what makes gatso' randomly flash?

Glaucus · 2 Jan 2008 at 13:03

Was on the way back. Gloucester road opposite the tesco garage if anyone knows it. No other traffic about. I was doing 29-30. went past then after I had gone past and like 20meters after the white lines on the road. the gatso flashed.
Nothing else about. So what set it off?

tigerstyle · 2 Jan 2008 at 13:06

remote testing? it's knackered?

Jez · 2 Jan 2008 at 13:10

I can only assume it has to be something to do with the rader incorrectly detecting things. Been flashed a few times myself going towards them.

Dangerous · 2 Jan 2008 at 13:13

Probably knackered, I've seen a red light camera constantly flashing. Needless to say I didn’t go through those lights just incase

Booner! · 2 Jan 2008 at 13:25

At a cross roads I have been flashed... but the light was green for me and red for the traffic waiting. Needless to say that it would have got a photo of me side on going around a corner!

This morning the same set of lights were off completely - which no doubt caused chaos as its a 4 way crossroads with a large amount of traffic using it. I luckily was very early today!

Gaijin · 2 Jan 2008 at 13:47

I've heard that the flash needs to be discharged every now and again if it hasn't been used for a period of time. Could be rubbish though.

Dj_Jestar · 2 Jan 2008 at 13:53

The strobe lighting they use for the flash needs to discharge if not used for a long period of time. Hence only single flashes when this happens.

Scania · 2 Jan 2008 at 14:31

High sided trailers (as in HGV's) often set off the damn things, I've had a few "tickets" for doing 33ishMPH in 40 Zones!

For some strange reason, cameras in the Avon & Somerset Police areas seem particularly sensitive to this, as thats where all of my "tickets" came from.

Does nobody at Police HQ's actually check the speed that is displayed on the photograph prior to the issue of the ticket? - It seems a lot of wasted time & effort on all sides. :confused:

Dangerous · 2 Jan 2008 at 14:59

Its the large metal taillifts/doors on anything that will get the radar signal confused. You tend to see it in the news where a transit van driver is in traffic and doing 2-3mph but the radar gets on confused and gets back a reading on 200mph or something mad.

Someone in the HQ should be checking before th NIP is sent out.

tigerstyle · 2 Jan 2008 at 16:30

Dangerous said:
Someone in the HQ should be checking before th NIP is sent out.

nah, would eat into the profit margins! Sad but true :rolleyes:

Scania · 2 Jan 2008 at 16:52

thepedster said:
nah, would eat into the profit margins! Sad but true

Firstly I don't pay for tickets that are incorrectly issued, surely it costs the Police money to process such tickets when they inevitably get disputed?

Bodies funded out of our taxes care little for profit or loss in my experience!

Glaucus · 2 Jan 2008 at 16:53

R124/LA420 said:
Firstly I don't pay for tickets that are incorrectly issued, surely it costs the Police money to process such tickets when they inevitably get disputed?

A lot of people don't dispute.

So I might have to dispute a ticket wasting my time

.

andi · 2 Jan 2008 at 18:35

thepedster said:
nah, would eat into the profit margins! Sad but true

Where do you think the profit in a non-profit organisation goes then?

SpeedFreak · 2 Jan 2008 at 18:54

I have seen that very camera do that before, not sure why, but it went off on me and I never heard anything off it.

Lashout_UK · 2 Jan 2008 at 19:15

Yea, I've seen a single flash a few times. Did think 'wuh?' in each instance