police with speedgun

[lofimaster]

Hi
I was a bit over speed limit today crossing the westway in london...
Suddenly noticed police car stopped with the speedgun pointing to oncoming traffic..
Do they need to stop me to isue the speed ticket or just the reading from the speed camera would be enough? Also it was very busy and everybody there was way over the speed limit!
I hate when this kind of shit happens.. 2 weeks waiting unsure if I got caught or not!

[covent.gardens]

Handheld sped gun = come after you there and then.

IIRC they could in theory still send you a NIP in the post, but that's not how it works in practice when they're holding a gun in their hands. Even though everyone was speeding he was probably just waiting to catch someone going faster than everyone else.

[lofimaster]

[covent.gardens]

You are a good 99.5% in the clear. I wouldn't worry too much.
(Assuming it was handheld, and not a bigger camera on a tripod which is a different story)

[lofimaster]

[Vincent]

On the bike? 'Doubt they have your number plate anyhoo.
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[arry]

As CG says - you're most likely in the clear. They don't have to issue there and then but 95% of the time that's what they'll do.

I got one of those aimed at me by a motorbike copper on top of a gantry (he'd positioned himself 'conveniently') on the A12 at around 85-90 in real speed (that's internet leptons of course officer) and nothing said nor done. No doubt he was waiting there for someone to come through clocking the ton - which on that stretch is a real possibility.

[esullivan]

The westway is probably the oddest stretch of road on my commute. It's a six-lane dual carriageway, where the average speed is around what you would expect 60-70. The speed limit is an inexplicable 40. Why? I've never seen anyone do this speed on this stretch of road and have never seen an accident. There are no speed cameras on it either, which also suggests accidents are rare. So, what is the deal with that absurdly slow speed limit?
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[Polarbear]

[bamt]

I think (and this may go against perceived "war on the motorist" wisdom) that often the very visible policeman with a speed gun presence is more about getting people to drive slower because it's perceived that there's quite often a speed trap there than stopping people who are a little over the limit.

Certainly around by us there are a couple of spots where they do this - e.g.where speed limits change (40 into a 30 on a wide bit of road - but going into a housing area from a business park so understandable). The difference on car speeds generally is noticeable, for a while after they've been out, even though you rarely/never see anyone actually pulled over.

[lofimaster]

[Sable]

Cynicism aside, maybe its because they don't want a 80-90mph crash on a bridge running over built up areas of London. The 40 limit is rather low, but imagine the carnage a large truck would cause if it came crashing off the Westway.

[esullivan]

[swampy]

[barrkel]

Westway was 30 a few years ago too.

There's a history of the speed limits on another forum: https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29715&view=previous

[Sable]

[arry]

[PieEaterer]

Went past that same guy yesterday. There were 3 motorcycles and not much else all going "ever so slightly" faster than 40. He didn't even flinch. By the looks of it he was aiming at the outside lane waiting for some prat in a car going "slightly over 40".

Also, how are they going to catch you with a speed reading from the front of your bike?

[Vincent]

[Piggyfish]

You would almost always be stopped at the time in this scenario. The only likely reason they'd go through the ball-ache of sorting out an NIP in time is if they tried to stop you and you buggered off.
Yes they can clock your plate as you pass and do it by post, but it's so much easier and quicker to do it at the roadside.
As somebody else has suggested, they're waiting for the big speed - it might not seem like it, but most are very generous when it comes to setting what speed to stop people at.

Just remember...... When the sun's out, the gun's out!
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[lofimaster]

Thanks all for replying!
Hopefully nothing will happen and I'll post here if I got caught or not!

[lofimaster]

Watching motorway cops on tele to see how coppers catch people hahaha

[speedy]

out of curiosity where do they sit on the westway? down the london side off to the left?
always see them near brent cross on the 406 never on the westway that im aware of

[lofimaster]

This special occasion was towards West londob just before the exit to shepperds bush white city..

[lofimaster]

I went straight toward acton to the sea of filtering