Mph @11.16pm I know I know I'm a wicked man......

But was told that they are not infra red but have a purple lense cover to stop the dazzle the driver type situation.... Might have been told a big fat porker but thats what I heard.

Ade

Richard Askew

..like the one that flashes red in the 40kph limit in that little village just before you get to Nurburg

Toonman1

"roadside photographer"

In the dim and distant past, I competed for a few years in the European Rally Championship. The only time flash photography wasn't a pain in the @rse, was when you knew it was coming on well lit, spectator type stages. I could've cheerfully strangled the stupid little t0ssers that jumped out of the undergrowth unexpectedly and fired a flash in our direction! It used to break my concentration and that of my Navigator, AND bl00dy blind me half the time!:|

It's not as if I'm against flash Photography - I've been a Professional Photographer in advertising for over 20 years - just used in the right place, and on or near a road isn't one of them. The Government should know better... Thanks for the warning.

Cheers

Mike