View Full Version : Think I got caught over the limit...
Yesterday, I had to make a trip up to Manchester & back, so decided to take the bike.
One the way back, just before Rhuallt Hill on the A55, I was kind of half in a dozing mood, just plodding along "in the region of" 70mph.
All of a sudden, something caught my eye, off to the left, and quite high. Oh crap, that has a yellow patch on the rear. Police helicopter. A quick look at the speedo revealed how large that "region" was, so I backed off the throttle.
The chopper came around in front of me (now I'm starting to come down the hill), hovered for a second in the middle of the road, then beggared off.
So now I suppose I await a possible NIP in the post. Beggar.
On the other hand though, I've recently learned that my past employer just payed me by mistake. Wohoo. But they've decided to claim it back. Section 13 Employment Rights Act 1996 says that their entitled to do this, but they can't demand it. I can setup whatever repayments I want, and they can't prosecute under the Theft Act, so it's a civil matter. But since I'd be paying back the money, I'm informed the courts wouldn't bother with the matter.
To quote the advert: For every clever thing, somewhere, something dumb happens. :D
Luckypants
11-10-07, 11:13 AM
Easy done.
good news (kinda) on the mistaken payment. ;)
Bluepete
11-10-07, 11:49 AM
What's the limit there Baph? Did you notice if you passed over some VASCAR marks on the road? Thay are white squares made of centre line material, about 40 by 40cms at least 0.125 miles apart.
They are needed to make the speed= distance/time equation work. I would have thought that the 'copter would work with a traffic car parked further up the road to stop you, explain the method and dose you there and then. Derbyshire do just that.
All you can do for now is live in fear of the postman! There again, postal strikes may mean any NIP is late anyway! Just a thought!
Speedy Claire
11-10-07, 11:57 AM
Hope it comes to nothing, will keep fingers crossed for you... best of luck And nice news on the overpayment :)
SoulKiss
11-10-07, 12:31 PM
All you can do for now is live in fear of the postman! There again, postal strikes may mean any NIP is late anyway! Just a thought!
HMMM when I did the Contract Law section of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland course (so years ago) it was stated that in Scottish Law date of postmark = date of delivery in the eyes of the law.
So not sure if recent industrial action would help.
slark01
11-10-07, 01:51 PM
Ouch hope you have not been caught mate :-?.
As for the over payment, it's happened to me and the company didn't have a leg to stand on, however that was a couple of years ago so things may have changed.
SV Muppet
11-10-07, 02:10 PM
Police forces don't use helicopters to enforce speed limits! The cost of running them is horendous, and they have to limit their flying hours so that they can be available as much as possible for serious incidents.
However, if they were passing by anyway, maybe en-route back to base, and they saw a vehicle travelling a great deal over the speed limit then they would take a second look - possibility of a stolen vehicle, making off from crime etc etc.
:smt017
I always wprry about this on early blasts to matlock, see the chopper about.
Luckypants
11-10-07, 02:47 PM
Police forces don't use helicopters to enforce speed limits! The cost of running them is horendous, and they have to limit their flying hours so that they can be available as much as possible for serious incidents.
However, if they were passing by anyway, maybe en-route back to base, and they saw a vehicle travelling a great deal over the speed limit then they would take a second look - possibility of a stolen vehicle, making off from crime etc etc.
:smt017Oh yes they do. The N. Wales Polic helicoptor has VASCAR on board and it is used. They use the chopper to 'target speeding bikers' as Brunstrum hates us. Read the heli-blog on N. Wales police website and you will see comments such as 'went looking for speeding bikes'
Oh and Pete, A55 covered in VASCAR markings. As is A5, A4212, A470 that I can think of off top of head, cos it's nice open country where a chopper can stalk at a safe distance. :reaper:
Oh yes they do. :reaper:
+ 1 ........Derbyshire use a chopper frequently, and chesire police use a small plane on the cat & fiddle and sorrounding roads
yorkie_chris
11-10-07, 10:00 PM
cos it's nice open country where a chopper can stalk at a safe distance. :reaper:
Have you got a right to ask for calibration certificate of the equipment etc?
markmoto
11-10-07, 10:10 PM
why are northwales police such w#####s!!
yorkie_chris
11-10-07, 10:11 PM
Brunstrom
Bluepete
12-10-07, 10:22 AM
Have you got a right to ask for calibration certificate of the equipment etc?
Wouldn't need one!
All the VASCAR unit does is time a vehicle over a known distance, ie the white squares on the road. If you know the distance and how long it took to cover that distance, you know the speed.
Or maybe, I should get me coat!
Have you got a right to ask for calibration certificate of the equipment etc?
Wouldn't need one!
All the VASCAR unit does is time a vehicle over a known distance, ie the white squares on the road. If you know the distance and how long it took to cover that distance, you know the speed.
Or maybe, I should get me coat!
Surely they need some "equipment" to do the timing and that must have to be accurate.
Bluepete
13-10-07, 07:02 AM
Here you go, if Freemen is to be believed
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1019600_post_strike_loophole_for_drivers
What's the limit there Baph?
All you can do for now is live in fear of the postman! There again, postal strikes may mean any NIP is late anyway! Just a thought!
70mph on the A55 (other than at Colwyn Bay). I did think of the postal strikes, and I haven't had anything in the post yet. "Fear" is the wrong word though. If it happens, it happens. Not a lot you can do about getting caught speeding by a 'copter from behind, other than grow eyes in the back of your head & cut holes in the lid (which is illegal in itself :( ).
Police forces don't use helicopters to enforce speed limits!
As Luckypants and others have said, yes, they do.
Have you got a right to ask for calibration certificate of the equipment etc?
Wouldn't need one!
All the VASCAR unit does is time a vehicle over a known distance, ie the white squares on the road. If you know the distance and how long it took to cover that distance, you know the speed.
Or maybe, I should get me coat!
Surely they need some "equipment" to do the timing and that must have to be accurate.
VASCAR needs an accurate clock to work out times (granted it wont be far out), but also the N Wales 'copter has the radar/laser thingy ma doo da fitted too (and has been used a couple of times on bikes). That would need calibration.
Regardless, no conviction if the equipment is faulty. However, lets not forget the rule that two coppers in a car can guesstimate the speed of a vehicle, and that's enough to submit as evidence in court.
All that said, I wasn't going any faster really than other traffic on the road (but I know full well that most of the traffic coming down the hill is in excess of 70mph).
Pedro68
15-10-07, 01:30 PM
Can confirm that forces do indeed use helicopters and also airplanes. At the weekend whilst driving down the A41 around Christleton I saw a sign that reads "Police airplanes in use for traffic enforcement".
Luckypants
15-10-07, 02:25 PM
Can confirm that forces do indeed use helicopters and also airplanes. At the weekend whilst driving down the A41 around Christleton I saw a sign that reads "Police airplanes in use for traffic enforcement".
Also on the A534 Nantwich / Wrexham road - complete with crap 50 mph speed limit.
I wonder what would happen if I'd registed my car's and bike at NO FIXED ABODE..?
Bluepete
27-10-07, 08:21 AM
The insurance details on the MIB would give the address away pretty fast!
Brettus
29-10-07, 06:13 PM
slightly off topic but has anyone seen any aircraft over the previously mentioned nantwich/chester area? I travel the A534 each morning on my way to work, haven't seen anything yet but just wondered what i should be looking for if anything or if they can do it from such a distance that you just don't know?
dunno why they put the damn limit down on that road, irritating.
vBulletin® , Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.