Mobile Speed Camera Vans

[aardvaak]

Can anyone please tell me why you do not see Mobile Speed Camera Vans at night or at weekends?

Is it the operators only work 9-5?

Is it the cameras don't work at night?

Is it something else?

[tomstickland]

operators only work 9-5?
I think.

Also they want to work at the times that they'll net as many results as possible. Hence why they prefer places with a lot of traffic where they know a large proportion will be over the limit.

Having said that, I did spot a camera van at the bottom of a hill in Bristol early on a Sunday morning. They like being at the bottom of hills because then they can catch people who've just gathered a bit of speed down the hill.

[goldspanners]

no road safety only matters 9-5,because after that they have to pay overtime and road safety isnt worth time and a half.

[aardvaak]

no road safety only matters 9-5,because after that they have to pay overtime and road safety isnt worth time and a half.

I have always had the impression (but I might be wrong) that the operators employed are Police Officers or former Officers put on these duties as light duties before retirement.

Am I right?

[goldspanners]

I have always had the impression (but I might be wrong) that the operators employed are Police Officers or former Officers put on these duties as light duties before retirement.

Am I right?

possibly,but i think some are civilians as well.

[tomstickland]

From what I understand, they are civilians and there is some turnover because they can recieve a lot of stick for doing the job.

[Keith]

I see them quite often around Milton Keynes on a Sunday in the evening

[Mark7799]

I have seen them near me on a Sunday morning

[Browntoa]

I've seen one at 5.50 am down here in Kent on a couple of occasions

[Shimrod]

I've always assumed it's because they can't capture your number plate at night. The ones I've seen capture the car as it approaches - at night, you are unlikely to be able to record the front number plate or the face of the person driving with a camera.

[flang]

I have seen them a few times on a saturday afternoon on the M4 between junction 17, chippenham junction 16 Swindon

[bargepole]

The vast majority of the mobile vans are manned by civilian operators, who usually work a 10am - 6pm shift. This includes returning to the depot, unloading and processing the images, which is why you don't often see them after 4:30/5:00 pm.

I believe weekend work is at overtime rates, so they don't want to make a dent in their ill-gotten revenue unnecessarily. And anyway, there are fewer people to catch at weekends because the roads are clogged up with all those Honda Accords driven by men in trilby hats doing a sanctimonious 69 mph on the motorways and 38 mph everywhere else.

Much more profitable to stick to weekdays and zap the professional drivers trying to get a job of work done against a tight schedule.

[dannyrado]

Our wonderful N.Wales chief c*ntstable Brunstrom has recently put forward a proposal to have the vans operate at night.

Oh, and they well and truly work weekends up here too. Welcome to North Wales everyone!

[gilbert and sullivan]

Careful in Northants (you're welcome to it), they've been seen in winter in the dark 7pm ish on a street lit dual carriageway, no silly, not where there's pedestrians, and i've seen them at 6 am too.

Good job to have though, beats the hell out of working for a living.

[Riq]

An agency sort of thing is often down the road from me on a Sunday for some reason :(

[Riq]

Our wonderful N.Wales chief c*ntstable Brunstrom has recently put forward a proposal to have the vans operate at night.

Oh, and they well and truly work weekends up here too. Welcome to North Wales everyone!
I was in a car that did 145mph in North Wales. Obviously got lucky then!! :D

[vaio]

no road safety only matters 9-5,because after that they have to pay overtime and road safety isn’t worth time and a half.

obvious answer……if you get caught speeding outside office hours then the ticket is time & a half too (and double on Sundays)

[lamb7994]

In Reading they're manned by traffic wardens they work from 8 am until 6 pm. 7 days a week.

James

[sophisticated.]

I've seen one around 9ish on a Sunday morning :mad:

[cyclonebri1]

It's the ones you don't see that you should worry about;)

[RichyRich]

I've seen one in Fife at 3:50 am :o

[dannynixon]

I was in a car that did 145mph in North Wales. Obviously got lucky then!! :D

Not just lucky to avoid 3 pts, but lucky to be alive. Whoever was driving this car is stupid

[Riq]

Not just lucky to avoid 3 pts, but lucky to be alive. Whoever was driving this car is stupid
3pts? It would have been an instant ban!

