Priceless - Traffic "Enforcement" Vehicles

[thomas]

Was in London today and there were these two traffic enforcement vehicles (a van and a smart car), with CCTV on the roof...presumably trying to find people who park illegally...maybe no insurance, etc....and where had they parked up? On double yellows of course.

 

[ufkacbln]

Was in London today and there were these two traffic enforcement vehicles (a van and a smart car), with CCTV on the roof...presumably trying to find people who park illegally...maybe no insurance, etc....and where had they parked up? On double yellows of course.

....... If this is the appropriate position to monitor an area and there is a risk assessment in place then perfectly legal and correct.

 

[thomas]

....... If this is the appropriate position to monitor an area and there is a risk assessment in place then perfectly legal and correct.

Well, if it's safe for them it should be safe for everyone else IMO....Even if it is legal, as you say, it hardly gives a good impression.

 

[dodgy]

There's been a lot of talk on the Wirral the last few weeks over the 'spy car', basically a smart car with a mast mounted camera on top. It's been caught parking illegally, too, with photographic evidence. Also, it's been found that the spy car's pictures are not admissible as evidence as the requisite signage hasn't been put up in the areas they operate (all over the Wirral). So either they put up a sign in every street on the borough, or they can the idea.

 

[blazed]

Well, if it's safe for them it should be safe for everyone else IMO....Even if it is legal, as you say, it hardly gives a good impression.

Yeah. Also if its safe for police to run red lights we should all be able to do it! And those fire engines spraying tons of water everywhere, i want to be able to carry a big water cannon on my car.

 

[DJ]

....... If this is the appropriate position to monitor an area and there is a risk assessment in place then perfectly legal and correct.

No wrong, there is not one law for us and one law for the Law!

 

[thomas]

Yeah. Also if its safe for police to run red lights we should all be able to do it! And those fire engines spraying tons of water everywhere, i want to be able to carry a big water cannon on my car.

You've taken my comments completely out of context. Police cannot jump red lights, unless there is an emergency situational. I don't consider some traffic enforcement unit to be an emergency situation...especially when by them parking on the double yellows stops anyone else from doing the same thing.

And for your second point, you probably can attach a big water cannon to your car (legally).

 

[yashicamat]

Traffic regulation orders (the legal orders which are the basis of waiting restrictions, e.g., double yellow lines) always (in my experience) have exemptions in them for certain activities. The usual ones are highway maintenance, utility works etc. and although I can't remember off the top of my head, I wouldn't be suprised if enforcement was also included. These exemptions are usually subject to conditions (e.g., safety considerations, assumptions that there is nowhere nearby unrestricted where the vehicle could park etc.).

 

[mm101]

Really don't see the problem with it parking on double yellows in the course of duty.

And why do motorists need warning signs that enforcement is going on to catch law/rule breakers? The whole point surely is that there is no warning so you can catch those not sticking to the rules.

The mindset of motorists is perplexing to me. They see getting caught speeding, parking illegally as persecution, as though they should be able to do as they please.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

It's the mindset of SOME motorists.

 

[ufkacbln]

Really don't see the problem with it parking on double yellows in the course of duty.

And why do motorists need warning signs that enforcement is going on to catch law/rule breakers? The whole point surely is that there is no warning so you can catch those not sticking to the rules.

The mindset of motorists is perplexing to me. They see getting caught speeding, parking illegally as persecution, as though they should be able to do as they please.

Because they are very naughty Policemen infringing all thoose motorists right to drive like numpties and get away with it...

Don't you realise that enforcing any motoring laws is victimisation, unfair exploitation, criminalising thousands of "innocent" motorists ad infinitum.

Funnily enough your point about visibility is the one that has caused the most backpedalling. All the ABD, S*feSpeed etc have for years been advocating high profile Police on the roads enforcing road safety, and here we have it, but it is now unaceptable - quelle surpris!

 

[Crackle]

There's been a lot of talk on the Wirral the last few weeks over the 'spy car', basically a smart car with a mast mounted camera on top. It's been caught parking illegally, too, with photographic evidence. Also, it's been found that the spy car's pictures are not admissible as evidence as the requisite signage hasn't been put up in the areas they operate (all over the Wirral). So either they put up a sign in every street on the borough, or they can the idea.

Oh yes: Outraged of Globe has figured large. Mrs Crackle got caught by it. She was unimpressed that I was largely unsympathetic. Didn't know about the sign bit though.

 

[scottyD]

In terms of speeding, isn't it better to stop them in the first place instread of catching them in the act, by which point they have already been driving "unsafely"? Hence the idea of warning signs when there are cameras. Most police authorities will issue a list ont eh web staying where their mobile speed traps will be in the coming weeks......

 

[BADGER.BRAD]

I read some ware that these Smart cars with cameras were to catch drivers committing moving offences i.e.: using phones/eating wilts driving. Not sure if this is right. Good on them if they are.

 

[ufkacbln]

They are dangerous, and it is only a matter of time before someone is killed by one of these vehicles..... According to the ABD, this type of enforcement causes drivers to look for marked Police Vehicles, instead of watching the road, causing thousands of unnecessary accidents per year.