I’m the latest to get a love letter from the traffic speed taliban, camera van A40 at Llanhamlach nr Brecon, I was heading east slowing from 50 to 40ish coming off the duel carriageway following two cars. I spotted him at the bottom of the hill and braked straight down to 40, and made sure I maintained that speed until well passed him. Now the tacho confirms I was 40 mph, but they say 49 mph.
As there was two cars between him and me as I came off the Duel Carriageway, am I right in thinking the speed reading is not valid, as the camera operator must have a clear view of his target with no other moving vehicles in the foreground, if so I feel a not guilty plea coming on 
It has a direct line of sight over the top of the cars from the looks of the layout on THIS MAP
I would go for he not guilty, other moving objects between you and the camera can and have been shown to interfere with the operation of the camera. If he photograph is called for, as you are entitled to do, then that may make your case. Can’t remember which boffinit was that proved the camera can lock on to one part of a vehicle, and then shift lock to another vehicle, but a search might show it. Best of luck
bigdennis:
I would go for he not guilty, other moving objects between you and the camera can and have been shown to interfere with the operation of the camera. If he photograph is called for, as you are entitled to do, then that may make your case. Can’t remember which boffinit was that proved the camera can lock on to one part of a vehicle, and then shift lock to another vehicle, but a search might show it. Best of luck
Thats my thinking, these two cars came past me just before I came off the DC, the scamera operator may have got a view of the top of my cab, but its doubtful he got a clear view of my reg no until the cars left me behind and opened up a gap.
can you request a copy of the picture before you plead? if there is 2 cars between you and the camera you should get of it. sadly you can’t use your tacho to prove innocence only guilt
Do these Scam vans have to lock on for x number of seconds to get your speed or is it a case of as soon as it sees you, you’re fZBked? I know the hand helds used by traffic bobbies have to lock of for a few seconds. I have been done in the past and managed to escape court by slamming on the breaks and doing an emergency stop to get my av speed right down to below what I would get took to court for. Still got 3 points and a right good telling off for doing an emergency stop 
Honest orrificer, a fox ran out in front 
Didnt top gear or 5th gear or the likes do a bit on these camera’s? and if i remember rightly they had to have you in clear view with nothing between you because it could cause slip and give a higher reading than you were doing!!!
Mr B:
can you request a copy of the picture before you plead? if there is 2 cars between you and the camera you should get of it. sadly you can’t use your tacho to prove innocence only guilt
Mr B that is surely not right, if it can be used as proof against you it can be used in your defence. As long as you can show a calibration certificate for the tacho then the chart should be able to be used to prove your speed. At the end of the day it is an official and legal record of the vehicles movements as it were.
forget trying to use tacho evidence. the speed trace can’t be used in cases of speeding, prosecution or defence.
just ask for “advanced disclosure”. that will get you everything, photographs, the lot. that way there can’t be any suprises at court.
always plead not guilty. even if you are. i enjoy a day or two in court, it makes a change.
Your tacho records what you were doing and when you did it.It does not record WHERE you were doing whatever you did.I think that photos are your best bet.
Big Joe:
I’m the latest to get a love letter from the traffic speed taliban, camera van A40 at Llanhamlach nr Brecon, I was heading east slowing from 50 to 40ish coming off the duel carriageway following two cars. I spotted him at the bottom of the hill and braked straight down to 40, and made sure I maintained that speed until well passed him. Now the tacho confirms I was 40 mph, but they say 49 mph.
As there was two cars between him and me as I came off the Duel Carriageway, am I right in thinking the speed reading is not valid, as the camera operator must have a clear view of his target with no other moving vehicles in the foreground, if so I feel a not guilty plea coming on
You need to know exactly what camera they used. Not all speed cameras record some are just ‘laser guns’ that give the operator a reading, if thats the case then the bobbys word of what the camera/laser gun said is enough to convict you.
Mike-C:
Big Joe:
I’m the latest to get a love letter from the traffic speed taliban, camera van A40 at Llanhamlach nr Brecon, I was heading east slowing from 50 to 40ish coming off the duel carriageway following two cars. I spotted him at the bottom of the hill and braked straight down to 40, and made sure I maintained that speed until well passed him. Now the tacho confirms I was 40 mph, but they say 49 mph.