It was my ex's dad, yes he was stupid.

[Inactive]

It was my ex's dad, yes he was stupid.

I can think of a better word.

[aardvaak]

In an earlier post on this thread someone said that the operators of these Camera Vans were manned by civilian operators.

Does anyone know how to apply for a job as one of these operators?

Are they advertised?

Do they go in house?

Is there anywhere to apply to?

[lamb7994]

In an earlier post on this thread someone said that the operators of these Camera Vans were manned by civilian operators.

Does anyone know how to apply for a job as one of these operators?

Are they advertised?

Do they go in house?

Is there anywhere to apply to?

Reading borough council did have vacancy but it has now been filled.
try jogbsgopublic.com


James

[Pew Pew Pew Lasers!]

In an earlier post on this thread someone said that the operators of these Camera Vans were manned by civilian operators.

Does anyone know how to apply for a job as one of these operators?

Are they advertised?

Do they go in house?

Is there anywhere to apply to?

Try:

www.iofficiallyhavenolifeandnoclue.com

[freakybacon]

lol@ pew pew lasers! However , I think a job like this would be a smart move- its an expanding business, no shortage of work, and would there be a final salary pension with it?

I seem to remember someone suggesting somewhere that most of these jobs-AFAIK with local casualty reduction partnerships- are filled with ex-police on early retirement packages-perhaps someone else could clarify?

[cyclonebri1]

They have been advertised in the past in my (Derbyshire) area. Looked an interesting option if I recall, but can't help with the details or procedures I'm afraid.:rolleyes:

[aardvaak]

Try:

www.iofficiallyhavenolifeandnoclue.com (http://www.iofficiallyhavenolifeandnoclue.com)

Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage

[anewman]

Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage
Probably because the site doesn't exist....


and was a joke.

[Pew Pew Pew Lasers!]

lol@ pew pew lasers! However , I think a job like this would be a smart move- its an expanding business, no shortage of work, and would there be a final salary pension with it?

Road safety grants to councils are no longer ringfenced, so the funds these days are more used to repair fences, and pay for civil servants.

Safety camera partnerships may well die out, thank god.

[bargepole]

In an earlier post on this thread someone said that the operators of these Camera Vans were manned by civilian operators.
Does anyone know how to apply for a job as one of these operators? Are they advertised? Do they go in house? Is there anywhere to apply to?
I believe that the qualification requirements for this job are quite stringent. You have to demonstrate that you have no friends or social life whatsoever, and that your level of evolution is even lower than that of used car salesmen, estate agents, and private clampers.

You also have to be able to stand in court in front of three magistrates, and lie convincingly that you "formed a prior opinion that the vehicle was speeding", and that you "carried out all the calibration checks as per manufacturer's instructions".

[cyclonebri1]

I believe that the qualification requirements for this job are quite stringent. You have to demonstrate that you have no friends or social life whatsoever, and that your level of evolution is even lower than that of used car salesmen, estate agents, and private clampers.

You also have to be able to stand in court in front of three magistrates, and lie convincingly that you "formed a prior opinion that the vehicle was speeding", and that you "carried out all the calibration checks as per manufacturer's instructions".


Far be it from me to stand up for fine taxing because like many others I have been caught out, but, like lots of other posts where decisions can cost joe public, why should it be scorned upon to take a job like this if you are totally honest in your approach to the task and apply the law as it is written?

But then again there are dishonest people in every employment :rolleyes:

I wonder legally what the implication would be if you parked behind said scamera van in the layby typically used, lifted the tailgate and set up a picnic? would it be different if it was police opt as against civilian?

Sorry for mixed views, I support the curbing of dangerous speeding but hate rigid, non condition dependant limits we have in place.

[Pew Pew Pew Lasers!]

if you are totally honest in your approach to the task and apply the law as it is written?


