Laser on the motorway

[cthomas01]

If you are targeted with a laser speed gun on the motorway, are you likely to get pulled over or get an NIP in the post?

My radar/laser detector went off with a laser warning today - couldn't see anything, may not have even been me being targeted or a false alarm.

Thanks .

[Burratha]

Sometimes these detectors go off due to sunlight (on rare occasions).

I would have thought that you'd have been pulled at the time, however if you were "caught" by a mobile safety van, then I'd watch the post for the next 14 days.

You weren't speeding were you? :? ;)

[boomer]

It could have been an ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) camera that set your detector off.

These cameras are typically attached to overhead bridges, one per lane, and i presume the IR illuminators are what trigger laser detectors. They are not always turned on (so won't always give an alert) - indeed i believe that they should only be turned on for "incidents" that require their use (such as tracking a stolen car), but they do seem to be active much more often these days :(

See http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/police205.htm for more info.

BTW, i'd still tread carefully for the next 14 days, just in case ;)

mb

[cthomas01]

Thanks for the info.

Was overtaking at the time, and doing a higher speed than I normally would.

Is it the back or the front of the car that's usually targeted on motorways? (As I had someone fairly close behind).

Chris.

[boomer]

From "testing", although the Police can and will target both the front or back of your car for speed enforcement purposes, you are unlikely to get a "detect" from the rear (unless you have separate sensors).

Thus, the signal almost certainly came from the front!!

mb

[cthomas01]

From "testing", although the Police can and will target both the front or back of your car for speed enforcement purposes, you are unlikely to get a "detect" from the rear (unless you have separate sensors).

Thus, the signal almost certainly came from the front!!

mb

I have a Bel 550, which has front and rear sensors.

[boomer]

cthomas01,

sadly, from close quarter testing, Laser detection is poor! I have a Bel 990i (predecessor to the 550) - and only a few yards from a Pro-Laser speed gun (behind), there was NO detected signal!!

Be warned!!!

mb

[Danbo]

ANPR is used constantly in Wandsworth.................The system is linked to our CCTV cameras and can run off Four cameras at once.

They are on constantly when there is an operator in the CCTV room and trigger whenever a marked car goes through them. I believe that this will be common practice soon.

[Mutley]

ANPR is definately the new thing. At the moment we have one ANPR equipped car at the garage but soon the entire fleet will be fitted with the equipment.

The advantage of the ANPR system is all cars that have a marker on them, whether it's no tax, no current keeper, or a vehicle used in crime, are displayed on the system when you get behind them. This means you spend more time dealing with the scrotes and leaving the "innocent" members of public alone.

The only problem is driving through areas like Lambeth and Wandsworth mean you only get 200 yards before the system goes off again.

The ANPR system used would not set off a radar detector. It is a video camera with recorder and is linked to a PC in the boot. The PC has character recognition software and reads the number plate. It then carries out a PNC check and if there's a marker, the result pops up on the screen.

Mutley

[cthomas01]

An update on this, I've now driven past this point several times (just before J15, Warwick, heading south on the M40). My detector has gone off (with a laser warning) 3 out of the 4 times I've passed here - so it is definetly something thats not always on. So either there is a very well hidden Policeman or it is something like the ANPR. There are 6 small cameras (I think) on a bridge and I thought the cameras are blue, if this helps in identifying them.

[ChRoMe]

my Road Angel laser alert appeared to be a false alarm.. was a victim of the "sun" :D

proof that rare it may be, it does occur.. my RA is indispensable now imho..

[boomer]

cthomas01,

hopefully, to put your mind at rest, my Bel990i Laser alert also goes beserk on the M40 both South before J15 and North just after J15!!! Yup, it is the ANPR (muchos biggus in the news today) cameras.

mb

[stanford]

I have a Snooper S5 and have had a laser pointed at it for the last 3 days on the same stretch of road and no alerts, I was driving slowly at the time and the officer just stared at my radar detector on the dash and must have thought that it was that that had made me go slow.

Shame of it is that I got caught speeding to prevent a crash on the same stretch of road a few days earlier and my detector did not go off then either. :cry:

[cthomas01]

I have a Snooper S5 and have had a laser pointed at it for the last 3 days on the same stretch of road and no alerts, I was driving slowly at the time and the officer just stared at my radar detector on the dash and must have thought that it was that that had made me go slow.

Is the detector sitting on the dashboard or stuck on the windscreen?

[stanford]

stuck on the window just slightly above the dashboard

[Bluepolarbear]

An update on this, I've now driven past this point several times (just before J15, Warwick, heading south on the M40).

There are 6 small cameras (I think) on a bridge and I thought the cameras are blue, if this helps in identifying them.

I believe they are ANPR, every motorway around Birmingham has them at about 20miles out from the centre eg M40 J15, M5J5, M69J1 etc

[Rob D]

If your detector was set off whilst travelling under flyovers it's likely that fog sensors were the cause. AFAIK these use lasers to determine how dense fog is and look like grey miniature street lamps facing the road below.
These have set my BEL 990i off many a time.

[RMH]

Why do you need the radar / laser detectors ?

Is it because you are generally breaking the law by speeding ? :D

Only a thought...

[XDC]

I use a Valentine 1. I think the problem is that if you are being targeted by a hand held device, it will typically be pointed at your number plate and fires such a focussed tight beam you may well not get a signal, and it's 'Goodnight Vienna' anyway even if you do!

I believe that a detector which is sited too low, for example on the dashboard, can be badly compromised by glare from the bonnet due to the acute angle. Mine is mounted on the sun visor for max visibilty both front and rear. (Info from the Valentine web site)

Even though lasers fires such a tight beam, the beam does widen as it travels and gets scattered bounced and deflected off all sorts of objects it hits. Your best hope I think, is that your detector will pick up these stray rays from vehicles being targeted way up ahead! I've had two laser warnings which proved to be a PC with a hand-held gun further down the road.

[cthomas01]

Why do you need the radar / laser detectors ?

Is it because you are generally breaking the law by speeding ? :D

Only a thought...

No I don't generally break the law, I just have issues with being caught speeding whilst overtaking in the middle of nowhere on a 4 lane road :evil: .

If you know whats going on around you when you are on the road, you are a safer driver - knowing that there is a speed trap ahead warns you you may have cars suddenly slamming on brakes ahead you. (at least its an original excuse)

I'd argue that they help warn you of accident blackspots, but its a pity some forces ignore the government guidelines on the placement of speed traps.