Speeding - questions for the Police Officers of the .Org.

My experiences:

1st time I got pulled for speeding was a couple years ago, for doing 90 on the motorway. They pulled me just before the junction I was turning off on, and gave me a fine + 3 points. Unmarked car. No excuses, but I was just keeping up with the flow in the fast lane. Followed me for 3 miles.

2nd time, last Saturday at 2am. Apparently came out of a 30 into a 50, but I did 80. Hands down do not recall doing that much, but the copper was very kosher, let me off. Even made conversation while his buddy was checking out my license, asking me "off the record" how much I'd had out my car. Followed me for less than a mile.

This got me thinking, are there any policemen on here that can clear this up? Some rumours I have heard:

1. Police giving or not giving you a ticket is purely down to the choice of the individual policeman
2. Police have to follow you for a minimum of 3/4 of a mile to issue a ticket.
3. Police have a set of criteria (guidlines, if you will) on when and where to issue points.
4. Traffic officers will always "do you" for the full extent

I know, best way is to not speed, but I know the majority of everyone on the road does at some point or other.

Hoping a copper or ex-copper can clarify?!

[G]

Originally Posted by hongman

Some rumours I have heard:

1. Police giving or not giving you a ticket is purely down to the choice of the individual policeman TRUE
2. Police have to follow you for a minimum of 3/4 of a mile to issue a ticket. There is no specific distance for VASCAR, its measuring average speed between two set points. Fixed cameras do that in 50m. A car following though, the longer they follow the more evidence they have.
3. Police have a set of criteria (guidlines, if you will) on when and where to issue points. BOLLOX
4. Traffic officers will always "do you" for the full extent BOLLOX

Not police but you dont need to be to know the answers.

I must thank my stars then, becuase if he told me 30mph over the limit is not points + fine, its court + ban. I'd be properly fooked without my license as my work (my business) relies on it.

Thank you mr policeman!

[G]

Probably didnt have the evidence to make it stand up in court... no recording, no fixed vascar points, etc

SO they play you along, tells you a load of rubbish to make you crap your pants, you then sit at home thanking your lucky stars that he was so nice to you for not imposing the higher punishement, and you pay the roadside FPN without question. Where in reality if you protested it the may be a lacking in evidence..., but he knows you wont do that as your just happy your not banned.

ORRRRrrrrr

It could just be he used his discretion and your a lucky boy.

What is vascar?

Its like a Nascar but they race them in the North of the US not the south...

[G]

Originally Posted by hongman

What is vascar?

VASCAR is the system they use to measure your speed when they are actually following you by car/bike/heli/plane, as opposed to fixed spped traps or radar gun etc.

It measures the time it takes you to travel between two set points. Divide the distance over time and you have your average speed.

If your on a nice straight road (motorway for example) with an abundance of fixed points such as lamp post, road signs or purpose designed painted squares etc on the road then getting a reading is a piece of cake.

If you are on a very twisty country road, with vehicles between you and the vascar system and limited fixed points then getting an accurate worthwhile reading that can be used as evidence is more difficult/impossible.

Ahhh I see...

So does this mean if I was unknowingly being followed, on the motorway at 70, and I hit 80/85 to overtake a (or even a few) vehicles, they couldnt fine me, as the distance covered would be quite small?

[G]

Originally Posted by hongman

Ahhh I see...

So does this mean if I was unknowingly being followed, on the motorway at 70, and I hit 80/85 to overtake a (or even a few) vehicles, they couldnt fine me, as the distance covered would be quite small?

I reckon that, given a safe distance to start your overtake, perform the overtake and then pull back over, would be a sufficient distance for vascar from the times I have seen it being used/played with it.

The chances are, you peform the over take at 85, your not going to pull straight back over and do 70, your going to carry on anyway at above 70 if you have not spotted a car.

Yeah, true enough I guess.

Thanks G.