The law assumes the LTI 20-20 is a foolproof device - it is not.

[Gorgeous George]

Money making machines - nothing more, nothing less.

Expect even more as the Chancellor's tax black hole gets deeper.

If I knew one of the operators of these scam vans, I'd never speak to them again. Scam, scum?

GG

[aardvaak]

Probably because the site doesn't exist....


and was a joke.

How do you know it was a joke?

[goldspanners]

How do you know it was a joke?

because it was funny!

[newsseller12]

Near us every wed evenig there is a classic bikers night at a local pub. You can guarantee the speed trap van will be hiding somwhere along the route to the meet!

[cyclonebri1]

Near us every wed evenig there is a classic bikers night at a local pub. You can guarantee the speed trap van will be hiding somwhere along the route to the meet!


So if someone gets caught speeding in an area where there's "guaranteed" to be a camera??????
Lets face it if they are speeding, and if the equipment is correct, it's a fair cop.

Events such as this usually attract police attention and it's very often welcomed, even instigated, by the local residents who dislike their village being used as a race track once a month. We have the Nova owners club in the area, now they really are annoying;) :rolleyes:

[iolanthe07]

I have seen them near me on a Sunday morning

Trying to catch the church going speed freaks, then.

[Mark7799]

Course not - it was on the way to the supermarket :-))

[Poppycat]

They caught 140 drivers in my area recently

http://www.scarborougheveningnews.co.uk/news/Police-spy-van-captures-140.4162635.jp

A POLICE speed trap operated from an unmarked white van has netted so many drivers that extra court sittings have had to be arranged.

[tomstickland]

I'd like to see some more info on the locations, roads, speed limit and speeds they caught people at.

I rather liked this comment:
You state that speed causes accidents and costs lives.

While I was a Paramedic I took pride in achieving Government attendance times by driving fast.

If you say "Oh well that's different because of the training." you will be accepting that ability and not speed is the critical factor. This is the point being made by several correspondents above.

No-one is saying it is legal to exceed speed limits, and in 30/40/50 zones I stick to the posted limits, but to assume that driving at 70MPH is exponentially more dangerous than driving at 60MPH is rather facile.

A local road has recently been reduced from a 60MPH to a 50MPH, I have travelled that road at 100MPH on more than one occasion without incident. It is now a possibility that a driver maintaining a steady 59MPH can be penalised for a speed which is well within the safety margins for the road.

Speed, in isolation, is a victimless crime which, due to the obsessive focus, consumes a disproportionate amount of the Police budget.

[d123]

I'd like to see some more info on the locations, roads, speed limit and speeds they caught people at.

I rather liked this comment:

You state that speed causes accidents and costs lives.

While I was a Paramedic I took pride in achieving Government attendance times by driving fast.

If you say "Oh well that's different because of the training." you will be accepting that ability and not speed is the critical factor. This is the point being made by several correspondents above.

No-one is saying it is legal to exceed speed limits, and in 30/40/50 zones I stick to the posted limits, but to assume that driving at 70MPH is exponentially more dangerous than driving at 60MPH is rather facile.

A local road has recently been reduced from a 60MPH to a 50MPH, I have travelled that road at 100MPH on more than one occasion without incident. It is now a possibility that a driver maintaining a steady 59MPH can be penalised for a speed which is well within the safety margins for the road.

Speed, in isolation, is a victimless crime which, due to the obsessive focus, consumes a disproportionate amount of the Police budget.

That is a well written and extremely valid comment. In the past I have also driven far in excess of the speed limit posted for the road, both in a car and on a motorcycle. At times this has been around 150mph.

This was done in safety and with due regard to the conditions. At other times when I could have exceeded the speed limit on a country lane I would not drive faster than 40mph, even though the limit was posted at 60mph. Why? because the conditions were not safe enough to do so.

Depending on the conditions, 120mph on a motorway is far safer than 50mph on a country lane.

Speed does not kill, inappropriate speed, by drivers not capable or trained to drive to a high enough standard or impaired in some way is what kills.