As there was two cars between him and me as I came off the Duel Carriageway, am I right in thinking the speed reading is not valid, as the camera operator must have a clear view of his target with no other moving vehicles in the foreground, if so I feel a not guilty plea coming onYou need to know exactly what camera they used. Not all speed cameras record some are just ‘laser guns’ that give the operator a reading, if thats the case then the bobbys word of what the camera/laser gun said is enough to convict you.
I’ve a feeling that if the coppers intend to prosecute without stopping the driver on the scene, have to have evidence as in photo or video.
Copper in car or standing on roadside stopping offenders immediately and issuing tickets only has to show reading on the apparatus.
Did you get down to 40 before the 40 limit signs?
Finallly got a reply two weeks after returning the driver declaration, a letter offering me the chance to go on the speed awareness course (£80 
no points), so what do I do, if I insist I’m innocent and go to court and loose will I still get the option 
As they’re accusing me of exceeding the speed limit by 9 mph, I’m surprised I’ve been given the speed awareness option, I thought it was only for marginal offenders, I’ve my own theory, it involves a whiff of roland 
Hi
Speed awareness course availability is totally dependent on where you got nicked. Some areas do, some don’t. Carmarthenshire don’t, Hampshire and Dorset do. (Please don’t ask how I know…)
Best bet is ask for full details, camera position, calibration checks, officers qualification, what he had for breakfast etc. THEN make your decision.
The speed awareness course is interesting and at £80 with nil points seems a good get out.
You could spend an awful lot more and still end up with £60 and three points (SP40).
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Paul
(SP50, 69 in a 50mph, blooming Welsh Plod!!!)
just wondered, if you go on a speed awareness course, is that the end of it?
Or does it go on your record and do you have to declare it later, new job -insurance etc
del949:
just wondered, if you go on a speed awareness course, is that the end of it?
Or does it go on your record and do you have to declare it later, new job -insurance etc
It is not a criminal record so does not show up on a CRB check.
There is nothing on the licence as no points are recorded
I am wondering how else anyone could find out that you went on one…
Not concerned re CRB check, i was thinking more along lines of Traffic Comm.
I thought that maybe as you were accepting that the offence was committed and were not arguing that you were innocent, then it may be recorded as an offence but with no punishment etc.
reading my insurance quotes I notice that most ask "have you been convicted etc etc, so I guess that you can justify not declaring it to them.
But there must be a record kept somewhere as I understand that you can only do this once.
Still, if you know you were speeding then it has to be a better option than points.
ould
ROG:
del949:
‘… if you go on a speed awareness course, is that the end of it …
Or does it go on your record and do you have to declare it later, new job -insurance etc…’‘… I am wondering how else anyone could find out that you went on one …’
From my Speed awareness experience last week, I learned that there is a new-ish database able to be accessed by agencies, ie, Drivetech, a ‘training provider’ widely, but not solely contracted by their respective - and other police forces whom also have access if they wish. Incidentally, I forgot who runs that database because lots of good stuff pushed out the dull stuff during my four hours of coffee & biscuit fuelled banter.
A definite aim of the training is for zero negative stigma to be attached to having received it- perhaps giving comfort to the hitherto sensation of being a skanky criminal, which will be the position should a ‘student’ get caught again within three years dated from the training: Training is apparently not a revenue earner either.
Meanwhile, not all forces and associated agencies are joined-up because the data-base is still in its infancy and may not be on the radar [sic] of all those involved. Yet! Thus, it may be possible to do two courses within three years to avoid points, but one would be falsifying a detailed declaration, which we were told, isn’t too bright an idea (?)
Tell anyone you like that you have been trained - the idea is that a student becomes a road asset rather than being largely clueless of speed associated facts & thus an ignorant liability. By that rationale, one’s insurance could/should arguably drop - though the impression that I got was that they’d be ambivalent.
It is hoped that speeding achieves parity with drink-driving in its social unacceptability …which, through my new saintliness I can’t really fault since it makes reasonable sense.
Any use?
Get yourself over to pepipoo.com/
Top site for any motoring offences advice 