Police Camera Vans?

[sstimmyy]

I just drove past what I think was a police camera van on the way back from college. I didn't realise what it was until I passed as the weather was bad and it was moving but I think I may have been a few mph too fast. Does anybody know if these vans can snap you whilst they are moving?

I cant remember exactly what it looked like other than being a white police van but the rear windows were blacked out and there was yellow/red hazard lines covering the back doors. Worrying a little bit... but then again it could have been a normal police van.

 

[thunderous71]

Could be, and the side window is usually a tinted one too. Get a lot of em round my way. As far as I know though they only work when stationary.

 

[Stenno]

Don't believe they can snap you whilst moving. Based on your description it sounds more like an ANPR van. They park them round my way up a lot and then have response vehicles further down the road.

 

[Friz]

Sounds like an ordinary police van.
Most speed camera vans will have either the speed camera logo on them somewhere or "Speed camera" written on them.

Regardless, they cannot catch you when moving. And even if they could, going a few miles per hour too fast won't get you stopped by them. Theres that 10% + something rule to consider

But that only poses the question, what were you doing going over the speed limit in bad conditions anyway :O

 

[sstimmyy]

Thanks for putting my mind at rest guys, Im fairly sure it was an ordinary van now As for the speeding in bad conditions, I know, I know, I shouldn't have But it was a long straight, 30mph road down the middle of a grass field and I didn't even realise I was speeding until I saw the van was police, then glanced down at my speedo! I was annoyed because I normally force myself not to speed in 30s even on the best of days as most of the crashes I've seen have been on the country roads going through villages. Slap on the wrist

 

[rickster303]

they cant track your speed if there moving because thy cant calculate the vectors, also you can overtake a police car at dubble the speed limit and the cant do you for it cause they are moving and have no proof of your speed (know someone who did it)

 

[Friz]

they cant track your speed if there moving because thy cant calculate the vectors, also you can overtake a police car at dubble the speed limit and the cant do you for it cause they are moving and have no proof of your speed (know someone who did it)

I wouldn't risk or recommend that! They can still do you if they're moving, depending on what type of police car it is.

A traffic officer will arrest you if you speed past him.

Regardless, it's pretty stupid to speed past a police car no matter whether you think they'll come after you or not.

 

[sstimmyy]

they cant track your speed if there moving because thy cant calculate the vectors, also you can overtake a police car at dubble the speed limit and the cant do you for it cause they are moving and have no proof of your speed (know someone who did it)

I know you are just telling us a fact but got to say that sounds bloody stupid! Wont be trying that. If you piss off an officer or try being clever like that it wouldnt take much for them to pull you over and find somthing else to do you for! The police are notorious for finding a problem if you've upset them and you could have your licence taken and bike crushed for riding an 'illegal' vehicle.

 

[Gadgetsandwheels]

they cant track your speed if there moving because thy cant calculate the vectors, also you can overtake a police car at dubble the speed limit and the cant do you for it cause they are moving and have no proof of your speed (know someone who did it)

Be careful - this isn't true. Some cars are fitted with cameras that record the speed of the police car and the target vehicle. this is sufficient evidence. In addition, if they have a calibrated speedometer in their car (and traffic cars usually do) then two police officers can provide evidence in court based purely on that and you will be booked accordingly. So, think carefully - they are on a mission at the moment!

 

[Yarek]

they cant track your speed if there moving because thy cant calculate the vectors, also you can overtake a police car at dubble the speed limit and the cant do you for it cause they are moving and have no proof of your speed (know someone who did it)

Be careful - this isn't true. Some cars are fitted with cameras that record the speed of the police car and the target vehicle. this is sufficient evidence. In addition, if they have a calibrated speedometer in their car (and traffic cars usually do) then two police officers can provide evidence in court based purely on that and you will be booked accordingly. So, think carefully - they are on a mission at the moment!

Have to agree with this comment - in the UK at least.

 

[Footle83]

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=en&sa ... 5,s:0,i:77

^^^^^ Speed camera van ^^^^^^^

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=en&sa ... s:45,i:234

^^^^^^^^^ Standard Police van ^^^^^^^
They look the same however they dont get speeds out the side only the rear and normally will be sat (Stationary) around a corner waiting for you. I wouldn't say that they would have got you. So I wouldn't worry too much.

EDIT --- if they were in the opposing lane then they have cameras on the front and not on the back of the van.

 

[rickster303]

just to be clear im not saying you should speed past police cars but if they are moving the only way they can give you a speeding ticket is to follow you over a set distance and clock your speed, but if you over take one they cant prove what your speed was, even if they have a radar gun cause that messures reletive speed not total speed

 

[Yarek]

just to be clear im not saying you should speed past police cars but if they are moving the only way they can give you a speeding ticket is to follow you over a set distance and clock your speed, but if you over take one they cant prove what your speed was, even if they have a radar gun cause that messures reletive speed not total speed

The point is though that two police officers can give evidence against you on the speed they perceived you were doing and this is enough for a conviction, regardless of whether it was a fixed distance or otherwise.

 

[Gadgetsandwheels]

just to be clear im not saying you should speed past police cars but if they are moving the only way they can give you a speeding ticket is to follow you over a set distance and clock your speed, but if you over take one they cant prove what your speed was, even if they have a radar gun cause that messures reletive speed not total speed

The point is though that two police officers can give evidence against you on the speed they perceived you were doing and this is enough for a conviction, regardless of whether it was a fixed distance or otherwise.

I believe that they need to use and sight the readings of a calibrated speedometer while following you for a statutory mile. Not that long at speed. Anyways - better to be safe...

 

[NastyEvilNinja]

just to be clear im not saying you should speed past police cars but if they are moving the only way they can give you a speeding ticket is to follow you over a set distance and clock your speed, but if you over take one they cant prove what your speed was, even if they have a radar gun cause that messures reletive speed not total speed

The point is though that two police officers can give evidence against you on the speed they perceived you were doing and this is enough for a conviction, regardless of whether it was a fixed distance or otherwise.

I believe that they need to use and sight the readings of a calibrated speedometer while following you for a statutory mile. Not that long at speed. Anyways - better to be safe...

Maybe...

But as mentioned, if the Officer in the car says you were speeding you'll get done. They'll still be able to get a Reckless, Dangerous or at the very least Anti-Social (or whatever it is) Driving charges against you.

That said, I like to overtake Police cars when I can, and treat it as a kind of game! Especially around tight country lanes when other bikes are following me, because it's funny to see if they follow or stay behind.

Remember the Highway Code says you should pass as quickly as possible and then return to the posted limit - I wouldn't recommend going too crazy with that, but if they're 10mph under and I go 10mph over for the overtake and then slow again, it's fair game.