I’ve just started a new job as a 7.5t multi-drop driver in London and needed some advice!
I have a HGV2 licence and was doing scaffolding on that licence, but it wasn’t too much driving. Now I’m doing multi-pick-up for a waste firm and find it incredible the amount of ‘safety’ cameras in use and restricted roads. I’m okay mostly on the roads, as most are 7.5t max, but I still find myself in the poop sometimes!
I’m using a sat-nav to get me around at the moment and this sometimes takes me down roads that have width restrictions- although, they allow 7.5t’s?! I’ve had to go through ‘buses only’ gaps twice to avoid causing mass hold-ups reversing out.
I was just wondering if the CCTV cameras in use could be used to prosectute me? I heard that CCTV road cameras could only be used to place fines and not points.
I’ve only done it twice in the six weeks on the job and they’ve been total mistakes.
billyj29:
I was just wondering if the CCTV cameras in use could be used to prosectute me? I heard that CCTV road cameras could only be used to place fines and not points.
Yes they can be used to prosecute and the offence will determine whether it is fine only or fine & points - the use of the ccctv to obtain the evidence has no bearing on that issue.
To be honest, the chance of them prosecuting you for a one off offence is very unlikely - now, if you did it on a regular basis at the same point that would be a different matter…
ROG:
To be honest, the chance of them prosecuting you for a one off offence is very unlikely - now, if you did it on a regular basis at the same point that would be a different matter…
Hi ROG, I’ve seen you post a phrase like this before, and it might well apply to some situations like the odd few mins of driving time, when a complete record can be viewed by an enforcement officer at once.
Going to London (generally) can be fraught with potentially expensive PCNs and NIPs for drivers, not forgetting the resultant grief for their bosses, so I have to ask how “very unlikely” a prosecution would be?
The next thing that makes me wonder is how the authorities have the time to check or decide whether an offence is a “one off,” is that info stored on a database somewhere?
I’m also wondering how the authorities in London check previous records and CCTV before taking the decision to prosecute, even if it is a “one off.” For instance, Traffic Wardens seem to dish out their tickets with great enthusiasm whether it’s a “one off” offence or not!!
Do you have some info about how “very unlikely” it is that a driver/company might be prosecuted or have a ticket issued for a “one off?”
There’s a potential saving of many thousands of pounds for some companies, so if you would share that info, I’m fairly sure they’d be grateful.
I’d simply like to understand how that system works, cos I’ll own up that I’ve never heard of it.
billyj29:
I’m using a sat-nav to get me around at the moment and this sometimes takes me down roads that have width restrictions…
That must be some fancy Sat Nav you have there if it steers the truck for you? Must have cost a fortune? Sell it and get a cheaper one which lets you steer the vehicle and then you won’t be in the situation of the Sat Nav ignoring signs and steering you down roads you shouldn’t be on. You’ll be able to look at the signs yourself and not turn into the restricted road if you are in full control of the vehicle instead of the Sat Nav.
billyj29:
I’m using a sat-nav to get me around at the moment and this sometimes takes me down roads that have width restrictions…
That must be some fancy Sat Nav you have there if it steers the truck for you? Must have cost a fortune? Sell it and get a cheaper one which lets you steer the vehicle and then you won’t be in the situation of the Sat Nav ignoring signs and steering you down roads you shouldn’t be on. You’ll be able to look at the signs yourself and not turn into the restricted road if you are in full control of the vehicle instead of the Sat Nav.
ROG:
I was basing my answer from a programme I saw regarding the use of such cctv in Nottingham only 2 days ago.
Hi ROG, Lets substitute London for Nottingham then, and so I’m wondering how the authorities in Nottingham (or any other city) manage to decide whether an offence is a “one-off.”
The reason for my question is that I imagine that it must take a great deal of time/resources for the authorities to be so lenient.
There would need to be a number of dedicated staff who are paid to trawl through hours and hours of CCTV tapes and other camera evidence, then I’m wondering how a “one-off” is defined and over what timescale?
Unless there is some kind of database of offender’s vehicle registration plates in use, I just can’t see how the ‘system’ manages to be so lenient.
If the above is true, which I doubt, then the authorities (in Nottingham) are spending money in order to be lenient instead of simply issuing PCNs/NIPs, or in other words, it seems perverse.
Was any kind of explanation given on the programme you saw?
dieseldave:
Was any kind of explanation given on the programme you saw?
From what I remember, they said something about registrations being taken and logged but nothing done unless logged twice or more - I could be incorrect on that.
There was some sort of legal issue about the CCTV not being ANPR type !!!
ROG:
There was some sort of legal issue about the CCTV not being ANPR type !!!
Ahh, so that how they do it then…
Is it that evidence that wouldn’t stand up in a court is used to ‘warn’ people that they’re being let off on this occasion?
This now seems even more perverse, because even if the offence isn’t a one off, the authorities still don’t have any useable evidence
Sorry ROG, but now you’ve really lost me…
Does this “one-off” idea apply in London as you seemed to say above? (Y/N)
The stories in the trucking press do seem to say otherwise and cite companies who are paying six-figure sums in fines to the various London authorities every year. Did you know that there are cameras mounted in buses to catch folks out for illegal use of bus lanes in London, and possibly elsewhere?
I’ll say again; if you have this kind of info about “one-offs” in relation to London, I’m fairly sure that many drivers on here would be very grateful if you’d share it with them.
sorry Dave, I was only half listening to the news item so cannot expand any futher.
It was a CCTV camera somewhere in the middle of Nottingham facing a bus only road but the road surface had not been made different to highlight the fact but there were signs to tell drivers.
I’ve just started a new job as a 7.5t multi-drop driver in London and needed some advice!
I have a HGV2 licence and was doing scaffolding on that licence, but it wasn’t too much driving. Now I’m doing multi-pick-up for a waste firm and find it incredible the amount of ‘safety’ cameras in use and restricted roads. I’m okay mostly on the roads, as most are 7.5t max, but I still find myself in the poop sometimes!
I’m using a sat-nav to get me around at the moment and this sometimes takes me down roads that have width restrictions- although, they allow 7.5t’s?! I’ve had to go through ‘buses only’ gaps twice to avoid causing mass hold-ups reversing out.
I was just wondering if the CCTV cameras in use could be used to prosectute me? I heard that CCTV road cameras could only be used to place fines and not points.
I’ve only done it twice in the six weeks on the job and they’ve been total mistakes.
hi mate and welcome
the best thing for you to do if in London is to put you satnav in your bag and buy a map and when you drive down a road keep a look out for restrictions if you find that you can not go down that road put a note in you trusty map for future reference and that will save you getting done, i would never trust a satnav in London
Yeah, I’m used to my route now, so I’ll just keep it with me for new drops!
It just seems like every mistake is being watched in London. I get muppets speeding past me or talking on phones, yet most probably have a clean licence and get away with it. I’ve overlooked a sign and I’ll probably end up in the s**t!#
