Camera Vans

[SteveH]

I got pulled on M1 last year going too fast police mirraculously used discretion (he liked the car!)

[dazzer]

Does anyone know what the law is relating to police camera vans. There were (are) two at lunchtime on the A1, one northbound just before the M25 and one southbound sitting on bridge just south of Hatfield.

Going north, I spotted this Transit on the bridge above the other carriageway and it had two flaps up at the rear with speed camera's sticking out. I took is easy, obviously, when I passed it coming south about 40 minutes later, but then I noticed the one on the northbound side that I hadn't spotted earlier.

These vans were unmarked. I thought that speed cameras had to be visible, is that right?

Yeah I saw the one on the southbound carriageway myself when I was going north at approx 1630 hours. I didn't seeanything on the northbound however - can you remember where it was (before the galleria?). They must have been short on revenue targets this month as they were all over the M25 between the M40 and A1 - luckily it was too congested to get up beyond the legal limit. I will be well pissed if I have picked up a NIP particulalry as I bought a new camera detector last week and haven't had chance to fit it.

[FishFace1234]

FishFace - do the civvies use vans with police markings? Or are they restricted to unmarked vans etc?

Good question. I am 99.9% certain they can use on with Police markings. I'll post if I find any different.

[JohnRet.]

They can..... well, they can here anyway.

[Jarv]

can you remember where it was (before the galleria?).

Yes, just south of the Galleria on the first road bridge south of Junction 2.

[dazzer]

can you remember where it was (before the galleria?).

Yes, just south of the Galleria on the first road bridge south of Junction 2.

Bugger - I don't remember seeing it. I am usually tanking it up there. Could be a long two weeks on tender hooks....

[Jarv]

Bugger - I don't remember seeing it. I am usually tanking it up there. Could be a long two weeks on tender hooks....

Could be longer for me. I was wise to the van when I was driving south in my RS4, but driving north I wasn't, and I was in an Audi Hatfield courtesy car. 14 days for Audi to be sent the NIP, your guess is as good as mine for them to forward it on to me.

[mip]

Folks,

Don't forget a lot of the transits with 2 cameras sticking out the top may not be speed cameras.

Some of them are anrs units (automatic numberplate recognition systems)

They are looking for uninsured or un taxed motors.

Cheers


MIP

[Jarv]

Hey MIP, you're a breath of fresh air!

You could be right you know, if they were speed camera vans then, and I'm only assuming here, surely they'd need some sort of markers to measure your speed against. Unless they are laser of course, but the cameras looked huge and my laser detector didn't pick up a strike.

I think this thread may take a turn here. We need more of these anrs units! They're doing a fine job. Untaxed and uninsured drivers are loading my premiuum.

[BRETTCOLLINS]

Alot of the vans on bridges are there are reading number plates for un taxed and insured cars. not speeding... but not All of them... lol

[dazzer]

Interesting. Now you come to mention it the roads where the 'camera vans' were deployed were also sporting a lot of police patrol vehicles.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

[Jarv]

Interesting. Now you come to mention it the roads where the 'camera vans' were deployed were also sporting a lot of police patrol vehicles.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

I noticed that, I was only out the office for an hour and I saw more plod than I normally see in a month. Not sure if that's an indication of whether they were anrs units though, surely the bad news would still come by post.

[dazzer]

Interesting. Now you come to mention it the roads where the 'camera vans' were deployed were also sporting a lot of police patrol vehicles.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

I noticed that, I was only out the office for an hour and I saw more plod than I normally see in a month. Not sure if that's an indication of whether they were anrs units though, surely the bad news would still come by post.

True, but at least I know I have insurance and tax so if it's ANRS I will be safe.

[derdle]

I believe the law has recently been relaxed over the siting of vans. There is a distinction between marked and unmarked. For a Saftey Camera Partnership to work there have to be road signs clearly up to 1km from the site and have to be at "black" spots (sorry it's not PC to use the term "black" spot....not been on a racial diversity course yet). Cameras and vehicles have to be marked and the funds they extract from us can be used by the partnership to promote local road safety issues (i.e. more vans and cameras). The police themselves can still carry out speed checks in unmarked vehicles and nab you but the money has to go to central government rather than used locally.

Jarv, you are right about the dislike for cameras etc. I too prefer the intervention of a human being, having recently been pulled up by an unmarked T5 after averaging a shade under the ton for 2 miles....the last 1½ miles was under 70 cos I'd pinged him tailing me 500 yards behind.

Why not grab a copy of the "Driving Secrets" book/download? Loads of useful information about this and other motoring matters.

Paul

[ChrisG]

FishFace - do the civvies use vans with police markings? Or are they restricted to unmarked vans etc?

I understood that if the 'outsourcing' had been approved then the type/colour etc. of the van was immaterial - I believe the civies are trained.
The A11 in the Wymondham area often has a van on the bridge.....but you'd have to be really lacking in attention not to see it in time ..... but then there are lots of drivers out there who do not have their brains in gear, present company excepted.