Police vans...now with calibrated speedo's! Well, maybe...

Adski · Post by **Adski** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 4:10 pm

I overtook one earlier, which was doing the speed limit and have never had any problems before - I'm always very careful, totally safe and considerate and stupidly don't speed away when overtaking them but today I was pulled over for the very first time.
I've never worried too much before about the police minibus/van things on the road as they don't have the gubbins to prove speeding offences, so with my calm recollections of The Drivers Survival Handbook I didn't give them any verbal evidence to use against me that I was speeding - even when he mentioned that the van did in fact have a calibrated speedo.
I've no idea if it actually did have a calibrated speedo, or if it was a blag to get me to admit the offence, but I'll certainly be more careful in future around the vans...just in case.
He let me off without a problem, though did point out that my visor didn't have a kite-mark (despite being the original clear one on my KBC) but thankfully didn't notice "not for road use" stamped on the cans...

I know some of you will undoubtedly think I'm a bit of an arse for ever doing it in the first place, and I'd probably think the same if I was a power-ranger on a Jap sports bike but I think a better way of putting it is being more than a bit over complacent.

All the best,
Adam

andrew s · Post by **andrew s** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 4:52 pm

Adam,

A lot of police vehicles have a calibrated speedo, and it can be used to prove a speeding offence.

Andrew

Adski · Post by **Adski** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:11 pm

andrew s wrote:A lot of police vehicles have a calibrated speedo, and it can be used to prove a speeding offence.

Yeah, I guess my knowledge is a bit out of date! I thought it was mostly just traffic patrol/enforcement vehicles that had calibrated speedo's and not the police vans.

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:59 pm

andrew s wrote:Adam,

A lot of police vehicles have a calibrated speedo, and it can be used to prove a speeding offence.

Andrew

Is that not.................. CHEATING?

Unless it was a calibrated digital speedo - I'd be tempted to argue that the speedo was viewed at an angle

After getting some advice from a friend who is a "Safety Partnership"

camera operator - I am fitting a chaff launcher to the pillion of the BoxerCup.............. that should f**k them!

Al

andrew s · Post by **andrew s** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 6:15 pm

Al,

You can argue if you want, at the end of the day it is your right. I wouldn't listen to all your friend says who is a camera operator. It would only be a couple of miles out looking at the speedo at an angle. The speedo's are calibrated and certificated to the effect.

If I saw a police vehicle travelling at the speed limit, I wouldn't overtake it, it annoys the crap out of the police and I should know.

Andrew

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:41 pm

Err..............the bit about the advice from the camera operator (and the Chaff-launcher) was ve-e-e-e-e-e-ry toungue in cheek.

He reckons that if you are "pinged" from the front, don't slow down - speed up, cos he has to turn around to note down your number!

Al

andrew s · Post by **andrew s** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:48 pm

Al,

If I was caught from the front I would slow down. How is the camera van guy going to prove it was your bike he caught speeding on the video as it does not show your number plate. I can't see it standing up in court him saying he took the registration plate after. Especially in Scotland as he would need corrobaration.

The easiest way to be safe is not to speed (yeah that would be right)

Andrew

theseadog · Post by **theseadog** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 1:50 pm

Blackal wrote: After getting some advice from a friend who is a "Safety Partnership" camera operator -

Al, you need to change your friends...........

boxerpan · Post by **boxerpan** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 2:24 pm

andrew s wrote:Al,

If I was caught from the front I would slow down. How is the camera van guy going to prove it was your bike he caught speeding on the video as it does not show your number plate. I can't see it standing up in court him saying he took the registration plate after. Especially in Scotland as he would need corrobaration.

The easiest way to be safe is not to speed (yeah that would be right)

Andrew

It stands up in court down here if the camera van operator marks the back of the photo with your index number, it seems that is enough corrobaration

andrew s · Post by **andrew s** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 3:06 pm

Lloyd,

I wouldn't be happy with that, but there again the courts are crap.

Andrew

madman · Post by **madman** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:34 pm

The cost of fitting calibrated speedos in all police vehicles must be small compared to the revenue that would be earned. Small investment - BIG return!

Boxered · Post by **Boxered** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:45 pm

Hi Adam, you didn't say what the speed limit was when you comitted this heanus crime, if it was a 30 or 40, then you have to take it on the chin, regardless of calibration. If your talking open roads, thats another matter. Nobody has a devine right to speed, but if we are sensible in built up areas and, show some degree of responsibility on faster urban roads, then we can all benefit from a more rounded reputation from locals etc.and hopefully disassociate(?) us from the drunk/mobile phone using/chav/ stolen Suburu/ kiddy car driving morons that REALLY plague our roads.
God knows (if he exists) that I'm no saint, but I do try to promote a more positive image of us filthy,
leatherclad, smelly, biter of chicken's heads, user's of the queens highway, wherever possible.
err...
hic/ stagger/ wobble........what was the question again...brrrrrp/pharrrp

RIDE SAFE

Steve

Adski · Post by **Adski** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:10 pm

It was a 30mph limit, and I was doing nearly 40.

There's nothing to take on the chin other than the Bobby's words, which was a relief at the time.