On 27 Feb 2009 at 8:12pm Inspector speed gadget wrote:
Two 'Safety team' officers were out today on the road out of Lewes, past the prison. Anyone know why this particular spot was chosen.? Is it notoriously unsafe?
I noticed a police van in the same spot earlier in the week. As I trundled past at the speed limit I couldn't help but feel a little bit irritated. Especially as there were no warning signs that this was going on, and there was a man in a fluo jacket, whose identity was unclear, pointing a 'gun' straight at me. It was rather distracting. In fact, I would suggest it was a little bit....unsafe!
On 27 Feb 2009 at 8:39pm Smiler wrote:
Are they still there?
On 27 Feb 2009 at 10:41pm Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
Ooooh - I hope they are there in the morning as I shall try my best to get frisked by the boys in blue!
On 28 Feb 2009 at 7:03am spongebob wrote:
Why were you irritated ? If you were doing the legal speed limit, there's absolutely nothing to worry about. Get over it and move on.
On 28 Feb 2009 at 12:23pm ISG wrote:
I'll tell you why I am irritated, Spongebob. You may be used to driving at a lperfectly egal speed down a road by a prison, and all of a sudden spottting someone pointing a 'gun' straight at you, but I am not.
Speed cameras require warning signs, and I am bemused why there were none here. The danger on the road was, to my mind, increased, If you read my post, you will noice tha I didn't even mention what I think about speeding drivers, I asked if there had been accidents on this road, as I am not aware of many, if any, so am at a loss to know what this 'safety team' where doing there, when there are at least two notoriously deady roads within minutes. The A27, and the Kingston-Newhaven road. Mybe they were safe yesterday, and the road in Lewes with clear visibilty, grass verges, few pedestrians, wide lanes, few turnings, and people like me trundling along at 30, is an in creasing death-trap?
On 28 Feb 2009 at 2:09pm Mark wrote:
I think you will find only fixed speeding cameras need warning signs.
Mobile speed checks do not need any.
On 28 Feb 2009 at 3:36pm ISG wrote:
Thank you Mark for the info. I wonder what the difference is supposed to be. My understanding is that speed cameras require warnings, or are considered entrapment, yet the only differences with this arangement is that it involved humans, and was temporary. Any ideas?
My warning to people is not about speeding, it is about quietly driving along the road, and not to be too surprised to find a complete stranger pointing something straight at you, without warning.
My other issue is why look for danger, where i understand there is very little, when there is a notoriously dangerous road, that exhibits some of the worst driving I have come across, just 100 yards away.
I should add that there was also a ssfety van checking red light jumping on the way into Brighton....where there is already a fixed lights camera, and later on, a speed camera......?
On 28 Feb 2009 at 6:33pm Mark wrote:
A legal challenge against the legality of speed cameras is underway at the moment .
If the appeal suceeds it would enable people given speeding tickets to not only get the points removed,fines repaid plus refunds of excess insurance premiums paid. :|
On 28 Feb 2009 at 6:39pm Mark wrote:
An historic test case in Gloucester could see millions of speeding convictions overturned and the Government and insurance companies forced to repay billions of pounds to motorists.
Lawyers are urging all motorists in Gloucestershire who have had penalty points for speeding offences endorsed on their licences in the past three years to take legal advice.
The legal challenge revolves around a claim that all radar and laser speed camera devices are illegal, and have been for 16 years.
According to an amendment to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, which came into force on July 1, 1992, all speed camera devices had to be approved by Parliament.
But county lawyer Conrad Gadd and Aylesbury barrister Michael Shrimpton, who have joined forces to expose the flaw, revealed this week that this never happened.
And on Tuesday Mr Shrimpton threw down the gauntlet at Gloucester Magistrates Court.
The test case involved company director Timothy Davies, who was accused of speeding on the B4060 Wotton Road, Wotton-under-Edge, on May 4 last year.
Although the 43-year-old, of Wanswell, Berkeley, was convicted of the offence driving at 44mph on the 30mph road Mr Shrimpton immediately lodged an appeal against sentence and conviction.
The defendant, who already had nine points on his licence, was banned from driving under the totting-up procedure for six months, fined £400 with costs of 100.
Mr Shrimpton said: We will take this case to Gloucester Crown Court and then to the High Court of Appeal and to the House of Lords if necessary.
And all motorists in Gloucestershire and the rest of the country with points on their licences for speeding during the past three years will be able to apply to crown courts out-of-time for their cases to be reopened.
Since the Act was amended some eight million motorists have been affected with an estimated 600million in fines, which would all have to be repaid by the Treasury if we win our case.
Another issue, of course, is insurance, since premiums automatically go up as a result of motoring convictions. This figure could run into billions of pounds should these convictions be quashed.
Mr Gadd said: If the crown courts accept this legal point, it would open up the doors for everyone in the country aiming for speeding convictions to be overturned.
He wants to hear from all motorists in the county who have pleaded guilty to or been convicted of speeding in the last three years.
A Home Office spokesman said: Generic types of speed cameras are laid before Parliament by the Secretary of State. This allows a particular type of speed measuring device to be admissible in court rather than each individual model.
But the lawyers said the term generic did not appear in the wording of the 1992 amendment.
On 28 Feb 2009 at 7:07pm Dave wrote:
When do we get the result Mark?
On 28 Feb 2009 at 8:27pm lewes lady wrote:
On a lighter note those men in uniform pointing something at me! 
On 1 Mar 2009 at 2:07pm Mark wrote:
Sorry Dave not sure of the timetable will obviously post when I have more news.