Police using handheld laser guns - do they have to stop you, or can you get NIP in the post?

[Paul the 6th]

Missus rang me yesterday afternoon to tell me that her 17 year old cousin had been rushed to hospital after collapsing in town. Turns out he was jumped by a gang of lads on saturday night and left with an array of injuries including having been kicked in the back & bruising to his spine...
He was born with a hole in his heart and has always been quite a small lad, so Vicky wanted us to get up to the hospital as soon as I got home (I was in the car on the way home from work).

Coming off the A1(M) onto the a64 I was tramming it abit (about 85-90) on the bit where it's straight for about 3/4 of a mile and coming down a very slight hill. Only thing is the police were parked up in the little layby behind a bush and a traffic officer stood with his laser gun pointing right at me. I reckon if he got me, he'll have had me at about 84-86 (with speedo error taken into account). There were a few other cars a bit of a distance behind me so it was obvious he was aiming it at me. There was also the unmarked volvo which I've seen quite a few times parked up with him. As I passed he looked down at his gun and seemed to turn round and look at the volvo. I've seen the traffic lot spread over distances of upto a mile on the a64, lasering people at one bit, and then traffic bikes/cars pulling offenders over further down the road.

needless to say I slipped off at the next exit to go through tadcaster.

Now, if they're using a hand held laser gun (NOT a video van), I was under the impression that they pulled you over and gave you a bollocking/ticket on the spot. I was just wondering if they can also issue an NIP through the post off the back of a handheld gun, because they failed to stop you.

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated, just so I can anticipate something through the post...

i think they have to pull you over there and then mate because i dont think that they record video. so there would be no proof in court.

We had an incident a few years back where i was passenger in a car and got a laser gun pointed at my mates car i was in, when we got pulled over i said to the copper that we would only accept liability for what speed he was being accused off if they provided a copy of the calibration certificate, the particular station couldnt provide him with the information so there was no evidence to prosecute by so they had no choice but to pull the fine

[Viney]

Well if our latest experience is anything to go by then they have to pull you. We were in the M6toll pootling along, next thing bloke on bridge with laser whasit. A few swear words ealier we notice that there seem to be a lot of BMW's with the Optional lighting pack fitted pulling cars over. We seemed to be one of the lucky ones. We were nudging 3 figures, so would have been a ban

[Paul the 6th]

ah thought so

as for the calibration certificate thing, I downloaded a pdf about keeping your licence. It more or less explained "start setting up your defence for court as soon as you're pulled by the police". It advised to ask for things like the calibration certificate, ask to see the gun being pointed at other vehicles to see that it is working properly etc. If the copper refuses, you can bring this up in court and say "well I asked him to demonstrate the gun working properly and he refused, so I doubted whether the gun was working properly at all"

Just wondered. If anyone has had any experience contrary to the above posts, please do let me know just in case.

I work in a motorway service station and the dvla, vosa and police are always on the bridges and hiding in carparks etc, i would imagine there checkin tax mot and the lot. they do pull over a lot of foreign lorries

[Bluepete]

Yes you can still get an NIP in the post.

Pete

1) group of lads giving someone a kicking!
2) his relative rushing to hospital

guess which one gets nicked?

Sums it up really........

[Paul the 6th]

no excuse for driving above the limit, down a quiet bit of straight dual carriage way with more than adequate tread on my tyres and ebc green stuff pads in a 2 litre diesel mondeo though, is it?

I'll just wait and see. Been driving for just short of 6 years with no penalty points for anything ever. Had a 30 quid fine once for driving down busses and taxi's only but thats about it

[Bluepete]

I've been driving for 20 years with no points ever! Then again, cops don't get points do we

As Blue Pete says you can recieve an NIP in the post. This has to be served within 14 days of the incident. They would also send another form for you to disclose the driver/rider of the vehicle at the time. There are arguments that this breaches human rights etc but if you dont disclose the rider then you as the keeper can get done for a seperate offence which carries the same punishment as the speeding (3 points and a fine).

In my experience traffic bobbys will try and stop you at the time as this provides best evidence. Also for them to prosecute you with out stopping you they would need to have noted down your number plate, not easy as you go flying past but still possible.

I hope this helps