Ok i was on my way back home on a 40 mph road , just as i approched the speed camera (a fixed one) i noticed a police van parked up in a layby next to it with a small camera on a tripod at ground level with a lead leading to the van facing the traffic.My question is , is it a speed camera or a numberplate reader for road tax evasion etc .Not to sure of my speed but when i looked it was around the 40 mph mark .
Speed Camera or not?
- Thread starter jonnyfive
- Start date
I think they often do multiple things. Speed, Tax, Insurance
I would say it was for the tax dodgers when i've seen the DVLA cars parked up they have a camera on a tripod.
If it's an estate car & there're checking for tax will have a small sticker on side of door saying something like DVLA vehicle licensing check...
If it's a Police car, more likely to be all 3... speed, tax, insurance & MOT check, normally with a couple of pursuit cars/bikes up the road ready to have a word. If you get nothing in the mail within 2 weeks, you're 99% in the clear as this is the legal timeframe if you're not stopped by he roadside that they have to act.
Good luck
If it's a Police car, more likely to be all 3... speed, tax, insurance & MOT check, normally with a couple of pursuit cars/bikes up the road ready to have a word. If you get nothing in the mail within 2 weeks, you're 99% in the clear as this is the legal timeframe if you're not stopped by he roadside that they have to act.
Good luck
Could be ANPR, which would be Tax/Insurance/MOT, but NOT speed(I think). Give it 2 weeks, you'll soon know 
do you know the fixed camera is live ?
its possible they were monitoring the speeds to see if its worthwhile making it live ?
speed cameras cost quite a bit to operate so the forces want to make sure its worth their while
had similar set up near me for 4 nights running & almost sure i went by over the limit .
6 weeks on no letter 8)
its possible they were monitoring the speeds to see if its worthwhile making it live ?
speed cameras cost quite a bit to operate so the forces want to make sure its worth their while
had similar set up near me for 4 nights running & almost sure i went by over the limit .
6 weeks on no letter 8)
Defoo DVLA checking your tax, their cameras are on tripods, usually small and round in shape and behind the vehicle which is parked up. This is the usual one parked up on the A48M in Cardiff:
A speed camera will consist of two units. The first will be a laser device usually rectangular in shape with 2 lenses. Next to it will be a camera with a nice lens attached to it.
White cameras on tripods on motorway bridges are ANPR cameras, these do not check your speed but they do check tax, insurance, MOT, and any markers on the car. Lots of police cars and motorbikes will be hiding further ahead to stop you.
I wouldnt worry at all....
One word of warning though - I did once on the M6 North see Police using Speed cameras on tripods on a bridge. They were then radioing the cars up ahead to stop speeding drivers. I was doing 90 at the time and slammed on the anchors at it was just after 7am, thankfully, all six, yes, six police cars were in the hard shoulder with their victims handing out tickets. I think they were relaying the picture from the mobile camera to the TV unit in the police car as evidence.
Generally by rule if its any other sort of speed camera, the police have 14 days to get the NIP (notice of intended prosecution) to you, if it arrives a day late, they cant do you. If you do get one, check EVERYTHING on it, even if the road name, junction location, anything on it is incorrect it can be thrown out of court.
A speed camera will consist of two units. The first will be a laser device usually rectangular in shape with 2 lenses. Next to it will be a camera with a nice lens attached to it.
White cameras on tripods on motorway bridges are ANPR cameras, these do not check your speed but they do check tax, insurance, MOT, and any markers on the car. Lots of police cars and motorbikes will be hiding further ahead to stop you.
I wouldnt worry at all....
One word of warning though - I did once on the M6 North see Police using Speed cameras on tripods on a bridge. They were then radioing the cars up ahead to stop speeding drivers. I was doing 90 at the time and slammed on the anchors at it was just after 7am, thankfully, all six, yes, six police cars were in the hard shoulder with their victims handing out tickets. I think they were relaying the picture from the mobile camera to the TV unit in the police car as evidence.
Generally by rule if its any other sort of speed camera, the police have 14 days to get the NIP (notice of intended prosecution) to you, if it arrives a day late, they cant do you. If you do get one, check EVERYTHING on it, even if the road name, junction location, anything on it is incorrect it can be thrown out of court.
