Absolutely
Especially the six new ones down the A12 Brentwood bypass (three each side)
Although they are partially protected by the bridges that they are next to !
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I wonder who had the audacity to call those things "safety" cameras?!
As with those other abominations called "traffic calming schemes", I find that I am concentrating on the official hazard (camera and its road markings, or the humps and lumps in the road) rather than keeping alert for children running out from gateways etc. No safety benefit at all so far as I can see.
I say this as one who does not *normally* exceed speed limits, especially in urban areas. I did get caught back in about 1972 though - doing 42 mph as I entered a 30 mph limit (fined £5)!
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"I wonder who had the audacity to call those things "safety" cameras?!"
Official government spin, to make us love them.
That didn't work, so they're spending £1million a year to employ spinners to condition our brains.
Someone on another forum says his local councillor goes blue when he hears someone call them speed cameras. He goes purple when tax is mentioned.........
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I think the powers that be are quite careful with their cameras. Lots of them are behind signs and trees and lamp posts which protects them from the elements.
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Someone's been planting Truvelo seeds all along the A6 between Bedford and Luton, 8 (eight!!!) of them have sprung up in the last 5 days. Must be all this rain...
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So Dave, if anyone gets a summons it will be for exspeeding the seed limit?
DVD
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Ouch......people have been shot for better than that........
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On Anglia TV news I saw pitiful sight of speed camera shot at close range several times. How are the authorities going to make a profit if this sort of thing goes on.
*****************************************************
Speed camera blasted with a gun
Nov 8, 2002, 18:06 GMT
A roadside speed camera has been blasted with a gun at Framingham Earl near Norwich.
The attack, near the local high school, smashed the glass and left several dents in the case, which could cost thousands of pounds to repair.
Police say firing a gun in a public place is always treated as a serious offence.
© AngliaTV.com News
*****************************************************************
PS Our local speed camera is still protected from this wet weather by orange cover. Nice to think someone cares about this decorative street furniture!
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I know someone who always gobs on the scamera everytime he runs past it!
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Remember that video clip of two lads in Switzerland?
They discovered that, if they took one metal dustbin lid, attached a length of rope, then spun it round and round in front of the Gatso, it triggered the camera on every pass.
They exhausted the film in no time. Nice one.
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On a visit back to London the other week, I noticed some of the cameras in Dagenham had a white cross sprayed crudely on the back. I wondered as to the point of this, but then found that the same cameras had also been sprayed on the lens. Presumably the cross was to inform the locals no need to slow, they were safe!
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Someone torched one in peaceful Congleton in Cheshire..
madf
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In some ways I can see why they are becoming so hated that people are driven to going to these lengths. More and more seem to be sprouting, yet they usually appear on open roads where there is little danger from going slightly over the limit, while areas that could do with them are left clear for reckless speeders...
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Had to drive approximately 18 miles to an appointment on the other side of town yesterday. What a nightmare! Everyone was crawling along at 25 mph. All it did was cause a lot of frustration amongst the drivers.
Some stretches of perfectly safe 40mph roads have now been reduced to 30mph. One stretch of road 800 metres from the M55 motorway 'on' sliproad, now has TWO scameras on the same side of the road within 300 metres of each other! There is another approximately 700 metres before the first of these two! That's 3 scameras within 1000 metres!!!!! WTF is that about?
Despite what all the nerds say about it being easy to stick to the speed limit, I found it incredibly difficult unless I was staring at the speedo all the time. Despite glancing at the speedo and seeing my speed at 30mph and without deliberately trying to speed up, when I looked at the speedo again within 30 seconds, I was now doing 35mph and liable to get flashed!
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Try asking your authority to tell you:-
a. How many fatal accidents there were in their area in 2001
b. How many of these accident sites now have s************S located there.
I suggest that the answer will lead you to deduce that
(S)cameras are another way of raising money and have nothing to do with safety or accident prevention.
Near where I live there is a 60 mph linited ordinary road which changes into a dual carriageway with a 40 mph limit and cameras! You couldn't make it up!
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Would it not be more interesting to put a picture of the empty road in front of the camera so everytime it took a picture the road was always clear? It would be quite difficult to get the correct picture of the road so the checkers didn't notice. Or you could pull their legs by having tortoises appear to have set them off.....
teabelly
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My brother lives in germany and tells me that the local sport there involves getting an aerosol can of expanding builders foam and inserting the plastic tube into an appropriate orifice and then squeezing the trigger. Of course this is reprehensible behaviour and I cant even think of the consequences if that were tried over here.
MGs
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"I cant even think of the consequences if that were tried over here."
