Sorry...just to rant...................

On my way home today, travelling down a road with a 50mph speed limit, I'm behind a learner driver who is increasing and decreasing their speed between 30 and 40 mph, I come to the top of a small hill where I know there is an overtaking opportunity. Road all clear, pull out and put my foot down, and just as I am doing this I notice a motorcycle cop pointing a big fat mobile speed camera on a tripod at me who had been hidden behind a bush. Nothing I can do, but pull in and slow down to 50. I reckon I must have hit 60-65 while overtaking.

What do folks reckon are the chances of getting done for this? And if I do get a summons, what are the chances that I am able to succesfully defend myself based on 1) I was behind a slower moving vehicle, which I'm sure the copper's trusty recording equipment will show, and 2) the opportunity to overtake was limited, and although the road was clear and it was safe to overtake, the opportunity was limited, as there was a bend approaching some distance away meaning that I had to overtake "quickly" as suggested in the Highway Code.

P.

BTW, motorcycle cops hidden behind bushes pointing gun shapped devices at you ****es me off.

:mad:

2) the opportunity to overtake was limited, and although the road was clear and it was safe to overtake, the opportunity was limited, as there was a bend approaching some distance away meaning that I had to overtake "quickly" as suggested in the Highway Code.

If the opportunity was limited and you couldn't safely overtake without breaking the speed limit, then surely it wasn't an "opportunity"? :confused:

Chris

Exceeding the speed limit is exceeding the speed limit.

I've been done in very similar circumstances.

Yes, thought of that as well....I could have overtook and stuck dead at 50, a slower speed, which would have been okay, as the other car wasn't travelling very fast, but it was about getting in and out quickly I suppose.

I didn't think they were allowed to hide and had to be visible at least 100 yards away?? :confused:

Also, i thought there had to be speed camera signs whether there's a mobile or stationary camera about. :confused:

Was also wondering if anyone has been done in a similar situation....hence, I should dread the postman for the next 14 days or so. I am about to go on holiday. Look forward to returning. Argh.

Well I would say it's worth a try.

Were there signs out or on the lampposts warning of speed , oh sorry "Safety" cameras in the area.

Go get some photos if not, and make sure you get a date on there.

He was defintely hidden mate. There are speed camera signs on this particular stretch of road, but no fixed speed cameras. And to be honest, in all the time I have lived around here, I have never seen a mobile camera on this road either. First time for everything. I initially thought, given that it was a motorbike, that he probably didn't have any recording equipment, and just a handheld camera...waiting to hop on his bike and chase someone. But apparently, after reading on the police website, they have recording equipment on the bike itself which is hooked up to the camera.

I know someone who just got a letter through the post for doing the same thing, but on a dual carriage way that had been reducerd to 40 for roadworks (thes not even cones at this point let alone workers.) they pulled out to overtake a lorry before it went back down to one lane and out popped the fuzz with a camera.

weird thing is the letter states they were doing 68 in the 40 even though they swear blind that they were doing 58 max. They admiot to speeding but are adament they werent doing anywhere near the speed on the letter and was looking at the speedo before being gunned. I tend to believe them too.

Having a trawl through the internet about this, and a few cases of people who have reported cases where the lazer from the camera may return an incorrect speed because the camera has not been held motionless by the operator, or the lazer has been distorted because of reflection coming off other vehicles, road signs, wing mirrors etc. I don't know how "true" they are however, but sounds plausible.

Very true.

The laser guns have been proven to give false readings under certain conditions. Vibrations from a lorry or reflections from other cars can do it to. I would think sideways movement could do to.

IIRC the prolaser III the new one clocked somebody faster than the car can go by a long way and went to court. The "speeder" won as it was obvious the camera was wrong.

The operator of the camera has to compensate for your movement as the camera will use the dopler effect to determine your speed.

If you are up for it then get a good lawyer experienced in this to argue and your case.

:cop: :auto: :revs: :eek: :buttkick: :present: :mecry:

:orb_lol:

I hope you don't get a present mate!

Sorry...just to rant...................

