sammyh

iTrader: (1)

Has anyone seen the Sun this week with the new style speed cameras on test in unmarked vans? We all know that using an unmarked van is not a new tactic but is it not getting out of hand now?
I'm probably wrong but its got to be classed as a form of entrapment or a least violating some form of human right.
The majority of us on scoobynet are owners of cars that are meant to be driven quickly, we all find it hard to stick to the speed limit, even 5-6 mph over is going to get us prosecuted - something has to be done.
But what?

Carl Harvey

One saw me.

Got the NIP last week.

B******S

sickboy

Very common in HERTS these days.

A mate got done by one years ago.

Damned unsporting.

Stuart H

The Scum has got it wrong again!!

The thing they were on about was actually ANPR (Automatic NumberPlate Recognition) which looks out for stolen cars etc. and has absolutely nothing to do with knocking people off for speeding.

I wish that *insert random swearwords* newspaper(in the loosest sense of the word) would get their facts right occasionally.

Scott!

But on the plus side from what I've heard the ANPR system used for SPECS, the speed cameras that read the front plate can't read the square style ones!

Nice!

Not planning to test it out tho'!

Big feature on Speed cameras and related speding issues in Auto Express this week which makes forinteresting reading... Nice quote from Thames Valley Police on positioning of Gatso's

"I am not aware of any that are deliberately hidden"

Yeh right!


Scott!


[This message has been edited by Scott! (edited 05 October 2000).]

tizard99

Just a quick extra to this, if your in Essex around Southend, Basildon, Billericay, Brentwood, etc you may see white vans parked up with a flash on a tripod in front, I've been told they ARE speed checking (recording?) and a few coloured un-marked Transits with speed cameras in their grills.

Watch that right foot.

T

Sith

I read that in Auto Express aswell. Was going to write a very harsh post but have calmed down now.

Questions for Stuart H. Our resident Mr Kipling munching Traffic Officer.

SPECS cameras - How does the law stand on Motor Cycles as they have no front number plate. Therefore discriminating against 4 wheel vehicle drivers.

Also, is there a speed limit variance built in for overtaking moves. eg, you put your foot down to overtake - therefore you will have done the distance quicker that the speed limit would normally allow.

I will stop at that before I carry on and start to upset people.

P.

Jerome

Do not speed in Farnborough - ever. There seems to be various types of sneaky speed traps around all the time.

While we are on the subject, is it possible to see the accident statistics for particular roads to confirm that they are actually accident black spots and not prime revenue generating spots.

Jerome.

Stuart H

Sith,

Dunno much about SPECS. I'll ring around tomorrow & ask

Chris L

Thanks for that Dave - I drive through Virgina Water most mornings on my way to work in Ascot - I'll keep an eye out.

Cheers

Chris

JT

Done by a van thingy few years ago here in Glasgow, was driving a BM 735i at the time, 38 in a 30 limit, (just entered the 30 limit from a 40 limit!

I know I was wrong but the wee sh-te told me, and I quote, " If you're going to have a car like that son, you've got to expect a rap on the knuckles now and again"...patronising, jealous Bast-rd methinks.

I accepted the fixed penalty and eventually, (4 months) got an apology from asst. chief constable though the 3 points stood.

The truth of the matter was I was on the way to see an elderly lady who had fallen at home (I'm a GP) this cut no ice at the scene!

so there you have it, sneaky is one thing, patronising and rude is another!

Just my £0.02 worth

JT

Scott!

I know that feeling... Got stopped by a panda car one morning (6am) and some spotty wanna be traffic cop started lecturing me.. Everything he accused me of I disagreed with him and he would back down... ( Speeding - not in control etc )

His mate checked my car over and then said I quote" Take it easy in a big powerful car like that "

I wouldn't have minded a comment like that but it was only a bl**dy Cavalier!!

Made me break the speed limit then to get to work in time!


Scott!

Jerome

Forgot to mention the unmarked dark green/blue Escort estate they use in Farnborough. Clobbered me a few years back.

Briefly accelerated past some to55er (who must have been drunk ) on a 30 limit dual carriageway then slowed down. Couldn't understand why the Police stopped two lanes of traffic to pull me in when I was doing 30mph. Traffic guy said "Oh, our equipment is quarter of a mile down the road". I really didn't need the points. Describing what the other (drunk) driver was doing didn't wash with him either.

Drink driving, no that's fine today Sir, we just need to collect some dosh for the new canteen at the nick so we are going for speeders.

Jerome.

[This message has been edited by Jerome (edited 05 October 2000).]

CharliePsycho

I drive Devon to London every week...

21 Roundabouts
22 Speed Cameras

This week, unmarked Vauxhall Senator, armed response unit, marked up Senator, Ford Transit and a Helicopter... oh joy..

Bas

Chris

I work in Ascot. Haven't seen another Scooby around though.

I drive MY98 Terzo. Give us a wave if you see me. What you driving?

Cheers

Bas

Bas

Jerome

Where's all these sneaky speed cameras in Farnborough?

I must have been incredibly lucky!!!

Cheers

Bas

Huxley

Basingstoke has two white vans one unmarked and one marked they also have a new camcorder type laser guns for non motorway use i have seen the unit up close in our yard at work (coppers tea bar next door)the traffic cop was giving our landlord a demo so i had a poke nose! also local beat bobbies in Thatcham have a radar gun (antique)to play with in the morning !