It has been. Seen photos, but can't remember where. It oozes out of every joint as it expands and sets. Shame, really.
More photos of unfortunate events at
www.tuftufclub.com/english/index.htm
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Teabelly. I had the exact same idea! Take a pic of the road and fix it to the scamera lens so that when it goes off, all they see is the picture of the clear road!
Mind I like the expanding foam idea far better!
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The police's vendetta aginst my Toad's family continues. An elderly relative (a vicar) got camera'd at 39 in a deserted out of town 30 a couple of weeks back.
I've always believed the rozzers were working for the evil red guy!!! ;-)
--
These are my own opinions, and not necessarily those of all Toads.
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The Times recently did a piece on the Motorists Against Detection (MAD) group.They have organised 'Raids' on Speed cameras which are synchronised by text messaging thier hit squads.
Top Gear magazine also did a article on a similar group in Holland.
Its hard to think of any other kind of enforcement device which causes normal law abiding citizens to take drastic action.
If i was Ian Duncan Smith i would be annoucing a tory party policy to remove all speed cameras which are not sited by schools or blackspots. He would probably win the next election on that alone ;-)
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"Top Gear magazine also did a article on a similar group in Holland."
Those are the people whose website I mentioned earlier, see
www.tuftufclub.com/english/index.htm
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Given that our police actually forced a UK citizen to take down this web site about traffic wardens in his area, you wonder what action they'd take against a UK website like tufttuf club here!
Makes you wonder doesn't it?
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A relative of yours a vicar, Toad? Never mind, every family has it's black sheep.
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"A relative of yours a vicar, Toad? Never mind, every family has it's black sheep."
Obviously an LFV, though, so must be Ok
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I cannot let you get away with that Toad.
Hamspstead Heath at 0500. Name your second and I will choose the weapon.
Not a Plod in sight, ( all having tea and biccies somewhere) and your relative, well aware of limits, goes and gets his picture taken? Self regulation I would say and burgher all to do with Plod. Is he a Lemming?
DVD
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"burgher all to do with Plod"
Hang on a minute, DVD.
As I understand it, we're lumbered with taxcams through the crusade and obsession of Richard Brunstrom.
Richard Brunstrom is a Chief Plod.
Therefore, very much to do with Plod.
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PMT
It wasn't Plod's foot on the gas pedal or sat with a gun to the driver's head.
If you don't agree then lets do away with all traffic lights, road signs and markings etc etc etc. In Fact lets go back to jousting.
DVD
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If you are in the Midlands area there is a discussion programme on BBC 2 Sunday 10th November 1pm.
www.bbc.co.uk/england/viewpointmidlands/
they want and need your input so get phoning and emailing whichever side you are on.
I assume this thread will be deleted after Sunday, no need to add it to the S.C.T. vol VI.
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Thanks FiF. I'll be typing away tomorrow.
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Do it now, then do it again tomorrow.
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"so get phoning and emailing whichever side you are on"
Eh? what? You mean there are people here from the other side?
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Yet more evidence of how useless our police and traffic police in particular are becoming by the day.
Yesterday, I spotted plod parked up in his galaxy with the tailgate up and snapping motorists with his mobile camera within 250 metres of a static scamera. (This apparently is lancashire constabulary's idea of 'targetting' drivers who slow down just for the static scamera.)
However, 400 metres down the road and clearly within site of gormless plod, were two cars for sale by the side of the road. What's wrong with that you may say? Well, the two cars for sale (obviously put there by a trader because it has become a regular sight.) were double parked and causing traffic congestion!
No doubt marcus and his ilk will see this an another 'attack' on the police. Myself, I see it more of an attack on motorist rather than the imbecile who double parked two cars on the road. Incidentally, I checked both 'for sale' cars later that day and neither had a parking ticket on them. Typical.
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hmm 2 cases in local paper of people fined for no car tax. Police are working here.
Blame Chief Constables and write to them. Saying it here will achieve nothing.
madf
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The point is, will the coppers who used the mobile camera then take action against double parked cars causing an obstruction and potentially creating an accident site? Answer, no.
He'll pack his camera up and go elsewhere. I thought traffic police dealt with traffic issues wherever they are not become a one issue division.
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I must live in a different country. Recently an in an external audit of our Coimpany's workload we found that traffic cases had
tripled in the last five years (split between guilty and not guilty is around 75% to 25 % - that ratio has remained unchanged).
There has been a notable increase in fixed penalty offences (in all classes) over the last twelve months, but the "Motoring" portfolio is still full of bad driving/drink driving/document offences with a clutch of VED offences. I accept that an increasing proportion is down to speed camera offneces but we still process. Watcher is more then welcome to pop along to a typical day's court work to see for himself.
