MattRS

I know a guy who was up until recently was a police traffic officer in the 'fast response' cars near me - he's now back in Panda cars after refusing to accept a daily 'quota' of tickets... Basically, he was told to hand out 'x' number of tickets every day for speeding, traffic offences, defective vehicles, etc... He refused - good on him.

He's also just confirmed that the new Cameras on the M54 between J3 and J2 are actually Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras, due to go live early next year....

Smile, Big Brother is most definitely watching.

Matt.

Tonky

Matt:

That ticket quota business is repulsive to a lot of coppers. Unfortunately the Home Ofice are being adivsed by whizz kid spin doctors from commercial backgrounds. They're even talking about performance related pay schemes for coppers, and there's only one thing that's going to mean for the copper driving the big Volvo on the motorway!

Colly

Change your name to Smith AKA the Didyman and run false number plates.

AnDy_PaNdY

So what does that mean exactly ? A fine on your doorstep before you get home

tokyo_james

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kobe
[B]Tokyo James - have'nt you seen all the solar powered radar detectors on the dashboards in Japan, I got a radar+GPS combination one for about 200quid (apparently fully legal in Japan). Within 1km of a fixed camera site it pings it out to you and speaks out what type of radar is being used - Of course it also picks up the mobile radar guns - it gets your attention if you have the volume turned it - it sounds like a SAM site has locked onto you with a missile. Saved me twice in 2 days after buying it, already paid back the initial cost.

Frenchie

And these do what, exactly, Matt? Are they an advanced GATSO device or are they part of that system that clocks your average speed between two points? Or something new

Pete

MattRS

Pete / Andy,

If you take a look at the URL below, they look almost identical to the Tax Disc Reader devices seen here - but I have confirmation that the M54 cameras are solely for Number Plate recognition. What this means is that numberplates will be checked as you pass the camera and directly checked against the DVLA / Police system which has stolen / untaxed / dodgy cars flagged on the system. Depending on the level of staffing, the police may stop you further up the motorway or just get you via post..... At present, there is no speed element to the cameras...



http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/police203.htm


Matt

Kobe

speeding is probably the only offence which everybody (99.9%) participates in - I would hope that the government is appreciating the negative feelings that all these cameras invoke - same way the tax on fuel suddenly went hot last year.

remember when they tied the speeding fine to your income - somebody on the dole could walk away with a five quid fine and somebody else picked up one for a grand. That did not last long come election time.

Tonky

The trouble with speed limits is that they're set at the level of the lowest common denominator, which is the burke who tailgates you in the wet, has one headlight working, and doesn't know, and wouldn't care if he did!

The 70 limit on motorways is a classic example where driving standards and lane discipline have dictated the limit.

AnDy_PaNdY

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MattRS
[B]Pete / Andy,

If you take a look at the URL below, they look almost identical to the Tax Disc Reader devices seen here - but I have confirmation that the M54 cameras are solely for Number Plate recognition.