Handheld speed cameras

Mercdriver

Nilrem wrote: »

IIRC if the person wasn't wearing a police uniform it may depending on where it happened have been someone simply doing a speed survey (IE not for enforcement but to get some stats for that stretch of road prior to potential speed calming or police enforcement).

At one point at least one force was sometimes giving a speed gun to neighbourhood watch groups in villages who complained about the speeds, so they could then do some checks on the speeds and then the police would send an officer to do enforcement (IIRC the officers sometimes ended up being very unpopular with the locals who had complained about people speeding through the village, as the locals were often the ones doing the speeding).

It wouldn't need to be a police officer for it to be admissable as evidence in court as a speeding offence. He just needs to convince the court that he is trained and proficient in the use of the equipment.

Car_54

Mercdriver wrote: »

It wouldn't need to be a police officer for it to be admissable as evidence in court as a speeding offence. He just needs to convince the court that he is trained and proficient in the use of the equipment.

He could also be challenged to prove the accuracy of the equipment, which for all practical purposes means HO approval and recent calibration. If the gun is a police "cast-off" that might nor be possible.

Mercdriver

Car_54 wrote: »

He could also be challenged to prove the accuracy of the equipment, which for all practical purposes means HO approval and recent calibration. If the gun is a police "cast-off" that might nor be possible.

Asking for calibration certificates has rarely born fruit from my reading of events at pepipoo...

Car_54

Mercdriver wrote: »

Asking for calibration certificates has rarely born fruit from my reading of events at pepipoo...

True, but all the cases on pepipoo involve real policemen. We're talking here about a member of the public using a second-hand bit of kit!

N9eav

Chances are it was a cop out to appease the locals who complained about speeders through their area. Unless he pulled you over to speak to you, chances are there will be no recourse.


There was a scheme in our area once where locals were trained to use the speed detection device. They could set up shop with the relevant health and safety conditions in mind and zap speeding cars through their village. They could then obtain the keepers address and send them a Parish council letter. It was worthless. If they caught you a second time you could get another letter, but then they would tell the Police to keep an eye out for you.
Of course, every officer had something better to do and the locals soon got bored of their new toy and it turned out as useful as a one legged man at a butt kicking contest.

mcpitman

DCFC79 wrote: »

Anyone able to tell me if the handheld speed cameras have a speed tolerance, is doing a 35mph on a road with a limit of 30mph allowed.

If you are in Derbyshire (assuming from username), they often have zero tolerance on speed limits.

I can tell you in Feb-14 they had zero tolerance. I know this as I accepted a Speed Awareness Course for doing 34mph in a 30mph zone, so the old 10%+2 guidance is exactly that, guidance.

It's a fair cop and all that....

Dr._Shoe

Your would have been stopped and as you weren't I reckon you're in the clear.

Car_54

mcpitman wrote: »

If you are in Derbyshire (assuming from username), they often have zero tolerance on speed limits.

I can tell you in Feb-14 they had zero tolerance. I know this as I accepted a Speed Awareness Course for doing 34mph in a 30mph zone, so the old 10%+2 guidance is exactly that, guidance.

It's a fair cop and all that....

34 in a 30 isn't zero tolerance. It's just slightly less tolerance than the guidelines.

mcpitman

Car_54 wrote: »

34 in a 30 isn't zero tolerance. It's just slightly less tolerance than the guidelines.

Pedant :mad:

They were operating zero tolerance at the time, just that i was caught at 34 in a 30.

Other people who attended the course were NIP'd for 31 & 32 mph. :eek:

patman99

It's not the obtaining of the calibration cert that matters. It's getting the serial no. of the speed gun and getting the operative to demonstrate it in Court that matters.

If the speed gun shows a fixed object such as a wall moving at any speed, then this throws doubt into the minds of the Magistrates.