tolerances of SPECS

Matt82 · 6 Aug 2006 at 14:27

with a normal gatso, they are not set to trigger until (for example) 40 in a 30.

with a SPECS, do they allow you a few MPH over?

moss · 6 Aug 2006 at 14:31

Matt82 said:
with a normal gatso, they are not set to trigger until (for example) 40 in a 30.

with a SPECS, do they allow you a few MPH over?

Gatso's wont give you that much tolerance, maybe 33 in a 30. iirc SPECs are even less.

ScoobyDoo · 6 Aug 2006 at 14:33

Depends on the area where the spec cameras are really. Spec's on the motorway network which are normally situated through road works are set at about 5mph over the limit.

DannyDan · 6 Aug 2006 at 14:34

moss said:
Gatso's wont give you that much tolerance, maybe 33 in a 30. iirc SPECs are even less.

I've never heard of anyone being done for less than 35, in line with the ACPO guidelines.

Jokester · 6 Aug 2006 at 14:34

That's my understanding as well, purely down to the local police's speeding policy.

Jokester

moss · 6 Aug 2006 at 14:35

DannyDan said:
I've never heard of anyone being done for less than 35, in line with the ACPO guidelines.

I was guessing tbh, I would have thought 10% though, my grandad got done for 33 in a 30 by a mobile camera about 3 years ago.

Dr Who · 6 Aug 2006 at 14:52

Specs record everyone

The local police then decide what level they prosecute at, but ACPO guidelines are 10% + 2mph

Freedom · 6 Aug 2006 at 15:07

Ive been through SPECS at around 3-4 Mph over the limt and ive not been done.

Gatso camers here also dont flash till around 37 Mph.

As other people said, It all depends on the area your in and what council is responsable for them.

Goliath · 6 Aug 2006 at 15:17

DannyDan said:
I've never heard of anyone being done for less than 35, in line with the ACPO guidelines.

Guidelines is the operative word - that's all they are. If the local force decides that they want to set a gatso or specs to trigger at 31 they are perfectly entitled to do so.

Alibaba99 · 6 Aug 2006 at 15:38

Goliath said:
Guidelines is the operative word - that's all they are. If the local force decides that they want to set a gatso or specs to trigger at 31 they are perfectly entitled to do so.

The measurement tolerance on a Gatso is ±2mph, so they have to be set at 32 minimum to avoid the chance of catching someone travelling below the speed limit.

Homer-Simpson · 6 Aug 2006 at 17:19

Back in Oxford (near the Kidlington Airport) their is a set (Gatso's) that goes off if you do over 30. My mate got his ticket for doing 31mph past one

Matt82 · 6 Aug 2006 at 17:45

moss said:
Gatso's wont give you that much tolerance, maybe 33 in a 30. iirc SPECs are even less.

i used to work in my local magistrates sorting out fines etc. on 30 limits, the camers were set to 40mph as any lower and the system would be overloaded to the extent that the delays in processing would put most of the convitions outside the statutory limitation periods and hence loads of people would get away with speeding due to the system not being able to handle the number of NIPS

moss · 6 Aug 2006 at 17:48

Matt82 said:
i used to work in my local magistrates sorting out fines etc. on 30 limits, the camers were set to 40mph as any lower and the system would be overloaded to the extent that the delays in processing would put most of the convitions outside the statutory limitation periods and hence loads of people would get away with speeding due to the system not being able to handle the number of NIPS

Fair enough, still Ive known people who's been done doing less than 40 though. Like its been said already it probably varies area to area.

Tesla · 6 Aug 2006 at 19:06

Alibaba99 said:
The measurement tolerance on a Gatso is ±2mph, so they have to be set at 32 minimum to avoid the chance of catching someone travelling below the speed limit.

Surely if the camera is set at 32mph and is 2mph out then the driver is infact doing 30mph, therefore legal.

If your idea is true then the minimum they would be set at would be 33, or technically >32.

Nozzer · 6 Aug 2006 at 19:10

edit: nm

Matt82 · 6 Aug 2006 at 19:21

moss said:
Fair enough, still Ive known people who's been done doing less than 40 though. Like its been said already it probably varies area to area.

yup, definately does, and its pretty much based around how the fines section of the mags court can handle the capacity.

i suppose the same applies to specs because ultimately the same fines have to be processed

Fr0dders · 6 Aug 2006 at 19:29

to save the squabbling i think we can say two things.

firstly the speed at which you can be caught varies. Camera partnerships dont have to follow the 10 % + 2 guidelines. They can if they want issue tickets for 31mph. But this very rarely happens as its unworkable and would make them very unpopular. They can if they want allow more than the guidelines, allthough i believe this to be quite rare.

and 2ndly, there is no difference between SPECS and GATSOs with regards to what speed triggers them. THe allowance is due to varations on peoples speedos, not due to the accuracy of the camera. There is obviously an accuracy level, as pointed out already, usually about 2mph. This is why any1 caught doing 31mph or whatever will most likely have been caught by a police hand held laser gun, not a fixed site.

to summarise, 99 times out of 100, your allowed to go 35 in 30 (GPS indicated, not speedo as speedos are inaccurate)

Fr0dders · 6 Aug 2006 at 19:31

Tesla said:
Surely if the camera is set at 32mph and is 2mph out then the driver is infact doing 30mph, therefore legal.

If your idea is true then the minimum they would be set at would be 33, or technically >32.

iirc the only people caught doing 31 in a 30 were caught with laser devices, which dont have such tolerances as the readout is digital and based on very precise timing of the laserbeam

gatsos only calcuate your speed by measuring your photograph, so obviously is not as accurate.

William · 6 Aug 2006 at 19:37

I think I remember a teacher telling me, who a copper told him at a speed awareness course that they only charge you if you are caught doing over 10% + 1mph, this due to differing levels of accuracy between equipment. But I think they can set it to whatever tolerance they want in order to record.

Fr0dders · 6 Aug 2006 at 19:42

William said:
I think I remember a teacher telling me, who a copper told him at a speed awareness course that they only charge you if you are caught doing over 10% + 1mph, this due to differing levels of accuracy between equipment. But I think they can set it to whatever tolerance they want in order to record.

your allowed 10% + 1

but you will be caught speeding at 10 % +2