mobile speed camera van

zahir_213 · Post by **zahir_213** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 9:48 pm

Hi all,
Does anyone know if those mobile speed camera van things flash if you are speeding coming towards them? I was meant to be doing 40 im not sure if i was doin 40, as it was just after a stretch of national speed limit rd.

cheers

andyg · Post by **andyg** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:11 pm

No they don't flash you.

Its usually a laser they use, Mobile ones are the worst because they dont HAVE to put signs up stating there is a speed camera. This annoys me as around my area there are quite a few of these vans at the side of the road and can be tricky to spot (its v easy to drift over the limit)

TDi-polo · Post by **TDi-polo** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:19 pm

as said above they dont flash when you are coming towards them, lasers are the ones you need to watch out for.....maybe its worth investing in a road angel or something along that line.

Dave.

carmadaaron · Post by **carmadaaron** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:56 pm

TDi-polo wrote:as said above they dont flash when you are coming towards them, lasers are the ones you need to watch out for.....maybe its worth investing in a road angel or something along that line.

Dave.

yes true, but theyre fairly easy to spot, usually on grass verge of the road and with the rear doors WIDE open

, but these read far away?

M@Turner · Post by **M@Turner** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 11:12 pm

Apparently there is a website which tells you when and where these type of cameras will be from weel to week. You may even be able to look at your regional police website to find this out as well.

Fortunately there is a local radio show which tells you in the morning where these cameras will be each day.

However i don't need to use this now as i know the areas where they like to hide out.

Best thing to do is just take care and watch your speed. Especially on roads where there is a national speed limit which then goes into a 40 or 30 limit.

Mat

wul3er · Post by **wul3er** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 11:16 pm

I agree with Tdi Polo, get a Road Angel or similar

I got a Snooper for the Polo and its been the best thing baught for it yet, By far. Defo worth the money.

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 11:21 pm

I believe the laser ones catch you going both ways, they don't flash, -and- they're the most awkward ones to spot in the first place. Makes me glad that essex uses a great big van with dayglow markings and a very obvious mini gatso type affair painted bright yellow on a tripod behind it - those ones do flash and they only catch you going one way.
Most police forces have a page on their website telling you where they're going to be putting them - although they're not always accurate in my experience, which is a touch sneaky..

zahir_213 · Post by **zahir_213** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:27 am

cheers for the replies guys,
by the time id seen the van, Im pretty sure I was doing 40 mph, but if the van can range quite far then maybe it was detecting me doin 70 even when I was in the national speed limit zone. The van was at the bottom of a road that was declining.

I guess il have to wait 3 days and see if I get anything, I think im screwed if I do get points tho as im only a few months away from having had my licence 2 years.

My insurance is overpriced s**t as it is, but now if the worst happens which probably will with my luck, then its gonna sting me even harder.

Is there any way maybe I could contest the penalty if I do get one?

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 7:41 am

The camera can only record your speed if you're speeding within the speed limit area that it's parked in, and I think they aren't allowed to catch people within a certain distance of the edge of the speed limit, so you have time to slow down.. don't remember the precise distance, but they're not allowed to catch you as you come through the speed limit markers anyway. I'm sure you're alright

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 7:45 am

they are bastards, i've had an argument with one of them over his placement and lack of signs before and come off the worse (lucky he didnt nick me for being disorderly or some b*ll*cks). hiding at the bottom of a hill where the speed limit changes is a favourite one for them, i've had a mate lose his license (and had to plead in court to get it back with a hell-lot of points in because he needs his car and it was only a minor offense) because of that trick.

theyre drivers too after all, they know all the little habits you get and where to catch people out. evil f*cks. never seen one by a school yet.

(the one i argued with WAS on a housing estate, but on the main road through it where all you ever see is cars - no peds)

half a mind to ram them all. might be a good way to send the mk3 out......

what about these gits on the m4, now? as if the 70 limit there is related to the accident figures - i'd put money on most of the deaths happening in heavy traffic where speeds are closer to 60 or 55, because of tailgating, bad weather and inattention.

Petrified · Post by **Petrified** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 7:14 pm

They must have a speed camera sign on the road within (I think it's) a 1000 yards of the van anyway although I cant see how you would prove they didn't if you did get caught. But generally if you see a speed camera sign just be a bit cautious, sounds obvious I know.

It's like traffic wardens cant book you if the double yellows are broken or not ended properly. Well they can book you but you can contest it (and win) with proof.

James.

andyg · Post by **andyg** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:15 pm

They must have a speed camera sign on the road within (I think it's) a 1000 yards of the van anyway although I cant see how you would prove they didn't if you did get caught. But generally if you see a speed camera sign just be a bit cautious, sounds obvious I know.

Wrong, they only need to put a speed camera sign up if they visit the same place more than twice in one month.

yes true, but theyre fairly easy to spot, usually on grass verge of the road and with the rear doors WIDE open , but these read far away?

Yeh they are easy to spot once you are within 100m or there abouts, if its a long stretch of road they have a range of 5000ft. They will get you before you have chance to slow down.

I hate mobile speed camera because they are sneaky, the police do put some locations of their website but they dont show the countless other places they randomly choose to go.

zahir_213 · Post by **zahir_213** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 12:04 am

Yeh they are easy to spot once you are within 100m or there abouts, if its a long stretch of road they have a range of 5000ft. They will get you before you have chance to slow down.

I guess Im kinda screwed then really, Im hoping they gave a distance to allow drivers to slow down after the 40 sign otherwise unless Im very lucky Ive probably got 3 points. Time will tell

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 1:48 pm

update: the cocksuckers on the M4 have now given encouragement to the gaggle of bandits that make up leicestershire and nottigham constabulary: camwhores spotted in a layby on the A42 and later on a M42 overpass. Watch your backs. Luckily in both cases i was in a queue of traffic instigated by the first person to spot them............... meaning i was going along crapping myself that the idiot behind was going to rear-end me at 68mph, rather than making much safer progress at 80-odd.

clowns.

zahir_213 · Post by **zahir_213** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:59 am

havnt had any letter so think im in the clear

I live in leicestershire so i better watch out for these cameras