starlight32 Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 (edited) While we are speaking on another topic at the moment regarding speeding, I though I would run this one by you all. It may help if a there are any police officers on here...... So here goes the question...... The local parish council in my village are having the usual 'Lets get on our soap box about something else day' The latest is the village speeding initiative. Basically local residents stand in the chosen built up area with a speed gun, bright green tabard with a sign doing speed checks. All this is fully supported and advised by the local constabulary I might add, but no police officers will be in attendance while the speed checks are going on. They supply the equipment too. Now this is the interesting bit, and I went along to the meeting just to have a general snout into it. Get caught twice and then you are reported and you get a warning in writing from the police. Get caught a third time and you are then nicked and given the fixed penalty by post from the police on the word of whoever is waving the gun. Now how can this be correct? As far as I am concerned that is open to abuse, you could be nicked on the word of someone out of uniform, and you know how it works. I mean I have to say I would'nt trust half of them more than I could throw them at the end of the day and I told them so.....Harsh as it may seem but they are'nt doing it for any of the right reasons as far as I consider it anyway. I had a right whinge about it because it is not the job of bunch of 70 year olds to sit on judge and jury...Now don't get me wrong I dont condone speeding around at all, I am more interested in the job being carried out by the people who get paid to do it by the taxpayer. Whats more to the point is it legal? Would it stand up in front? As I said to all of them I would my day in court if it ever came to it....... I have just edited this to add, the meeting was more like a party political conference....Loads of here,here's and well said's after the chairman speaker finished..... 'And now we will move on to the subject of how I witnessed two unruly youths kicking a coke can down the road outside my house' I am sure I have set the picture by now have I not........ Edited March 17, 2010 by starlight32 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George1990 Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 They use the same equipment as the police, so it's just as reliable. Suppose they could cheat it by running towards you while taking the reading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silpig5 Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 do gooders in village up road from me does the same , but the paper article said it had to be a copper behind the gun to nick you , the letters are to tell you that they marked yr card . ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight32 Posted March 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 do gooders in village up road from me does the same , but the paper article said it had to be a copper behind the gun to nick you , the letters are to tell you that they marked yr card . ?? No they definately said a prsecution could be brought on their word after three hits by the police to the offender...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyr8 Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 can,t see it being legal as they are not officers of the law and they are not trained to use the gun.debters retreat prestbury village do this from time to time as you have described but have never heard of anyone being prosecuted. a little of topic,does anyone remember the incident many years ago when gatsos were first introduced,an elderly lady driver was approaching conway,north wales when she spotted a copper pointing the camera at her,she thought it was someone aiming a gun at her,so she mounted the pavement and ran him over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 They do same thing here,but strangely on a road which to my knowledge has never had a fatality and infact the accident rate is very low.I do agree with a case being brought before the court on the evidence of a civilian because they could have done it to be purely malicious towards that person. Whenever i see them-its always pensioners who have probably had their driving licences revoked so have an axe to grind with those still capable of steering a car in a straight line... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 No way would a prosecution be brought unless a police officer or police civilian staff with a power of warrant was involved in the check. To be frank these initiatives are pants. Parish councils and community forums are attended almost entirely by small-minded busy bodies who feel that they have to be seen to be doing something. Unfortunately modern day senior police officers haven't got the bottle to tell these self-serving individuals to naff off. Instead they indulge them. In case you are wondering;- less than one year to my pension and it can't come soon enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6shot Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 (edited) i have been caught by this system in a village a couple of miles from mine. it was three older people with a camera and a clip board. i got a warning letter through the post a few days later. i hold my hands up i was speeding. but i dont agree with it. first they pass the job on to community support officers, now it seems anyone can have ago at being a cop for the day. Edited March 17, 2010 by 6shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 (edited) But a hi-viz and a camera slows people down, we have the same in the village that I work, where there have been several kiddies run over, its a long village google map 'Sutton Bonington' and you'll see, drivers get bored with the miles of 30 limit so creep. People complain when the police are targetting speeding drivers thinking they have better jobs to do, and complain when the job has been passed onto to people with less important jobs...I have a secret......stick to the speed limits...shhhh though....not many people know it'll stop you killing someone and ruining your life, it did mine (ruin it that is), I wasn't driving, my daughter wasn't either, she was on her way to school, second time allowed to go on her own. Poignant? Just slow the eff down, and you'd have nothing to complain about. Edited March 17, 2010 by kyska Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6shot Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 (edited) But a hi-viz and a camera slows people down, we have the same in the village that I work, where there have been several kiddies run over, its a long village google map 'Sutton Bonington' and you'll see, drivers get bored with the miles of 30 limit so creep. People complain when the police are targetting speeding drivers thinking they