Mobile Speed Camera

[boryc]

I was caught doin 49 on a 40 road by a "mobile patrol van" well im presuming it was one of these as i travel on this road very frequently and their isnt any normal speed cameras etc and i cant think where the "van" was actually situated.

Just querying really, i know i was speeding and i will take the punishment before people start answering with i shouldnt speed etc.

I just wanted to know the rules on the police catching you in this way, can they just put up a patrol hidden in a layby under a tree and "get you" in this fashion without displaying signs that they are carrying this out etc, just curious if somone could calrify ?

[Buenchico]

There are various guidelines about where speed cameras can be located but these principally relate to static cameras. The only rule about the location of speed cameras is that, if a local authority wishes to retain the monies received through fines, a static camera should be prominently sited and painted yellow. Even so, if it was found that a static camera didn't meet these criteria, it wouldn't invalidate any speeding ticket from that camera.

Here in Suffolk, the police park unmarked vans in laybys, with speed cameras facing out of the rear windows. It certainly doesn't break any rules and I don't think that there any guidelines which seek to prohibit this.

Chris

[GeordiePengy]

It's no different to a Traffic Cop sitting at the side of a motorway with a camera pointed at the traffic. Where ever there is a road, there is likely to be speeding.

The police have a duty to enforce the law and that includes catching the speedy ones. Local authorities simply act on behalf of the police to catch speedsters with their fixed or mobile cameras. The council gets the cash, the cops get another conviction.

Only fixed camera sites have to be signposted. However, by this, a camera sign can only be displayed within a 3 mile (if I remember right) radius of a fixed camera.

Mobile units don't need to provide a warning, regardless of whether is local authority or police operated.

[Dobermanngal]

Sympathise with you! Nasty,sneaky mobile units - saw one I was previously caught on (37mph in a 30mph- thank you v much) So tempted to wave at it, but this in itself would probably be offensive!
You will notice the situation of the mobile unit in the future :-)
I think there has to be notification that there are speed cameras - mobile or not. So you may be able to contest.

[bob57]

there is a legal requirement by the law enforcement team where there is a van parked at side of the road they should display a speed camera warning sign about a mile from where the van is situated and as long as the van itself is not breaking any rules of the road while trying to catch speeders like parking on double yellow lines or causing an obstruction to other road users and they must be clearly visible to the road user

[boryc]

thanks for the replys, well im having the same kinda feedback about their should be some sort of sign etc of their being a camera etc . Their isnt nothing like this but do you think you can argue this, as surely it would be your word agaisnt theirs?

[dusty1]

lincolnshire police nearly always put a sign up telling people there is a speed camera ahead so if you get nicked its you own fault, but I don't know about other counties