Flashed By Gatso On M6 Birmingham....advice

[beezaneez]

last week driving through birmingham, i came off m42 onto m6, was aware of my speed limit, was following traffic ahead, i seemed to be going same speed, then a gatso flashed me, i cannot recolect the exact speed i was doing but it was not excessive , at least to me anyway. i was driving on mainland uk, my car and myself are registered in northern ireland, which of course comes under uk .

i have been told by a truck driver that gatso,s in uk sometimes record wrong speeds, he also informed me that he had several speed tickets issued in uk and scotland which he did not pay and he is safe from prosecution because he lives and is registered in n, ireland ?

can anyone shed any more light on this matter, and yes, if i could get away with not paying then i would.

[DTCwordfan]

Last I heard of it and studied Geography, Northern Ireland was part of the UK and not affiliated to any Eastern European and Middle Eastern state, so therefore you are liable. If you don't pay, they'll get you at some point, even at the airport if you accumulate tickets.

Wait until the ticket arrives though, it may be one of those dud cameras, but it's rare that they go off mistakenly.

I once had one go off near Carnforth at 51 in a 50, but somebody coming up slightly faster - I thought 'shyte' but never saw anything.....

[Psybbo]

Is the 'n' a misprint perhaps, DTC?

[beezaneez]

i know there was some controversy about these speed camera,s / limits on m6 and m42. there was also road works being done and no signs to caution motorists to slow down, not least any that i seen and i was wide awake looking out for signs and directions. i suppose i took it for granted to keep up with other flowing traffic ahead but they did not get flashed so i just do not know. i do not mind paying fine , if i was in wrong, but its oints on my licence im worried about. guess i,ll dodge them untill i run out of time .

[mushroom25]

the fixed gantry cameras on the M42 and M6 are standard gatsos, but are only operational when a speed is displayed on the signs. Roadworks in the midlands are currently "protected" by average speed cameras, through which the gantry signs are disabled.

it has recently become the practice to activate the gantry signs up to 2 miles in advance of the roadworks, often to speeds as low as 40mph.

[grasscarp]

You say you were flashed, but I cannot see in your post that you have been contacted. I have never been caught on a speed camera, and I am not always terribly careful. Are you worrying for nothing at the moment or am I missing something?

[beezaneez]

well the gatso did flash, that was 1 week ago approx, still time for a ticket or whatever to arrive at the door, meanwhile i,ll sit here and bite my fingernails lol

[grasscarp]

No point worrying Beezaneez. It was probably not for you.

[Old_Geezer]

On very rare occasions I think I've been flashed, but nothing came of any of them. Bit of a worry when it happens but just keep your fingers crossed that you hear not more about it, stop fretting, and deal with it if the letter arrives.

[tonyav]

Was the speed limit reduced due to road works ?, there as been a lot of road works on the M6 Birmingham area of late ( turning the hard shoulder into an extra lane ).

[Hopkirk]

Motorway roadworks cameras are usually average speed ones - and they don't flash.

[beezaneez]

i have just googled it, there is indeed some confusion and controversy on the m8 / m42 about those cameras.

i,ll relax untill i get something through door but will fight it nonetheless

[Twenty20]

On what basis would you 'fight it'?

Anyway, maybe it was just someone behind or to one side flashing their headlights for some reason?

[stocksman]

A friend of mine is a cop in that area and he says they are set only 1-2 mph above speed limit, but they usually only prosecute at 'slightly' higher speeds. Saying that, he would not define 'slightly' and he is a copper.If you're lucky you may just get a warning letter, let's hope so eh?

[Graham-W]

The police guidelines for a fixed penalty are "speed limit +10% +2mph"
ie 30 limit+10%+2= 35mph
See section 9:6 of this for other speeds: http://www.acpo.police.uk/documents/uniformed/2013/201305-uoba-joining-forces-safer-roads.pdf