i was having a nice christmas until i got home yesterday,opened my mail,and found a speeding summons from north wales police.on anglesey the police hide their vans where you cannot see them,this one was parked in a garden,not noticable at all,we were heading out of a small village called valley into a national speed limit,my wife must have speeded up a bit too early,and was doing 37 by the time we got to the open speed limit.Its not the speeding that gets me,just the way the police go about getting you,its so underhand and sly.So if you come to anglesey,be careful,and watch out on the bridges for the fuz,and be extra careful with your speed in 30 zones,zero tolerance
underhand police tactics
- Thread starter adrian_5071472
- Start date
Adrian - unfortunately it relates back to the old saying where it takes a thief to catch a thief. If motorists didn't speed there would be no need for these cameras. Don't get me wrong I was caught by one a few years ago whereby the van was concealed amongst contractors vans doing road works. I had no alternative than to admit my guilt but it has made me take more notice of my speed and surroundings.
The idiotic chief constable of North Wales wants even those who are even a few miles over the speed limit treated as criminals. This is what he actually said in an interview.
My result was to strike of any holidays in North Wales from our itinary. Its not that I want to speed - its is the fear that underhand tactics like Adrian describes will catch the tourist due mainly to their lack of local knowledge. I do not supose I am the only one and that will cost that local economy - but the Chief Constable will not worry about that.
Over zealous policing such as this makes people lose respect for the Police. And that is a far bigger problem than someone doing a few more MPH.
My result was to strike of any holidays in North Wales from our itinary. Its not that I want to speed - its is the fear that underhand tactics like Adrian describes will catch the tourist due mainly to their lack of local knowledge. I do not supose I am the only one and that will cost that local economy - but the Chief Constable will not worry about that.
Over zealous policing such as this makes people lose respect for the Police. And that is a far bigger problem than someone doing a few more MPH.
Well I am surprised that you have not gone and jumped off a cliff with the shame of this oh so serious crime.
No doubt the police have no burglaries in that area or car theft and no old people lives are being blighted by hooligans and thugs and yobbish behaviour!!!!! No doubt where you were caught they have loads of people killed and maimed or was it again a casze of easy pickings for Mr Plod as why else were they their.
I suggest that everyone on this forum and in the caravan world stays away from North Wales for two years. If they don't want you on their roads don't go
Tell everyone you know to stay away from North Wales ;-)
No doubt the police have no burglaries in that area or car theft and no old people lives are being blighted by hooligans and thugs and yobbish behaviour!!!!! No doubt where you were caught they have loads of people killed and maimed or was it again a casze of easy pickings for Mr Plod as why else were they their.
I suggest that everyone on this forum and in the caravan world stays away from North Wales for two years. If they don't want you on their roads don't go
Tell everyone you know to stay away from North Wales ;-)Hi Adrian
It really hurts doesn't it.I got my first ticket in 25 years driving doing 36mph downhill in a favourite police poaching area in South Yorkshire which I was unfamiliar with. It gave me some feeling of satisfaction when I passed recently to see the camera box completely blown up and black with soot!Although I assume its us who will be paying for the replacement. I definately won't go to North Wales in protest.
Craig
It really hurts doesn't it.I got my first ticket in 25 years driving doing 36mph downhill in a favourite police poaching area in South Yorkshire which I was unfamiliar with. It gave me some feeling of satisfaction when I passed recently to see the camera box completely blown up and black with soot!Although I assume its us who will be paying for the replacement. I definately won't go to North Wales in protest.
Craig
I do not support the tactic used to catch motorist however speed limit is there for a reason and it is supported by Law therefore the law should not be broken and speed limit should not be used as a target so stay within the limit and you don't get a ticket.
Unfortunately the speed limit changes at the speed limit signs not before them. If you speed and you get caught you get a fine and points in the same way if you break any other law and get caught you get a telling off.
Don't get me wrong, I've been done twice on my bike in the last three years. But I know its at my own risk if I want to "make progress" in a national speed limit. I do hold my speed in a 30 and 40 though.
