Police Van Camera Speed traps

bubbleflap · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Karma :

Quick question - Do the police speed traps (the ones where they set up vans at random locations) take a physical photo of the vehicle meaning the rider / driver could be identified in court? Or, do they work in a simliar way to speed camera's?

Thanks

mad4it028 · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Karma :

i may be wrong but i think there number plate reconition camras

LustyLew · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Apr 2004 Karma :

I think they do take pictures. It's only the plod holding the radar gun that doesnt.

Camera's facing forwards are pretty uselss against bikes, but DONT take taht as gospel, as they could have a guy in the van and note your reg as you pass.
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0ddball · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Karma :

Yeah, best thing to do if you think one up ahead has clocked you speeding is to turn down a side road making sure they can't see your plate.

bubbleflap · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Karma :

Has anyone had direct exeperience with this, i.e taken it to court etc?

moonym20 · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Karma :

I think you will find that some of the vans are numberplate recognition toys for the plod. i do think they take pictures of every car that passes then checks it against a database of known road tax dodgers, no MOT n insurance etc..

you can generally tell them apart because they have a dish or antena above the van and usaually a shit load of cops nearby to pull people over.

I *think* the speed vans do take a picture then kindly enclose a black n white print to send to you to hang on the wall along with a fine Smile

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MattEMulsion · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Karma :

I can't remember the full ins and outs of how they work (I had a good look/chat to a guy and his speed camera van on display at Cadwell Park one BSB day, but I do recall that they basically use a video camera type system.

If I remember correctly, from the minute they start the speed detecting the video records everything constantly as seen through the speed camera and is obviously accurately timed/calibrated up. Then the operator sits in his chair and watches people coming through the back of window of his van. If he suspects you are speeding he looks through the sight of his speed camera (it stands in the back of the van on a tripod) aims it at you and pulls the trigger.

As he pulls the trigger it puts a electronic mark on the video recording and if the camera records your speed as excessive I think it then puts another matching electronic mark on the recording. Then once it is all downloaded it automatically picks out all the 'clips' of the people speeding (by using these electronic marks), automatically reads the registration number of the vehicles and then issues the owner with a ticket.

For all of you bikers who think that they are safe on a bike from a forward facing camera in a van - think again. All the operator has to do when the camera has detected you speeding is note down your registration number as you pass him. Then he makes a statement to say that the bike on the video recording was registration xxx as it passed the van and hey presto, your ticket will be on its way. And for those who think that it is not possible to read a reg as it passes the van you will be surprised exactly how much visibility there is from the inside looking out of one of those vans. (The operator has a swivel chair too).

This info is only based on my what I remember from this one occasion of seeing how these things worked so it may not be 100% accurate but is pretty close. It was also a Lincolnshire safety camera partnership van if that makes any difference.
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