Speed Camera Scam Exposed!

bargepole

The following from a recent local paper:

THREE police workers are to be hauled before a disciplinary hearing after a probe revealed Blackpool motorists were caught out by a dodgy speed camera. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found two roadside cameras in the county had been wrongly calibrated.

More than 500 speeding convictions were declared "unsafe", resulting in £35,000 in fines being refunded.

Police today confirmed the cameras were sited in Blackpool and Penwortham, near Preston. The exact locations have not been revealed.

An IPCC investigation was ordered following allegations a staff member had failed to correctly calibrate - or set up - the cameras.

A second inquiry examined allegations staff had incorrectly processed paperwork. This resulted in 2,115 speeding tickets being ripped up.

The investigation determined the camera operative and two members of staff at Lancashire Police's Central Processing Unit should face
disciplinary charges relating to misconduct.

Proof once again, if any was needed, that those who say "don't speed and you won't get a ticket" are completely wrong.

Well done to Lancs police for putting their hands up and repaying all those fines, but you have to wonder how many other areas might have similar problems. The lesson here must be: if you get a ticket through the post, don't just meekly pay up, demand the evidence, and check and double check everything.

anewman

But still, only 500 "unsafe" convictions. Doesn't sound unreasonable to believe they were all speeding, as surely more than 500 cars went past the camera travelling at the speed limit?!

colin79666

There was one that was recently remove on the A71
The camera was in a 40 zone but pointed into a 50 zone. The white marks on the road crossed both speed zones so many people must have been fined incorrectly. It was removed eventually but goodness knows how many people were fined and just paid up.

bargepole

anewman wrote: »

But still, only 500 "unsafe" convictions. Doesn't sound unreasonable to believe they were all speeding, as surely more than 500 cars went past the camera travelling at the speed limit?!

The 500 figure only refers to those who were dealt with in court, and fined. Whether they were actually speeding or not is irrelevant; if the integrity of the prosecution evidence is compromised, there is no case to answer. End of.

There would have been many more than this who paid up on a fixed penalty, but they won't get their money or points back.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Oooooooohhhh wrote: »

Its not a scam, its an admin error and tbh I think what is relevent is whether the calibration was wrong

If it was fair enough, if it was simply not upto date and the people where speeding then it stinks they get off on a technicality

Do you think it acceptable for the prosecuting authorities not to follow the law, as are required to?

anewman

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Do you think it acceptable for the prosecuting authorities not to follow the law, as are required to?

Two wrongs don't make a right though.

goldspanners

anewman wrote: »

Two wrongs don't make a right though.

a few years ago before we had as many cameras and sneaky speed detection systems on our roads i would maybe have said ok you caught me fair enough,but nowadays with so many cameras,speed traps,camera vans,etc... its hard to think this is all about road safety,its pure and simply revenue raising, if the powers that be are going to employ under hand tactics to catch people speeding then the public is well within thier right to contest this,if the government expect us to drive in a black and white world then they will also convict us in the same manner,every speed limit witheld on the road then every i dotted and t crossed in court.

tomstickland

Doesn't sound unreasonable to believe they were all speeding

In that case why not prosecute simply based on someone sitting in a van writing down numbers of cars they "think" are speeding?

anewman

tomstickland wrote: »

In that case why not prosecute simply based on someone sitting in a van writing down numbers of cars they "think" are speeding?

I thought they were supposed to know how fast they had travelled based on time gap between photos and marks on the road. Speed = distance/time

I agree most cameras are there to make money rather than improve safety. Yes punish the idiots who mucked up the camera, but if they *were* speeding, then they shouldn't get off because of someone else's mistake.

Markyt

anewman wrote: »

but if they *were* speeding, then they shouldn't get off because of someone else's mistake.

Yes they should, otherwise there is no point having those rules in place. You can't say 'we will prosecute you under these circumstances' and then decide that, actually, that doesn't apply, and you are going to be prosecuted anyway.

bargepole

Oooooooohhhh wrote: »

Its not a scam, its an admin error and tbh I think what is relevent is whether the calibration was wrong

If it was fair enough, if it was simply not upto date and the people where speeding then it stinks they get off on a technicality

No, what really stinks is that the "authorities" so often think they can get away with fleecing the public for penalties and fines, based on flawed "evidence" and unlawful procedures.

Thank goodness we have a robust and independent Judiciary in this country, who generally insist on the prosecution proving their case beyond reasonable doubt, before a conviction can be obtained - much to the inconvenience of Safety Camera Partnerships, Private Parking companies, and all those little Hitlers working for local Councils.

Perhaps some people should remember why we joined this forum in the first place - there's a clue in the name of this website. Other forums, such as www.iamastupidtwatwhowantstogivethegovernmentallmymoney.co.uk may have a different viewpoint.