Outsourced mobile speed cameras?

[rpwoodman]

Is it possible that Suffolk police have outsourced their mobile speed cameras?

Basically I've just got done for doing 49 in a 40 limit (no complaints there - no one to blame but myself; 40 does seem slow for the stretch of road (2 lane dual carriageway - A12) but the figures on their web site show that there have been a number of accidents around there). Now I'd seen the van in the layby, but it didn't have the bright colours so loved by the police; it was entirely white on the back, and even on the side it was white (I think) other than some yellow at the bottom (and not the luminous yellow on most police vehicles - more an AA yellow from memory).

So, what's that about then? Is it possible that such a task could be outsourced (to an organisation who wasn't allowed to use the police markings), or is there a desire to make speed traps less visible?

Note, as above, I'm not trying to get out of it, I'm just interested in how it works.

thanks

[454697819]

The law changes so mobile speed cameras and static cameras didnt have to be livered up.

Sorry btw.. few fixed speed cameras in suffolk but the mobile ones sneak up everywhere

[rpwoodman]

Thanks Alex.
I'd have expected it to be completely plain (not least because it'd be cheaper), and TBH, I never really understood why fixed cameras had to be made very visble.

Oh well, fingers crossed they just give me 3 points and a small fine (I was driving my wifes car, so she's just filled in the form asking who was driving so presumably they'll write to me at some point). I guess they may offer me a speed awareness course, but I think they're quite expensive, as well as being incredibly "dry", so I'll probably just take the 3 points.

[yorkie_chris]

Note, as above, I'm not trying to get out of it, I'm just interested in how it works.

Why not?

[Specialone]

I got done exactly the same way, summers day, dual carriageway, road dead quiet, fixed cameras on opposite side where ALL accidents have happened, none on my side, or cameras for that matter.
Used to be 70 mph road as well a couple of years before dropping to 50mph, way too slow, typical knee jerk reaction.
1 of the accidents thats allegedly is in their statistics was a bloody suicide where someone jumped off a bridge i think.
Pure money making imo, nothing more, was 70mph for over 30 years.

[rpwoodman]

Why not?

I'm pretty philosophical about it really - I got caught. I've been lucky up until this point I guess.

[yorkie_chris]

S'pose. I wouldn't see any harm in checking they've ticked all the boxes properly...

I swear to tell the truth, the half truth and nothing like the truth and all that :-P

[rpwoodman]

I got done exactly the same way, summers day, dual carriageway, road dead quiet, fixed cameras on opposite side where ALL accidents have happened, none on my side, or cameras for that matter.
Used to be 70 mph road as well a couple of years before dropping to 50mph, way too slow, typical knee jerk reaction.
1 of the accidents thats allegedly is in their statistics was a bloody suicide where someone jumped off a bridge i think.
Pure money making imo, nothing more, was 70mph for over 30 years.

The joys of statistics. Phamaceuticals are the same - freely available medication has high mortality rates because people use it to bump themselves off - it's fine if you take 1 or 2, but take 100 and it's often fatal.

[rpwoodman]

S'pose. I wouldn't see any harm in checking they've ticked all the boxes properly...

I swear to tell the truth, the half truth and nothing like the truth and all that :-P

The Suffolk police web site is pretty comprehensive - they have the pics (cant' really see it's me, or I'd have kept it as a memento!), calibration forms for the camera, FAQ's about them writing to me within a certain time frame (has to be 14 days from the date of the offence I understand - that's unlilely to happen because they had to write to my wife first, but I'm sure that's covered elsewhere), etc etc.

Man, you've got me thinking now that I should try to wriggle out of it!! :-)