Page 1 of another `speeding` question for marksparks......

Hi,

Travelling along a dual carriageway that is a 50mph limit to start with and goes into a national speed limit section after a left hand bend.....

So I`m travelling along sticking to the 50mph, I go around the first (sharp) bit of the left hand bend and start to build my speed up a bit as the bend straightens and I know the national limit is ahead and as I continue around the bend a police van (hidden from view for approaching vehicles more than 100 yards away - theres a surprise) comes into view.

I glance down at my speedo and am doing about 58 - 60 - typical..... so my question is, what kind of speed is it likely I would get an NIP for??? You know, the 10% plus xxx etc.

I stopped once and asked a policeman that had a gun what speed he was nicking people for and he said his gun was set at 65mph and that people would have had 70 odd on their speedo...that was a while ago.

Flippin sneaky tho` again....they must have been parked up less than 100 yards from the national limit sign.

And, about 4 cars had shot past me on the first bit of the road at 70 plus and another car was right next to me in the outside lane at the same time.

Obviously it was an accident black spot as there are no houses or path ways anywhere and both sides of the road are bordered by woodland with a central reservation about 20 feet wide!

why take life so seriously..its not like you are going to make it out alive

This item was edited on Wednesday, 22nd March 2006, 17:36

It all depends the mood the coppper was in!

Seriously, you probably would have to be doing in excess of 60 before they nicked you. However it was rather sneaky of them to be hiding but what side of the national speed limit signs were they?

Oh, they were on the 50mph side of the signs but you wouldn`t believe how hidden the vehicle is until you are right on top of it.

I don`t understand how fixed cameras must have warning signs and be painted bright yellow ( and obviously don`t flash you until you are past them!) yet, they can paint the back of a van like a workmans van and park it where they like.

why take life so seriously..its not like you are going to make it out alive

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yet, they can paint the back of a van like a workmans van and park it where they like.

They can`t.

If the camera is being used for speeding purposes,they must park on a certain length of straight (no parking on corners),they must be identifiable as police vans (no using hire vans or deliberately camouflaging them as a plumber`s van) and,if no permanent camera signs warning you of possible camera sites are in the vicinity,they must place a mobile warning sign within a certain distance of the van.

It`s possible the van was being used for other purposes,such as roadtax evasion.

You have 17 days ( 14 days + postage,assuming the car is registered to you and not a hire/lease car) to sweat it out !

Cheers Bowfer.....they were definitley parked in an obscured location and no warning sign on that stretch of the road.

Wish I had stopped and taken a photo now......will do if anything arrives in the post.

No identifying marks on the back of it either...just those wide red/yellow chevrons and the black squares in the rear window.



why take life so seriously..its not like you are going to make it out alive

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No identifying marks on the back of it either...just those wide red/yellow chevrons and the black squares in the rear window.

...and POLICE in massive lettering :D

Did you actually see any occupants using handheld guns or was there something set-up outside the van on a tripod? There`s any number of reasons for them to have been sitting there otherwise... Keep us posted.

julianf

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just those wide red/yellow chevrons and the black squares in the rear window.

That`s enough actually.
As long as it wasn`t completely unmarked,a hire van or it said "Bill Bacon Butchers". ;)

Take a good look for the warning signs ( black camera on white background ).
More and more roads in Aberdeen are getting these signs erected on lamposts on a permanent basis.
It means they can roll up,unannounced,any time they like with any other warning.

You could argue these permanent signs are a deterrent,then again you could argue that people will get complacent if they constantly see signs,but no cameras,then...one day....,flash,bang,wallop,£60 sir. :/

We also get them sitting in a peculiar site here.
It`s as you leave a housing estate 30 zone into open countryside and a 60 zone.
There is no safety reason for them being there at all.
No-one accelerating a bit early can do any harm.
No houses (they`re all behind you),no junctions,no bad corners,no crossings,no schools etc.etc.
In all the years I`ve lived near there,I`ve never once seen an accident either.

Easy money and convictions figures though. :/

This item was edited on Thursday, 23rd March 2006, 11:49

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Did you actually see any occupants using handheld guns or was there something set-up outside the van on a tripod?

Neither need be the case.
Handheld guns are used by traffic officers in cars,not camera vans.
Camera vans don`t use external tripods either.
The camera is set up in the van,behind one of the black windows.

I have to concede,there is little actual excuse for getting done by a camera van,provided they comply with all the guidelines covering their siting.

This item was edited on Thursday, 23rd March 2006, 11:47

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Handheld guns are used by traffic officers in cars,not camera vans.

And training sections Bowfer...it could well have been a probationer being tutored...

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Camera vans don`t use external tripods either.

Safety Partnership vans do, at least the one`s I`ve seen - but then they wouldn`t be used by a police unit so you`re right.

julianf

appears julianf has beaten me to it... i am waiting for a an envelope at the moment from a little journey last week... 650 miles in 24 hours, i am sure i will have got one somewhere?



`i am going to live forever or die trying`