Did I cross a sleeping policeman?

I thought the range on mobile vans was ~ 1 km, and that was several years back -
presumably they just open the back window and target it down the carriageway and it does its thing
New laser guns are way higher around 2 miles away on straight road apparently !
 
Mine took 7 days to arrive. Waiting to see what the outcome is. I was 14 mph over the speed limit....

I know. One shouldnt speed! :(
 
Okay silly question time here.... police van's that clock speeding, they don't only check speed from the little window at the back of the van, right? Can they check speed from any direction? I say this because it was parked on a bridge side on facing me, so if it can check speed only from the rear of the van i'm fine as it was doing the road oncoming to the bridge it was on, if they can check 360 degrees then I could still be in for a ticket?
 
Mine took 7 days to arrive. Waiting to see what the outcome is. I was 14 mph over the speed limit....

I know. One shouldnt speed! :(
6 points & big fine most likely I'm afraid depends on the speed limit of the road. If its a 70 zone you will probably get 3 points but if its a 50 or 60 zone expect double that.
 
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Okay silly question time here.... police van's that clock speeding, they don't only check speed from the little window at the back of the van, right? Can they check speed from any direction? I say this because it was parked on a bridge side on facing me, so if it can check speed only from the rear of the van i'm fine as it was doing the road oncoming to the bridge it was on, if they can check 360 degrees then I could still be in for a ticket?
If its a camera van only the direction the camera lens is facing the number plates but now after having got caught out it seems any lane on either side (used to be only the lanes the van was pointing at but not any more! they upgraded to wide angle lenses!).

Where I got caught was 6 lanes (3 either side) and the van was parked in a sneaky position facing the other 3 lanes not mine but still got me! It was not even possible to see it from the other side of the road at all as it was placed just under the line of sight of the bridge wall :eek: but the massive camera lens was just sticking out enough to clear the bridge wall!
 
You can dodge them if you are paying attention.

I mean, it's impossible to tell, maybe the operator was checking his phone/sneezed/on a tea break etc, but several times I have been on dual carriageways etc doing my normal speed, and spotted them literally as they came into view slowed down and not been caught.

Specifically remember one in Wales on, I want to say A40? heading South (of course because they want to greet the English lol), and dual carriageway, you come over this creast and it's a long straight, downhill section for literally a mile maybe more, right down the bottom there is a lay by on the left. Anyway as I came over I clocked it straight away, was doing about 95mph but slowed and it never got me.

I have been caught once on the A1 doing 60 in a 50, 3 points and small fine, whatever, didn't affect my insurance or anything, this was years ago.

Thats why I like me motorcycle, your much less likely to be caught because you don't have a number plate on the front, to have to pass anything first for it to catch you.

I remember I used to commute on the A14 to Cambridge, that had average cameras but all front facing, well you could go as fast as you like lol, they cant get you.
 
It's in the name of "safety", it's such ********. There are many, many other things drivers are doing all the time on motorways which are far dangerous, just speed it an easy thing to prove.

An easy thing for a member of Police Staff in a van with a speed detection device to prove, yes. It's not taking away enforcement from anything else.
 
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OP probably got away with it. 84 indicated might be just under 80 in reality so right on the threshold.

On the other point raised in this thread, the thresholds are there so you have zero chance of riggling out of it. If they start doing everyone for 71/72 in a 70, that opens up big cans of worms about the accuracy of their cameras and calibrations etc. Too small margins to play with. Making the thresholds about 10% + 2 means you have very little to argue about and practically zero chance of trying to weasel out of it.

It just makes prosecuting that much easier.
 
I think they have to have you targeted for a few seconds to get a reliable reading, so you get some time to break. It's not like they see you over the limit for 0.1 sec and that's it.

Certain cars are harder to get a reading from too, especially using radar. Which will shorten the distance you can be picked up.
 
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Thats why I like me motorcycle, your much less likely to be caught because you don't have a number plate on the front, to have to pass anything first for it to catch you.

I susbsequently read this thread that said they usually have the ANPR running out of the front window.

below comment was interesting - + comments that it is the reflection off of the verticalish plates/lights that maybe the 'best' for the 2m dia beam @800m
I requested to see the video when I was tagged at 65 mph on the Standing Stane Road near Kirkcaldy, (in a van) They showed me a vague orange blob in the distance, several hundred metres away, with a digital screen readout in the same frame showing range and speed. It also showed another car between me and the camera.
They played the video forward until I was 50 or so metres away, with a clearly readable number plate. The digital readout at that time showed a lower speed. The images supplied to me with the NIP showed the close image, (yes, I was driving) with the far image's digital readout edited into the frame.

e: that thread with seemingly poilce comments is 1/2 second or 1/3rd to lock you
 
Just re-read my NIP again you can only ask for photographic or video evidence if you go to magistrates court now it seems! They do not let you see this anymore online which is a bit naughty what if the equipment is faulty bouncing a signal off another vehicle or the number plate is not clear enough ??
 
That's a bit lame. They could be bluffing, have the wrong car or the fine isn't valid. But you only find out if you go to court :/

Surely that conflicts with other regulations which say they have to provide proof? Seems like guilty until proven innocent to me.
 