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"we found that traffic cases had
tripled in the last five years"
Maybe a different county, not country.
Didn't I read that Nottinghamshire police has disbanded its traffic division because taxcams have solved the problem?
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Except they have at least 2 police motorcyclists who's sole duty is to go around nicking drivers who the finger or flick 'v's at the scameras!
Now that's what I call incredible!
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Except they have at least 2 police motorcyclists who's sole duty is to go around nicking drivers who the finger or flick 'v's at the scameras! Now that's what I call incredible!
Sole duty? Where's your source on that one? If it's true, it is incredible.
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"Yesterday, I spotted plod parked up in his galaxy with the tailgate up and snapping motorists with his mobile camera within 250 metres of a static scamera"
I think this may possibly have been one of the new Stingray Cameras with radio link to DVLA computer which traffic are now starting to use in most areas. You should have stopped and enquired from the officer. I'm sure he would have been happy to keep you informed.
Happy Motoring Phil I
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Are you sure the officers were police and not civilian police employees in uniform? If civilian they may not have any authority to deal with cars obstructing the road and would have to call for a traffic warden or constable to attend. As a member of the public you could do the same if you are outraged by some breaking of the law.
Please do not let a micro experience become a macro opinion.
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The bit about the 2 motorcycle cops was reported on the radio.
As regards the police galaxy with a mobile scamera Lancashire Constabulary (my 'local' force) have publically announced in the local press and radio, that mobile scameras will be positioned within a 500 metre radius of fixed sites to catch drivers who only slow down for the fixed scamera.
Unless other officials are using ford galaxy's with 'Lancashire Constabulary Police' insignia plastered over them, my guess is they are police officers.
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Watcher
Could be that said SC has been decommissioned by fair means or fowl and Plod directed to cover an accident spot whilst strapped LA look at the books to see where the cost of repair is to come from. Correct position, in my book, to catch those who put themselves in double jeopardy. Had they stood at the SC then you would have had apoplexy.
Re parked vehicles. You will be aware or should be from this site that HMG is moving parking matters from said Plod to LA to administer and enforce see RTA 1991. However they could take action if approached . Now if this upset you that much why didn't you make a complaint as a concerned citizen. Plod would have been more than delighted to have a statement of complaint from a civvy as it would negate claims of persecution when taken to court. The Mags also would have been highly delighted to deal with it. I gather when you returned your passage was not impeeded by crashed cars and debris so the obstruction was minimal
Now from this site and your posts I gather also you are connected with the Motor trade and I note that it is a calling from what others here have mentioned consists of a lot of downright crooks, thieves, manipulators and thoroughly dishonest people too keen to extract a wedge from innocent Joe Public.
(HJ and a certain Landrover Dave definately not included)
As to Lancashire Constab - a great Force, the first to employ courtesy traffic cops to warn and advise and not to prosecute, the first Force to have to Police a Motorway, the first I believe to have a female Chief Constable and a Force which had one of the finest Home Office Approved Driving School through whose doors this gormless Plod passed not one, twice but three times.(Standard B, AD cars, AD Motor cycles)
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"strapped LA look at the books to see where the cost of repair is to come from"
You are joking, of course? Maintenance comes from the camera tax swag, doesn't it?
"Lancashire Constab - a great Force, the first Force to have to Police a Motorway"
When did they move the M1 from Lancs? Am I missing something?
"the first I believe to have a female Chief Constable"
What, all of them? She must have been exhausted.
Another achievement of women in high places....Barbara Castle , mother of the blanket speed limit, the successful remedy for motorway fog crashes.
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"Lancashire Constab - a great Force, the first Force to have to Police a Motorway" When did they move the M1 from Lancs? Am I missing something?
M6 Preston bypass opened 5 Dec 1958
M1 London-Birmingham opened 22 Nov 1959
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All right, Dave, I'll give you that one.
Still think Barbara Castle should have been trussed up.
Bark........
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DVD,
I seem to remember reading not too long ago about a vintage Bentley or somesuch which was owned by the above and used in training on the basis that "if they can drive the worlds fastest lorry safely they can drive anything".
Any truth in that or am I suffering from False Memory Syndrome again?
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I think the message has got through to plod ... at least in the West. A very helpful and positive site...at last.
www.safetycameras-wiltshire-swindon.co.uk
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Interesting view - has the message got through to the
"I drive at reasonable speeds - what is this speed camera nonsense?"
brigade.
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Compare the swindo one above with that of Lancashire Partnership!
www.safe2travel.co.uk/trafficcameras.html
The lancs one just spews out the old filth (!) about scameras. I have mailed LPfRS the url for Swindo and await their response. However, given the response to letters in the local press about scameras, Im not anticipating any favourable comments.