What we could do with though is more traffic police on our roads to catch the people who think it's ok to eat, drink, read the paper, look at a map, text, phone, shave, put two kids in the front passenger seat of a car, drink and drive, through cigarette butts out of the window when there's a motorcyclist behind, flash their lights at on coming motorcyclist who are in the middle of an overtake, put their fog lights on (front and back) when there is no fog in sight and haven't had their eye sight checked for the last five years.
If anyone has a problem with any of the above, let me know and I will take you out on my bike for a few hours and show you what I mean.
Rant over!
Have a safe year
Mark
Don't get me wrong, I've been done twice on my bike in the last three years. But I know its at my own risk if I want to "make progress" in a national speed limit. I do hold my speed in a 30 and 40 though.
What we could do with though is more traffic police on our roads to catch the people who think it's ok to eat, drink, read the paper, look at a map, text, phone, shave, put two kids in the front passenger seat of a car, drink and drive, through cigarette butts out of the window when there's a motorcyclist behind, flash their lights at on coming motorcyclist who are in the middle of an overtake, put their fog lights on (front and back) when there is no fog in sight and haven't had their eye sight checked for the last five years.
If anyone has a problem with any of the above, let me know and I will take you out on my bike for a few hours and show you what I mean.
Rant over!
Have a safe year
Mark
Mark,
Your third paragraph rings true. It sems to me that more and more people can be seen using mobile 'phones on the move since it was made illegal than before. Was nearly run into by a guy using a mobile in one hand and eating a torpedo sarnie with 'tother. Steering with his elbows on a winding road ! Had a slight loss of sense of humour after that.
Mike E
Your third paragraph rings true. It sems to me that more and more people can be seen using mobile 'phones on the move since it was made illegal than before. Was nearly run into by a guy using a mobile in one hand and eating a torpedo sarnie with 'tother. Steering with his elbows on a winding road ! Had a slight loss of sense of humour after that.
Mike E
Hi Guys
Has anyone seen the new idea of cameras permanently in cars to capture the last "rolling 30 min"? There was a TV program on how this is working in the USA a while ago. Some truly frightening footage of a driver falling asleep at the wheel and mounting the pavement. And he was seen nodding off at the wheel!
In another case a camera captured what actually happened in an accident but when this was compared to what the eye witnesses said had happened it became clear that an eye witness was easily confused and not at all accurate.
Would not such video evidence if it captured the mobile users and Newspaper Readers (see later) and presented to the Police stop these horrendous bad driving habits BEFORE someone is killed or injured?
I used my hands free mobile on the M3 about 9 months ago when I actually saw a van driver hogging the centre lane and wandering from side to side. On carefully overtaking him I saw that he was reading his Newspaper that was on his lap and propped up on the bottom half of the steering wheel.
The Police were swift and I later was informed that he was found guilty of dangerous driving - other drivers had reported his erratic driving as well.
But what was most galling!! - He was already banned for previous offences.
Has anyone seen the new idea of cameras permanently in cars to capture the last "rolling 30 min"? There was a TV program on how this is working in the USA a while ago. Some truly frightening footage of a driver falling asleep at the wheel and mounting the pavement. And he was seen nodding off at the wheel!
In another case a camera captured what actually happened in an accident but when this was compared to what the eye witnesses said had happened it became clear that an eye witness was easily confused and not at all accurate.
Would not such video evidence if it captured the mobile users and Newspaper Readers (see later) and presented to the Police stop these horrendous bad driving habits BEFORE someone is killed or injured?
I used my hands free mobile on the M3 about 9 months ago when I actually saw a van driver hogging the centre lane and wandering from side to side. On carefully overtaking him I saw that he was reading his Newspaper that was on his lap and propped up on the bottom half of the steering wheel.
The Police were swift and I later was informed that he was found guilty of dangerous driving - other drivers had reported his erratic driving as well.
But what was most galling!! - He was already banned for previous offences.
