Fazer Owners Club - Unofficial

General => General => Topic started by: Billy Balthorpe on 25 February 2018, 10:26:15 pm

Title: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: Billy Balthorpe on 25 February 2018, 10:26:15 pm
As it says, if a camera van is facing towards you, can they get the camera laser speed detector to work through the windscreen or does it have to have a clear path?

Because they always have that little flap open, which they point the camera through at the back.
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: Dudeofrude on 25 February 2018, 10:43:39 pm
As far as I'm aware it's only from the back. There is usually only 1 camera and that's the one being operated out of the back of the van. As you say it needs to be clear air, I would imagine a windscreen would refract the laser. Same reason you never see one operating in the rain
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: Billy Balthorpe on 25 February 2018, 10:50:15 pm

That's a relief. I was only about 10mph over when I hit the 40, but its enough nowadays.
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: celticdog on 25 February 2018, 11:29:08 pm


That's a relief. I was only about 10mph over when I hit the 40, but its enough nowadays.

That's good news to me too! I was in the same situation on my early morning commute, doing about 45 in a 40 zone the other day.
If they can't see your number plate then I suppose they can't ticket you.
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: Nemesis on 26 February 2018, 12:36:47 am
Need to make up the old james bond DB5 number plate " Foc U" that would be funny :lol

seen a guy carry a small board and cover plate whilst riding past Gatso on A1 years ago 
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: tommyardin on 26 February 2018, 03:18:36 am
Need to make up the old james bond DB5 number plate " Foc U" that would be funny :lol

seen a guy carry a small board and cover plate whilst riding past Gatso on A1 years ago

You can buy Flipper plate on eGay that flip you number plate up 90 Degrees so it can not be photographed, but it would be illegal to us them.
Its funny there are a few things that are not illegal to own but are illegal to use.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Euro-Motorcycle-flipper-license-registration-reg-plate-number-rotate-flipping/162811480260?hash=item25e85208c4:g:NkgAAOSwuLZY4SUg (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Euro-Motorcycle-flipper-license-registration-reg-plate-number-rotate-flipping/162811480260?hash=item25e85208c4:g:NkgAAOSwuLZY4SUg)

Quite expensive, but then so is a fine and 3 points.

Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: Anquetil on 26 February 2018, 10:18:34 am
Here in North Wales, I see vans with the rear facing camera looking through the open flap facing towards oncoming vehicles. This will obviously register the front car number plate, but I also see these vans with another camera on the dash which will capture the number plate of a motorcycle. The local operator also has a swivel chair which enables him to turn and note the reg no. when bike is passing. Maybe this is not the case in all areas.
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: HarryHornby on 26 February 2018, 10:43:38 am
As I understand it they might not have a camera out the front but the operator is allowed to write down your plate as you go past and then use that as evidence with the pic of the front of your bike.
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: Anquetil on 26 February 2018, 10:59:31 am
Yes, Harry. I believe that this is the case.
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 26 February 2018, 12:08:05 pm
Here in North Wales, I see vans with the rear facing camera looking through the open flap facing towards oncoming vehicles. This will obviously register the front car number plate, but I also see these vans with another camera on the dash which will capture the number plate of a motorcycle. The local operator also has a swivel chair which enables him to turn and note the reg no. when bike is passing. Maybe this is not the case in all areas.


I don't know if it was a van that got me (but suspect it was), but when I got done in the Brecon Beacons, they sent me photos taken from both front and rear.
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: Trebus on 26 February 2018, 12:30:47 pm
Double post
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: Trebus on 26 February 2018, 12:31:43 pm
I got done the same way last year, forward facing approaching rear of the van but they snapped me from the front of it. Doh!
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: focced_off on 26 February 2018, 01:21:53 pm
The Operator swivels round to the opposite direction, and uses a 2nd camera to take a Photo of the rear of your bike/registration plate, to accompany the footage of you speeding towards the Van. They are even known to jump out of the van and stand alongside it, to get that 2nd photo, after you've passed.

I thought I got caught like this about six months ago, going past a van... however I've received nothing (either lucky, or he was pre-occupied doing something else at the time I went past!).

Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: fazersharp on 26 February 2018, 01:54:30 pm
sorted - you come round a bend see a rear facing camera on you but you are never going to go past the van for a picture of your numberplate because you stop and reverse back around the bend and then do a U turn   
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: reggit on 26 February 2018, 02:17:28 pm
Was once at a bike awareness event we set up and got talking to a bike copper with a laser gun. Phenomenal optics by the way.  He advised if we ever see a trap and are going too fast, accelerate rather than brake as they need to capture the number plate and going slowly makes it easier.
Obviously I don’t  condone speeding!
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: focced_off on 26 February 2018, 03:06:45 pm
Was once at a bike awareness event we set up and got talking to a bike copper with a laser gun. Phenomenal optics by the way.  He advised if we ever see a trap and are going too fast, accelerate rather than brake as they need to capture the number plate and going slowly makes it easier.
Obviously I don’t  condone speeding!

Well they do say if you get a Laser camera pointed at you, you have very little time to react, as by the time you see the officer with the camera, its probably too late. :)

There was quite a famous case where a guy was speeding through the Police cameras, and the Cameras kept registering an error. This happened on 3 occasions, and they pursued the vehicle which was seized. After taking the vehicle to pieces it was found to contain a handful of Jammers in the front/rear bumpers and grilles. The owner went down with quite a considerable sentence ("interfering with Police equipment"). Ironically he never got done for speeding.
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: tommyardin on 26 February 2018, 03:15:26 pm
sorted - you come round a bend see a rear facing camera on you but you are never going to go past the van for a picture of your numberplate because you stop and reverse back around the bend and then do a U turn


Not advisable on a dual carriageway :'(
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: johnakay on 26 February 2018, 08:12:11 pm
I've seen one that has a camera on the side of the van.
a bit like those domed security cameras.
this was reported last year about these are going to be rolled out to catch speeding bikers


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1280183/The-police-van-traps-motorists-speed-cameras-AND-sides.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1280183/The-police-van-traps-motorists-speed-cameras-AND-sides.html)
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: robby boy on 26 February 2018, 10:02:31 pm
One of my mates came round a corner onto a straight at considerable speed, seen the camera van and managed to get his foot up and over the number plate to cover it, never got "the letter" so must have managed to cover it in time.
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: celticdog on 27 February 2018, 07:27:01 am
By the sounds of things i'm not out of the woods yet. I wonder how long it takes from committing the incident to getting a letter through your door.
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: bludclot on 27 February 2018, 08:22:48 am



Two weeks. If it hasn't arrived after two weeks then worry not, unless 'special circumstances' apply.


See here:


http://www.nopenaltypoints.co.uk/what-time-period-for-issue-motor-ticket.html (http://www.nopenaltypoints.co.uk/what-time-period-for-issue-motor-ticket.html)
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: fazersharp on 27 February 2018, 09:01:46 am
What I don't get is that you have your picture taken going over the limit heading towards the van - BUT that is just a biker-any biker, then they take a picture as you go by which IS you because its your number plate but by then they have a picture of YOU doing the limit- so they have nothing. 
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: Dudeofrude on 27 February 2018, 11:05:54 am
I've seen one that has a camera on the side of the van.
a bit like those domed security cameras.
this was reported last year about these are going to be rolled out to catch speeding bikers


[url]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1280183/The-police-van-traps-motorists-speed-cameras-AND-sides.html[/url] ([url]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1280183/The-police-van-traps-motorists-speed-cameras-AND-sides.html[/url])



State of the art 'advanced' van?? It's got 2 security cams and a dash cam 😂😂😂 and as sharpie says they haven't got you for anything as they need the laser to prove your speed so they can still only get you from behind the van just means they actually get bikers without jumping out the van.
I'm sure they could probably get you with the camera footage if you were obscenely over the limit but I'd highly doubt they could prove 4 or 5 mph over.

And back to that van.... £30000 extra!! For a fucking dashcam and two security beacons from maplin haha
No wonder they need to catch us speeding
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 27 February 2018, 11:17:30 am


And back to that van.... £30000 extra!! For a fucking dashcam and two security beacons from maplin haha
No wonder they need to catch us speeding


This actually isn't funny. At a time when the gov't has been banging on about needing 'austerity' measures in the economy, and cutting public service funding to the bare minimum, and they're still seeing catching speeders as the number one priority. That's worth spending thousands on still, isn't it?  :rolleyes  If that isn't proof that it's not about safety, I don't know what is.
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: darrsi on 27 February 2018, 12:07:31 pm
Got these starting soon as well.

Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: Dudeofrude on 27 February 2018, 03:53:30 pm
Got these starting soon as well.

Well if that's all they're used for then I'm 100% on-board with um, but the fact it they'll soon be used to catch you having a drink, eating some crisps, changing the radio station etc etc until it's get to the point ya don't dare fart while your driving in case ya get a fine
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: darrsi on 27 February 2018, 04:26:36 pm
Got these starting soon as well.

Well if that's all they're used for then I'm 100% on-board with um, but the fact it they'll soon be used to catch you having a drink, eating some crisps, changing the radio station etc etc until it's get to the point ya don't dare fart while your driving in case ya get a fine


I’ve read they’ll be looking out for people not wearing seatbelts too.


You’re right though, i wouldn’t be surprised if they look for motorbikes in the cycle area at traffic lights.
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: focced_off on 27 February 2018, 04:31:32 pm
Got these starting soon as well.

Well if that's all they're used for then I'm 100% on-board with um, but the fact it they'll soon be used to catch you having a drink, eating some crisps, changing the radio station etc etc until it's get to the point ya don't dare fart while your driving in case ya get a fine

you do THAT too??  :eek Suppose what happens behind closed (car) doors, is not another mans business.  :lol
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: Grahamm on 02 March 2018, 07:03:56 pm
Got these starting soon as well.

Good.

It's been demonstrated that using a mobile whilst driving is as dangerous as drink driving and I doubt anyone here would approve of that.

Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: fazersharp on 03 March 2018, 09:17:47 pm
How easy is it to get the motorcyclist - small target long distance or is it some sort of auto focus tracking. You are in the sights but as you are coming around the corner very easily you quickly are out of the track - unlike a car that is wider how long does it need with an oncoming to register a speed. I am confused because If you are followed by a car they record your speed over 1/4 mile ? for evidence or have I got that  wrong     
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: fazersharp on 03 March 2018, 09:22:55 pm
Never mind i have modded my fazer - here --------
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: Millietant on 04 March 2018, 11:10:30 pm
I'm all for catching mobile phone users, testers and the like - and also people who speed where it really is dangerous (near schools and in built up ares).


But, most non urban speed limits today are way too low for optimum safety (I say this after having worked many years ago, on designing road and white lining schemes, which used to based on science rather than the now popular "slower is safer" approach) - so I'm totally against out-of-town cameras and especially camera vans on rural dual carriageways and "open" roads.
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: focced_off on 05 March 2018, 12:20:15 pm
How easy is it to get the motorcyclist - small target long distance or is it some sort of auto focus tracking. You are in the sights but as you are coming around the corner very easily you quickly are out of the track - unlike a car that is wider how long does it need with an oncoming to register a speed. I am confused because If you are followed by a car they record your speed over 1/4 mile ? for evidence or have I got that  wrong     

Well the vans (or police stood with a hand gun) are usually parked to one end of a straight road so once you are on that stretch coming towards them, your position wont deviate much to the left or right - unless you weave side to side between lanes (if there's more than 1 which "could" be a tactic) :)

Granted, on a bike you are 'tiny' compared to the mass plus width of a car - so it would require much greater targeting skill to track you.

.......I don't believe these speed guns have "helmet recognition + tracking" technology...... yet! :D
Title: Re: Can camera vans get you when facing towards you?
Post by: fazersharp on 05 March 2018, 12:40:17 pm
How easy is it to get the motorcyclist - small target long distance or is it some sort of auto focus tracking. You are in the sights but as you are coming around the corner very easily you quickly are out of the track - unlike a car that is wider how long does it need with an oncoming to register a speed. I am confused because If you are followed by a car they record your speed over 1/4 mile ? for evidence or have I got that  wrong     

Well the vans (or police stood with a hand gun) are usually parked to one end of a straight road so once you are on that stretch coming towards them, your position wont deviate much to the left or right - unless you weave side to side between lanes (if there's more than 1 which "could" be a tactic) :)

Granted, on a bike you are 'tiny' compared to the mass plus width of a car - so it would require much greater targeting skill to track you.

.......I don't believe these speed guns have "helmet recognition + tracking" technology...... yet! :D
The long straight road position is fine but that is always either after a bend or brow of a hill. So as I come around the bend I spot the van way up ahead up the straight, throw the anchor out and they have not had enough time to lock on to my small target so my the time they have a fix on me I am doing the limit.