Was driving down the M6 this morning at about 100, and there were 2 bridges very close together, as i went under them i noticed a large white van with florescent pattern on the side like police cars, motorway maintainance vehicles etc it didnt have "police" written on it as far as i could see. There were also two cameras pointed down at the road, the van and the cameras were not visable until right below them as they were hidden by the bridge.

Was this some kind of mobile speed camera or just a traffic survey of some kind?

Edited 14 March, 200818 yr by Possumfish

Sounds like a mobile speed camera to me mate!

Crap. any idea what kind of fine etc i could get if it was?

Original post was meant to say it didnt have "police" on the van as far as i could see.

Edit: looking online iv found pictures of exactly what i went past (small cameras that look like the motion sensitive outdoor lights you can that people put outside their garage doors etc, with one above each of the 3 lanes of traffic), and it might have been an ANPR camera, that checks the plates of every car to see if its stolen/taxed. Anyone know anything about these?

Edited 14 March, 200818 yr by Possumfish

well a envelope threw your door in a week or 2 will let you know

Well the things attached to the bridge (normally blue if that's what you are talking about) above each lane are for traffic monitoring (trafficmaster, etc).

Did the van have its side doors open or a hole open in the side? Then it could be a mobile speed camera. The van wont have police written on it as its a private contractor who do it.

i didnt get that good a look at it cos it was hidden behind the bridge, but the side door was closed, and i couldnt see anyone around the van. and there were 3 cameras, one above each lane of traffic.

Where were the cameras? On the van or the bridge?

Were the cameras attached to the bridge and dark blue in colour? if so then not.

Was this about J17 to J18 if so its a yes. It says POLICE SPEED CHECK AREA on a sign before the bridge. They could of being just starting up for the day as i 9 times out of 10 they work with a unmarked police car sat at the next exit ready to pull you.

i have had many close brown trouser moments with camera vans hidden even tho i hardly speed but if the doors were closed on a bridge i dont think its a camera van (or just setting up or packin up) as unless the doors open the only other place would b 2 holes in the back doors to i cant see it being parked that way round, also if there was 3 cameras sounds like traffic rather than speed. either way 100 is usually a straight ban but if u was dead on 100 then u was actually doing 90 as speedos are 10% out so i would think u will get 3 points and fine worst case mate but thats me I'm no copper nor judge

good luck dude :)

the cameras were definately not attatched to the van, they were on tripods. They looked black to me as i went past but again i didnt get much of a look, so they could well have been dark blue.

i cant remember exactly which junction they were at unfortunately, but they certainl didnt have an unmarked car pull me over. It was only about half 9 or 10am so they might have been setting up if it was?

Edit: surely if it was a speed camera it would have had to have been measuring my speed over a greater distance than it was, the cameras couldnt have seen me til i was right under them because of the other bridge and the fact that they were angled almost straight down at the road. A traffic sensor would just need to be some kind of simple motion sensor? or am i completely wrong?

Edited 16 March, 200818 yr by Possumfish

never seen 3 cameras on 1 tripod matey usually just the 1 camera and a police car or unmarked just down the road to nick u.

think u might have had a close call matey

edit. cameras that cover u thro distance are called spec cameras matey there usually there when theres road works and there usually on bright yellow poles like lamp post's passed em on m25 yesterday there would b three sets of them over a few miles and 3 cameras on each pole (if on motorway)

pic of a spec camera

on the pole

up close

hope that helps

Edited 16 March, 200818 yr by tommy_boy

Edited previous post.

sorry what i meant is there was a camera on a tripod above each lane, so 3 camers and 3 tripods

oh erm i have never seen 3 tripods before matey still dont think specs work on tri pods as pictured above u can see there wired up thro the ground? spose u just have to wait and hope dude!

It looked like this:

With the van parked behind them cameras

Edited 16 March, 200818 yr by Possumfish

never seen that before but looks like speed camera's maybe the lorry took a pic once the cameras got the speed, deffo not traffic matey.

The place i got that picture says (the picture above) is an ANRP camera used to look at the plates of passing cars to check if they are taxed or reported stolen etc...

Yeah, that's ANPR. They scan for untaxed, un MOT'd, uninsured, vehicles that have been linked to crime, etc.

Really hope youre right and i dont get a letter in t he post in a few weeks... Typical, i dont usually speed, the one time i do this happens...

woop i am safe as well then :)

erm i mean officer i was not talking about speeding or oat

anpr vans are on hastings seafront nearly every week mate, aslong as you are taxed ect i dout u will get a letter in the post

Yeah, that's ANPR. They scan for untaxed, un MOT'd, uninsured, vehicles that have been linked to crime, etc.

..thats the 1