On my way home today' date=' travelling down a road with a 50mph speed limit, I'm behind a learner driver who is increasing and decreasing their speed between 30 and 40 mph, I come to the top of a small hill where I know there is an overtaking opportunity. Road all clear, pull out and put my foot down, and just as I am doing this I notice a motorcycle cop pointing a big fat mobile speed camera on a tripod at me who had been hidden behind a bush. Nothing I can do, but pull in and slow down to 50. I reckon I must have hit 60-65 while overtaking.

What do folks reckon are the chances of getting done for this? And if I do get a summons, what are the chances that I am able to succesfully defend myself based on 1) I was behind a slower moving vehicle, which I'm sure the copper's trusty recording equipment will show, and 2) the opportunity to overtake was limited, and although the road was clear and it was safe to overtake, the opportunity was limited, as there was a bend approaching some distance away meaning that I had to overtake "quickly" as suggested in the Highway Code.

P.[/quote']

As far as i understand you are aloud to speed up while overtaking and then you must drop back down to the limt, Thats how i understand from my friend who just takin his IAMS test.

If it is a mobile speed camera I think there as to be signs warning of its presence. If it is just a speed trap then there doesn't. Could be wrong. Have not come accross motrbike speed cameras in my area, ours is a white van witha copper sat in the back and the camera mounted on a tripod. Also they used to put out a fold up canvas warning sign before they got tin ones mounted permanently on the lamposts. With a bit of luck it will have been a speed trap with the copper jumping into the road if he wanted to fine you, and they have used a bit of common sense, if it was a camera thought I am afraid they are arbitary and don't take into account traffic conditions etc. A case in point is one by us is mounted in a 30 on a downhill stretch of road 5 yards after a bus stop, ie accelerate to overtake bus pulling in and bobs your uncle and fannys' your aunty.

What would happen if all of britains motortist suddenly thought f**k this and trashed all the local gatso cameras etc.

I mean they can't arrest all the motorists can they.

Ahh we can but dream of not having cameras as a funding top up device.

Anyone think that expaning building foam that goes solid a good idea in the top of cameras? As suggested in last week's top gear.

I once heard of someone who got caught for speeding (personally I thought they deserved a medal consider the favorit they were driving) they were able to say their Mum was driving and she lives in that States, they did not think it was worth the bother to chase her up.

Now I am on a grown up license and I have 12 strikes and I am out rather than the 6 on my provisional, my driving sadly declined.

You could have a look at pepipoo forums as there's lots of useful information on mobile cameras and fixed cameras alike, rules and regulations they must follow and so on. There are a few cases where people have managed to get off aswell.

I once heard of someone who got caught for speeding (personally I thought they deserved a medal consider the favorit they were driving) they were able to say their Mum was driving and she lives in that States' date=' they did not think it was worth the bother to chase her up.

.[/quote']

Maybe not the most sensible thing posting this information on a Forum, IIRC recently a chap was taken to court for Perverting the course of Justice for exactly the same thing, And he got found guilty.

just a tip

Maybe not the most sensible thing posting this information on a Forum' date=' IIRC recently a chap was taken to court for Perverting the course of Justice for exactly the same thing, And he got found guilty.

just a tip [/quote']

OK. Post changed.

OK. Post changed.

Quote Changed

laser speed guns have been proven to be very unreliable at giving the correct speed , there was a big article in the daily mail , last year iirc , proving beyond doubt that if there is even the slightest twitch by the copper , they give stupid results , i think they had a bicycle doing 60mph and stationary buses doing 22mph , read up as much as you can , i think there is a time limit for notifing you of intended prosecution ,14 days + 3 days for postage , not sure on this though , that pepipoo.com site will help , all you can do is wait and hope , p.s. its 4 weeks tomorrow since i was flashed by GATSO at 60 in a 60 , no heard anything yet

I should engage my brain more often. Internet forums does not equal confession booth.

Sorry to sound negative here, but you were speeding simple as.

If you get a ticket, tough - take it on the chin and get on with it.

Even if you contest it you have a self admission here. Stupidest thing ever to do is come on a forum and say i think i got caught - reckon i was going 55-60 - whatever....

Be a man - if it's your first 3 points - who cares. Forget about em and drive carful in future

Maybe not the most sensible thing posting this information on a Forum' date=' IIRC recently a chap was taken to court for Perverting the course of Justice for exactly the same thing, And he got found guilty.

just a tip [/quote']

She didn't get found guilty, if you mean the Megane driver