This makes an interesting reading

Sorry if this is a repost

 

Pictured: The 'workman's van' disguised by police to target motorists with a hidden speed cameraupdated

 

The police van before and after its makeover

Its true identity was uncovered by motorcycle enthusiasts who found photographs revealing that its numberplate was the same as a police van which was once covered in high-visibility markings and blue lights.

 

Critics said it was another example of revenue being prized above safety - and proved that guidelines about speed cameras were worthless.

Derbyshire police denied the van's dramatic makeover was a disguise to snare unwary road users.

The Department of Transport and the Association of Chief Police Officers' regulations recommend speed traps should be as visible as possible.

But Brian Gregory, of the Association of British Drivers, said: 'It's quite common now for police to hide their cars, their cameras or themselves.

 

 

Derbyshire police denied the vehicle had been 'disguised' in an attempt to snare unwary road-users

"We have even heard of police hiding behind gravestones.

"They are going down exactly the same route as the police in Australia and America. In one case in America an officer actually dressed up as a tramp while operating a speed trap. How long before that happens here?"

 

The van has been spotted mainly in lay-bys on notoriously dangerous Peak District roads that attract bikers from around the country every weekend.

To complete its makeover it has even been fitted has a tow-bar - which was nowhere to be seen when it was a marked vehicle.

Mr Gregory added: "It's certainly not in keeping with ACPO guidelines - but then the guidelines aren't worth the paper they're written on.

"It shows this is not about safety but revenue generation. In this case everyone suffers because of a small proportion of the motorcycle fraternity."

But police insist that the undercover van will be staying on patrol - claiming it targets speeders only where warning signs are already in place.

A spokesman said: "We use this equipment only on roads that have signs warning of the presence of speed cameras. What more can we do?

"Unfortunately, despite our efforts and campaigns, there are still some who continue to flout the law and put themselves and others at risk."

Four years ago officers in Derbyshire agreed to take down a fixed speed camera found to be hidden just two yards behind a 30mph sign on a bend on the A6 near the village of Ambergate.

Police, who claimed it had never been turned on, removed it after accepting it was "inappropriate" and didn't give motorists "a fighting chance".

Earlier this year police in North Wales converted a horsebox into a 'stealth' speed camera as part of a crackdown on speeding bikers.

Latest figures show almost two million speeding tickets are being issued to drivers each year.

Since Labour came to power in 1997 the number has shot up from 700,000 to 1.9million.

It follows the Government's huge expansion of the speed camera network. There are now around 6,000 such cameras in operation in England and Wales.

Edited October 11, 200817 yr by meht

I have seen this before, however still makes for interesting reading. And also gets me so angry i think i could bloody murder someone! :rant: What a set of b4stards!!! :rant:

Who cares, if you are paying attention and watching around when driving you should see all "hazards" otherwise you aren't really paying enough attention to the road and your surrounding. Driving is more than just watching the car or bit of road in front of you. IMHO if you aren't that aware then maybe there should be less people allowed on the roads. I'm sure my thoughts will upset most of you but I've given up caring.

Who cares, if you are paying attention and watching around when driving you should see all "hazards" otherwise you aren't really paying enough attention to the road and your surrounding. Driving is more than just watching the car or bit of road in front of you. IMHO if you aren't that aware then maybe there should be less people allowed on the roads. I'm sure my thoughts will upset most of you but I've given up caring.

 

Oh dear............:rolleyes: lol

 

TBH i'm past caring arguing with such idiotic comments :)

I have a mate who was in charge of the armed police at heathrow, and most other police departments cannot stand the traffic police,they call them black rats, suits them doesnt it.

They use horse boxes around here :rant:

Best thing we can all do in this case is get a mate to park in front of it with his van (not illegal!) and move them on.

 

Did anyone see my thread a while back of the van on the M4 motorwary Bridge who completely flouted the signs about parking on teh bridge...They are a law unto themselves and i regularly see local cars parked illegally and not indicating at roundabouts wher they should be setting an example to other road users...

that's a very old story. The van is still being used and they've got a new one too. There was a suddenly surpressed press release on the local radio and tv about a month ago one lunchtime. By the time the evening news was reported all references on the local website had been deleted!

Here in Aus they have speed vans, well its a Nissan Patrol where I drive and live in a dark metalic bronze colour, it parks up on the side of the motorway clearly hidden behind as much as possible and sometimes you only see it as you go past.

 

But guess what, 99% of people stick to the speed limit or just under and there is no conjestion, until there is a crash, but we have up to 5 lanes on my stretch.

 

I know you can't compare the to places as here there is less than 4.5 million people living in an area that stretches, well forever, but we still have a lot of cars on the motorway at one time.

 

They also put radar guns in the hands of the trafic cops and that in my eyes is a good thing, if you are are going just over the speed limit and not driving like an idiot then you get left alone. So here I don't mind the radar and speed cameras because it seems to be sensibly used.

I've seen a yellow work van with eagle works and an eagle motif, the eye of the eagle on the back door look like it had a lens in it!

 

Maybe one to watch for!!

I've seen a yellow work van with eagle works and an eagle motif, the eye of the eagle on the back door look like it had a lens in it!

 

Maybe one to watch for!!

 

That's just total paranoia, but if you think like that you should never get caught by a camera van.