have better jobs to do, and complain when the job has been passed onto to people with less important jobs...I have a secret......stick to the speed limits...shhhh though....not many people know it'll stop you killing someone and ruining your life, it did mine (ruin it that is), I wasn't driving, my daughter wasn't either, she was on her way to school, second time allowed to go on her own. Poignant? Just slow the eff down, and you'd have nothing to complain about. i think your missing the point. i agree with you 100% people who speed deserve all they get, as i did. but is it right to put the power of the police into anyones hands. Edited March 17, 2010 by 6shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 maybe they are confused and the 3rd time caught means you get a warning letter ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattw Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 When this begins In my villlage I will dial 999 and report "a group of people pointing a gun at passing cars in a threatning manner." Watch them squirm when the armed response unit turns up. It wont keep happening if every one did it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 When this begins In my villlage I will dial 999 and report "a group of people pointing a gun at passing cars in a threatning manner." Watch them squirm when the armed response unit turns up. It wont keep happening if every one did it. like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 (edited) i think your missing the point. i agree with you 100% people who speed deserve all they get, as i did. but is it right to put the power of the police into anyones hands. Crux of the point, people would complain if a full time, paid copper was doing the job, complain when a non warranted person is doing the job. Does it matter if the person clocking speed on a calibrated machine, with minuted, documented evidence isn't a police officer? Speed cameras are automatic. The power isn't handed over, its simple intelligence gathering, there is no arrest procedure. As long as the machine is working whats the problem? Its no different to being a witness to a crime and reporting it. A witness statement isn't discarded because they aren't police officers are they? Obviously I have a motive to this topic with the loss of my girl, but I do think I'd think the same regardless. Edited March 17, 2010 by kyska Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hushpower Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 was in the paper the other day some home owner sick of speeding cars,stuck a bird box on a pole at the end of his drive,then painted it bright yellow,it had the disired effect :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 Run the useless sacks of organic fertilizer over , and when you do , make sure you get out of your car and beat 'em to death with the "hair dryer" they are holding . I will post a fine tale about a "fella" that came to the village i have lived in for 30 odd years of me life . But it's late for me. I'll post tomorrow . P.S. if your name is kieth lawernce of **village** where i live , Ex-parish councillor , you may enjoy this . But i'd like you to have a go for a liable post . all the best yis yp :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smig4373 Posted March 18, 2010 Report Share Posted March 18, 2010 (edited) If they use the same equipment as the police use...Does it need calibrating every day like the police have to... Edited March 18, 2010 by smig4373 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russuk Posted March 18, 2010 Report Share Posted March 18, 2010 This sounds like the village I live in. They even publish a parish newsletter each month detailing their gripes and gestapo-esque schemes. Last summer the leader of this merry bunch took and published photos on the front page of the newsletter of people commiting the gross criminal offence of parking in a non-designated area. Pathetic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonno 357 Posted March 18, 2010 Report Share Posted March 18, 2010 If they use the same equipment as the police use...Does it need calibrating every day like the police have to... weekly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inthedark Posted March 18, 2010 Report Share Posted March 18, 2010 Yes, you could be prosecuted by the council using this method IF they get it right, which is unlikely. It wont wont be by a police ticket, a private prosecution would be the only way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smig4373 Posted March 18, 2010 Report Share Posted March 18, 2010 weekly I knew it was something like that....Thanks jonno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rover Posted March 18, 2010 Report Share Posted March 18, 2010 Obviously I have a motive to this topic with the loss of my girl, What a terrible, sad thing to hear. Did it happen recently and was the guy (properly) prosecuted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph5172 Posted March 18, 2010 Report Share Posted March 18, 2010 (edited) Obviously I have a motive to this topic with the loss of my girl, but I do think I'd think the same regardless. I think i should say how sorry i am about your girl, i dont know what i would do in your position. One of houses between a couple of villages on a coastal road that has had the speed dropped to 50 (it is straight with summits) because of cyclists using it, has a house with a 'Dovecote' painted bright yellow with a boxed entrance and round exit (covered as the birds were only using the boxed) on a substantial pole due to the weight of the doves with the makers name GATS0 painted on. Strangely enough accidents on the stretch of road have increased as the camera is just below the summit of a hill The reason i mention it was a dovcote is that it was proposed by the Police and Parish to have it removed but as it was in the landowners garden and was a piece of 'Garden Furniture' it had to stay Strangely enough the property owner had complained to the council and police about cars coming along the road at speed of upto 50 which meant he thought his car may be hit as he moved out of his drive Edited March 18, 2010 by ph5172 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lez325 Posted March 18, 2010 Report Share Posted March 18, 2010 When this begins In my villlage I will dial 999 and report "a group of people pointing a gun at passing cars in a threatning manner." Watch them squirm when the armed response unit turns up. It wont keep happening if every one did it. Oh I do like the sound of that :look: Les :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 18, 2010 Report Share Posted March 18, 2010 Anything that slows down vehicles speeding on rural roads is to be commended. If you aren't speeding, you have nothing to complain about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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