Adrian,
I generally dont speed but have been caught once by the hidden cameras.
I wouldnt mind if the punishment fitted the crime.
A young man! recently stole a car and was chased by the police at speed and dangerously. He had no licence or insurance and was a thief. He was fined
I generally dont speed but have been caught once by the hidden cameras.
I wouldnt mind if the punishment fitted the crime.
A young man! recently stole a car and was chased by the police at speed and dangerously. He had no licence or insurance and was a thief. He was fined
I recently got my picture taken just as I was leaving the M11 to go on the A406. As yet I have not got a fine through but if/when I do I will take my punishment because I deserve it. Theres no one to blame but my stupid self for going to fast for the road on which I was driving.
Have you noticed the item in the press lately of the motorcyclist in Cardiff who was sent a fine for speeding. He had been caught by the cameras doing 46 mph.
The man contested this and asked for copies of the photos. From these he was able to prove that he was traveling, at the very most, MPH.
The cameras had been confused by a bus traveling in the opposite direction, but more importantly, the photos had not been checked by the authorities before the fine had been sent out.
It took him 7 months to clear himself and the only response he got was that it was not being taken further because of lack of evidence. There was no apology.
The advice seems to be that if you are not sure if you were speeding then you have the right to ask for the photos so that you can check them yourself.
The man contested this and asked for copies of the photos. From these he was able to prove that he was traveling, at the very most, MPH.
The cameras had been confused by a bus traveling in the opposite direction, but more importantly, the photos had not been checked by the authorities before the fine had been sent out.
It took him 7 months to clear himself and the only response he got was that it was not being taken further because of lack of evidence. There was no apology.
The advice seems to be that if you are not sure if you were speeding then you have the right to ask for the photos so that you can check them yourself.
if you get a speeding penalty,the only way you can get the photo evidence is if you deny it and opt to go to court,they should send this evidence with the ticket,we thought about challenging our ticket,but if we are wrong,it will cost us more if we go to court.we are usually very careful on this stretch of road as they often have traps there,yesterday they had 4 mobile vans checking speed,6 squad cars sat waiting,5 sets of vans checking your tax,all in a mile circle,and also pulling you up at a checkpoint,easy pickings
A JP friend of mine once told me that what people should do is ask for a court appearance when they get a ticket. When you get there you then plead guilty. The court can only uphold the original fine and points. If everyone did this the courts would be overflowing with drivers and the government would find themselves in quite a sticky position.
What do you expect - it's a lot more profitable than chasing thugs, less stressful and less chance of getting hurt.
Adrian
Not strictly true, you can go and view the photo by appointment at the appropriate Police Station. I know because I have done it when issues of who was driving were in Question.
Generally although you are required by the law to know who is driving your vehicle, particularly company cars, if you genuinely cannot identify the driver involved and demonstrate that you have tried to do so you will get away with it on the first occasion?
The Police keep records of individuals or Companies who try it on so it will be only once
Not strictly true, you can go and view the photo by appointment at the appropriate Police Station. I know because I have done it when issues of who was driving were in Question.
Generally although you are required by the law to know who is driving your vehicle, particularly company cars, if you genuinely cannot identify the driver involved and demonstrate that you have tried to do so you will get away with it on the first occasion?
The Police keep records of individuals or Companies who try it on so it will be only once
its easy to get the pictures, when the nice people from the cumbria safety partnership took my picture from 550metres away I disputed it and said I didnt know who was driving at the time so they sent me a picture of me at the wheel, kind of ruined my planned ploy of saying cant tell from the pic who was driving
Sounds like we should all be wearing disguises incase we do 31 in a 30mph limit by mistake.
I knew that wig and false beard would come in handy.
I knew that wig and false beard would come in handy.
why not all wear a mask of Tony Blair - should proove a bit of fun if nothing else - It wasn't me driving m'lord it was Mr. Blair.
Colin, your on the right tack. But Blair and FUN do not pair to well. How about big eared Chas mask or his parents Liz or Stavros!
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