Huxley

ptholt

Funnily enough i spotted two vans (one on a23 and the other on the a27 near the tunnel) with little hatches open and video cameras poking out the back. one striped one not.

It was there at 8am in the morning when i picked a friend up, and still there at 10:30pm when i dropped him off!!!!

Scott!

A few years back I spotted somethng being tested on the M40. White Senator with tinted back window, looked normal except one of the reversing lights was very shiney.

I followed him for about 30 miles and every car that went by over 85mph got flashed!


Glad they haven't put these into everyday use - yet!

Scott!

The Zohan

The splendid and efficient boys & girls of the Northampton Constabulary have got three of these vans - Two in a Burgandy colour and one white one - The use the Citreon/Pugeot/Fiat derived vans - think it is a Pugeot Expert - It has side mounted sliding doors too both sides to make it easy to 'get at' the motorists, they also 'shoot' out of the back doors They have been know to position them over the M1 between j15-16 and more commonly on the a45 bear Brackmills, the villages do not miss out ether.

[This message has been edited by Paul Habgood (edited 06 October 2000).]

Chris L

Hi Bas

MY00 DBM UK Turbo with Scoobynet sticker on the windscreen . The only other regular Scooby I see is another MY00 DBM around Virgina Water way. I'll wave if I see you!

Cheers

Chris

KRIS

I think the like of `SPECS` is on dodgy ground now after OCT 2nd. On this date the HUMAN RIGHTS ACT came into force. Due to the fact that specs only targets car drivers i.e. they have a front number plate then this could be against the European convention for human rights basically because one section of the public is being targetted. If you get stopped by Mr copper and they state to you that they are only doing people for 10 mph over the speed limit then the same applies ....They are being discriminatory and that equals breaking the ECHR.
Funny old world aint it ?

K

Steve_Yeowart

Lancs and Manchester police have unmarked Ford galaxies which they park on various bridges over Motorways in the area and have done for several years now with cameras sticking out of side window so nothing new here I'm afraid. Accident blackspots? Nah good old revenue boosting I'd say.

Problem is every time I see an MPV on a bridge I thinks its the Feds most of the time its just some mother on her way to do the school run!!!

Steve_Yeowart

Lancs and Manchester police have unmarked Ford galaxies which they park on various bridges over Motorways in the area and have done for several years now with cameras sticking out of side window so nothing new here I'm afraid. Accident blackspots? Nah good old revenue boosting I'd say.

Problem is every time I see an MPV on a bridge I thinks its the Feds most of the time its just some mother on her way to do the school run!!!

astraboy

Re: little green van thing in virginia water area.
Yeah I know it only too well cos the f***er sets up shop at the top of my road. The only good thing is he cannot swing the camera round so I make a point of caning it out of my street & ripping up the road in the cossie knowing he cant do a damn thing ( his word against mine, no proof, aight!)about it.
On the plus side, he does seem a little lazy as I chewed up the tarmac a while back, then did not enjoy going back 5 mins later as i had forgotten me phone but he did nowt.
Also, while Im here, This ECHR thing is interesting. When the Slough Cruise was shut down, the bill were pulling anyone in a fast car but letting the s**t heaps go past unmolested. does this qualify as targeting one section of the public and not the other?

Dave T-S

DocJock

Couldn't agree more!

DocJock

I know I'm going to get a good kicking for this but here goes anyway....

1 If you don't want to get *entrapped* don't break the law
2 Why is it bad form for the Police to use unmarked vehicles but it is ok for *us* to use radar detectors / post sites,reg.no.s of unmarked Police vehicles ?
3 In Hants. static units are amost exclusively sited in 30/40 limited areas, if you speed there you are asking for it.
4 Mobile units are usually on motorways/A-roads, if you are observing the road around you you should spot them !

I am not having a go at the people posting above, just trying to widen the perspective.(and liven up the banter) People who know me know my opinions on our national speed limits policy.

DJ (who will no doubt get nicked today !)

Rider

While we're on the subject of speed cameras…
If you live in the Colchester/Manningtree/Clacton area, watch out for the white Astra van (T or V plate, I think) with a sneaky new speed camera.
I was following some mid-50s couple in their shiny new Merc C-class the other night and tut-tutting at them as they turned at a junction without indicating. As we came down this long, straight road which is *very* residential and hence a 30mph limit, I dropped to about 32-34mph and watched them speed away. And then I saw the white van by the side of the road
FLASH, FLASH!
Just how much do you think I laughed? No, it was more than that.
I watched the Merc as the two heads in the front turned to one another and started talking. They were so rattled that they pulled to the side of the road and had an argument before setting off again. They went past me as I sat in a petrol station, and they were still bitching about it.
Sometimes, speed cameras aren't so bad. Only sometimes, though.

dholmes

I saw one this morning sitting on a bridge on the A1(M) 4 lane section just south of Peterborough. Thanks to this thread, I was prepared and drove by at 70mph. Two BMW drivers ( a 5 and 3 series) came speeding past and no doubt will be receiving their NIPs soon.

This is the same stretch of road that one SIDC member claimed to be doing 2.5 miles per minute on. Doesn't bare thinking about!