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"I have mailed LPfRS the url for Swindo and await their response. However, given the response to letters in the local press about scameras, Im not anticipating any favourable comments."
Ooo, hoo, hoo......forget favourable comments, just wait for the knock............
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"I think the message has got through to plod ... at least in the West. A very helpful and positive site...at last."
I like the taxcam map, click-on-taxcam-see-the-site. Why did that ice cream van jump the red? Fridge bust m'lud, had to dash back.........
Other parts of the site aren't the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, though. Try these.......
"news news news... Last year more than 3,500 people were killed or injured on Wiltshire's Roads, one third due to excessive speed!"
The Big Lie again. 7% is not one third.
"Tackling the issue of excess speed is only part of the problem."
Insert "a very small" between "only" and "part"
"Fatigue, lack of attention, poor driving conditions, adverse weather conditions and failure to wear seat belts all play their part in keeping annual casualty figures at an unacceptably high level and a wide range of agencies are working to address those issues."
Absolute truth at last. But, where does this "wide range of agencies" live? They must be working under cover, I never see them.
"The Human rights act does not affect you when returning this paperwork. Primary legislation dictates that you are obliged to provide the information requested if you are able to. Failure to do so will result in prosecution."
It would have been truthful to tell everyone that this is subject to a current application to the European Court of Human Rights.
"2. The vehicle was not driven by me. What do I do next? You must complete Part 2 of the form giving details of the person driving the vehicle at the relevant time. If the driver was an employee, as a responsible emploter, you have a duty to identify the driver of the vehicle in question. Your company car log (or similar) may assist you in this. Failure to provide this information may result in your company being prosecuted."
Why not tell the whole truth and say that inability to identify IS a valid defence. Bullyboy threats.
Not good enough, wiltshire-swindon. Must try harder.
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Slice
Things like that you do not forget. I drove that Bentley, wonderful but the brakes????
Also the grey vintage Lagonda that was on the School - end of Course treats.
Mind you I look back and the working cars are now relics
Ford Zephyr, Humber Hawk, Vauxhall Cresta, 3.8 Jag, Citreon ??
Happy days
DVD
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Per DVD
Re parked vehicles. You will be aware or should be from this site that HMG is moving parking matters from said Plod to LA to administer and enforce see RTA 1991.
Suspect it is only enforcement of restrictions such as yellow lines, meters/P+D, time limited bays etc that is decriminalised. The LA attendants must call plod if confronted with obstruction etc. Trunk roads may also be excluded from the area coverd by LA enforcement.
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Saw a new and underhand way of disguising scameras tonight.
On my way along the A120 to Colchester, driving through Marks Tey I knew there was a Gatso coming up on the nearside, although as it was dark and raining I was actually travelling at the 40mph limit! As i went past the camera it appeared to have an orange tarpaulin wrapped around the top and secured with blue rope. "Fine", thinks I, "it must have been obliterated recently, this is the replacement unit which has been installed but not yet commissioned." The two new scameras on the A1 between Biggleswade and Sandy wear the same outfit, after all...
BUT on my return journey, it was clear that the orange tarpaulin only covered the back, top and sides of the scamera, leaving the face with the lenses exposed! And presumably, working.
Just as well I considered that more than 40mph would have been excessive for the time, weather and conditions, if it had been clear and dry tonight I would probably be nursing 3 points by now.
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I always had a feeling that small, twisted people live inside these infernal yellow boxes.
Maybe they've complained about rain leaking in?
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If you get as far a London, in Ferry Lane, Tottenham, not one, not two, but THREE scameras are going up in a 600 yard or so stretch, two one way and one the other.
Now, Ferry Lane has a walled in railway line on one side and a reservoir on the other. Effectively a roofless tunnel.
A wide road (over 40 feet) with two lanes each way (one a bus lane in one direction.
And a 30 mph limit.
The only accident I have seen along there was when a milk float tried to turn right through slow-moving traffic and got T-boned by a London cab going down the bus lane.
Because it is so obviously low risk, when it is clear most traffic goes down it at well over 40 mph.
An ideal money-spinner!
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And so they keep breeding.
My lads in blue are now in the netting-off scheme and a new taxCam has gone up near home.
I've been driving here for 40 years. Yes, there have been serious crashes nearby, but no fatals have been attributed to excessive speed. I know of one that looked convincing enough, but the coroner ruled that speed was not a factor.
So, the rules are being ignored and someone told porkies in the application for the taxCam.
This camera is close to a rural cross roads, 60 limit, many accidents, but all because of careless turning at the cross roads, not speed.
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