Naughty boy .... allegedly

[Swagger]

Well it finally happened. Got GATSO'd a while back for 36 in a 30 limit (extenuating circumstances m'lud). Could've done the diplomatic immunity thing but thought naargh just deal with it. Anyway it appears that the Brits do a speed awareness scheme ... so today I'm off to be told all about that. They say that you must attend with the right attitude or you'll end up with the original penalty points and a fine. So here I am off to be spanked for a minor indiscretion .... : Never mind gotta respect the law. Do ya know I think I'd rather be back on combat ops rather than do this ... how weird is that. C ::005::

 

[xylo66]

What a PITA ! Where was the GATSO? How did they get your numberplate? Must have been facing the opposite way or were you stopped?I have heard you can ask them when it was last calibrated if it was a hand held unit. What a hassle though !

 

[Checkswrecks]

And Netherlands, and Norway, and a growing number of US places such as DC & Maryland, where Montgomery County is one of the leaders in adopting the things. Plus Maryland has mobile car & van units that are moved all over at least the central part of the State. Yes indeed, they are a pain. And then there's the never ending pointless arguments about enhancing safety versus income & encroachment on liberties. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/use-of-red-light-cameras-in-washington-area-increases/2011/02/23/ABCwcZQ_story.html


Speed and red light cameras are here and like it or not, they not going away. The next step is just touching down, too, with the insurance company programs that "reward" good driving through use of on-board recorders. The only question is how fast that is going to mushroom.



You have it worse in Europe where you are though, as they don't allow the 5-10 mph over that is generally allowed in the US. Plus you have the traffic school PITA.

Now for another thread about how much people don't like the things....
:

 

[sail2xxs]

Traffic camera$ are for your $afety.

Chris

 

[Poohbear]

What a PITA ! Where was the GATSO? How did they get your numberplate? Must have been facing the opposite way or were you stopped?I have heard you can ask them when it was last calibrated if it was a hand held unit. What a hassle though !

GATSOs are fixed cameras and they are rear facing so it does get your numberplate. "Truvelo" which are used in some parts of the country are front facing and therefore can't catch bikes although if you speed through the same camera every day they will eventually get you (there are actual cases).

Speed cameras are for revenue collection, plain and simple, however 30 and 40 speed limits are there for a very good reason and therefore I always stick to them. Paying a fine or attending a speed awareness course are very minor issues compared with having the death of a child on your conscience!

As all fixed speed cameras have to be in full view and painted bright yellow it is difficult to see how anyone get's caught by them, unless they're not concentrating of course :

 

[Swagger]

Yep well that was a slow four hours of re-education. Lesson learned.

I'm generally very good when it comes to speed though. Never mind.

If you'd seen how this was done you'd probably feel as daft as I do .... old bus travelling up a very steep incline (access to the village where I currently reside) .... struggling, belching black smoke and no more that 5 mph. I got caught behind it. Rode behind it on the flat for about a half a mile as the area is all 30 mph AONB. It got within 200yds of the house and the driver indicated and waved me past ... so I did. The GATSO that has been there for many years and to my knowledge never been active caught me coming back in after accelerating past the slowing/stopping bus. Like I said I turned into the driveway a few yards further on. Wrong place wrong time and the camera doesn't lie. Anyway, done it and paid (£95) for it now.

I'll take it out on the British RMP's that operate around our compound .... > A game or two of poker, blackjack or something will get me the money back