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That's a bit lame. They could be bluffing, have the wrong car or the fine isn't valid. But you only find out if you go to court :/

Surely that conflicts with other regulations which say they have to provide proof? Seems like guilty until proven innocent to me.
I already pleaded guilty by post nothing back from the police after 3 weeks seem fishy to me. After reading on other forums the wishy washy evidence I wish I had challenged it now perhaps they know they do not have enough solid evidence & will let it go! I know I was doing around 77-79 mph when I saw the mobile van I will own up to that but they say its 3 mph higher. On PCNs you can always ask for the video evidence wonder why they have stopped doing this on NIP?

After doing some more research I am challenging mine in court! (if it ever arrives - some chap did not get a reply for over 9 months from same police force who are NIPing me!). I want to see the video & screenshot evidence if they give me more than 3 points so be it!
 
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That's a bit lame. They could be bluffing, have the wrong car or the fine isn't valid. But you only find out if you go to court :/

Surely that conflicts with other regulations which say they have to provide proof? Seems like guilty until proven innocent to me.

The Fixed Penalty Notice is a conditional offer. Basically, the police are saying, they think they have enough evidence to proceed with a prosecution and that it meets the Full Code Test and are offering you 3 points and £100 fine to prevent a trial and the expense that carries. You can choose to accept this offer or proceed with a trial where evidence is disclosed as part of the proceedings and you can argue your case. They can't "bluff" evidence; that would be an abuse of process - for which people would lose their jobs.

I already pleaded guilty by post nothing back from the police after 3 weeks seem fishy to me. After reading on other forums the wishy washy evidence I wish I had challenged it now perhaps they know they do not have enough solid evidence & will let it go! I know I was doing around 77-79 mph when I saw the mobile van I will own up to that but they say its 3 mph higher. On PCNs you can always ask for the video evidence wonder why they have stopped doing this on NIP?

After doing some more research I am challenging mine in court! (if it ever arrives - some chap did not get a reply for over 9 months from same police force who are NIPing me!). I want to see the video & screenshot evidence if they give me more than 3 points so be it!

If you've already pled guilty, you've missed your opportunity to challenge this. Also, it can't be 9 months - there is a statutory maximum of 6 months for the prosecution to be laid before the court.
 
The Fixed Penalty Notice is a conditional offer. Basically, the police are saying, they think they have enough evidence to proceed with a prosecution and that it meets the Full Code Test and are offering you 3 points and £100 fine to prevent a trial and the expense that carries. You can choose to accept this offer or proceed with a trial where evidence is disclosed as part of the proceedings and you can argue your case. They can't "bluff" evidence; that would be an abuse of process - for which people would lose their jobs.



If you've already pled guilty, you've missed your opportunity to challenge this.
Thames Valley website says this though. I have not yet received the letter explaining my options either (3 weeks tomorrow):
If you want to appeal a letter or notice | Thames Valley Police
If you want to appeal and go to court
If you want to appeal you have to go through the court, not the police.

You need to complete part one, two or three on the notice to identify either yourself or someone else as the driver. Failure to do this is an offence in itself.

Once we receive this information from you we’ll send you a letter explaining the options available to you, including how to appeal.

If you choose to appeal you need to be aware that if the court finds you guilty of the offence they can:

  • give you more than three points on your licence
  • increase the penalty fine
  • charge you for the court costs
Not trying to be awkward for the sake of it just concerned how accurate the recording was as lots of other vehicles around & the camera van was not even facing my side of the 3 lane motorway. Been reading about other drivers who wrongly got a NIP when it was not possible to do so in vehicles which could not possibly cover the distance in the time stated (like old clapped out vans!). If I am wrong I am wrong just a bit peeved off as I got one a while back just pleaded guilty to it but found out later lots of motorists challenged theirs in the same area & I was sure I was not doing the speed as I am really careful in 20-30-40-50 zones to not exceed those limits!
 
Day 17 today, still nothing come through, am I safe to assume i've dodged a stint in the stripey hole?
Nope still not fully safe its looking very good for you though ;) But they only need to POST it to you within 14 days if it takes the full 28 days to actually reach you not their problem they are a law unto themselves get no posting proof you can ever see the law is fully on their side if they say they posted it they posted it as far as the legal system is concerned :rolleyes:

I pleaded guilty to mine posted back within a day 3 weeks tomorrow not heard anything back hopefully they just decided enough is enough but I am not holding my breath at all :eek:

A lot seems to depend on the severity of the offence as well. If your a new driver looking at 6 points & or a ban or your driving history is chequered takes them longer to decide what they want to do to with you!
 
Nope still not fully safe its looking very good for you though ;) But they only need to POST it to you within 14 days if it takes the full 28 days to actually reach you not their problem they are a law unto themselves get no posting proof you can ever see the law is fully on their side if they say they posted it they posted it as far as the legal system is concerned :rolleyes:

I pleaded guilty to mine posted back within a day 3 weeks tomorrow not heard anything back hopefully they just decided enough is enough but I am not holding my breath at all :eek:

A lot seems to depend on the severity of the offence as well. If your a new driver looking at 6 points & or a ban or your driving history is chequered takes them longer to decide what they want to do to with you!

Well i'm hoping i'm lucky as 14 days from the 17th (incident was on 16th) was Friday 30th, so if it gets sent 1st class I should have had it Saturday or today, and i've had nothing so I'd hope by the middle of the week if I don't have anything i'm okay! Post has been coming in everyday as normal so not sure if any delay could be in play etc.
 
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