tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23903985751552382082024-03-05T18:00:35.042+00:00Beat The Speed TrapThe number 1 source of insider information on UK Speed Cameras and how to avoid Speeding TicketsAdam Blairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661113465396176367noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390398575155238208.post-38713785711580103462011-08-11T11:36:00.006+01:002011-08-11T12:07:19.483+01:00New Template Letter (free to Members)I’ve got a new template letter for you <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">(in blue below)</span>, but first let me explain what it’s for...
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<br />I had a social catch up with our chief Solicitor, Matthew, yesterday.
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<br />One of Matthew’s pet hates is how the Speed Camera Partnerships <span style="font-weight: bold;">mislead </span>members of the public who don’t know the Law.
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<br />When you receive a ticket and you don’t know who was driving, you are legally obliged to tell the Police <span style="font-weight: bold;">who <span style="font-style: italic;">could </span>have been driving</span>.
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<br />So that could be your partner, daughter, friend ...whoever.
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<br />You should then put the names and addresses of <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">all </span>people who could have been driving on a piece of paper, staple it to the NIP, sign the NIP, and send it back.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note: Make sure you always write on the NIP “REFER TO ATTACHED DOCUMENT” so if they ‘lose’ the attachment it can be referenced at Court.</span>
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<br />Now what is <span style="font-style: italic;">supposed </span>to happen according to the Law is that an NIP is issued to <span style="font-weight: bold;">each</span> of the individuals named.
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<br />They can then respond to say whether they were driving or not.
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<br />However, what is ACTUALLY happening is that the Camera Partnerships are writing back and <span style="font-weight: bold;">misleading </span>the registered keeper.
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<br />They say (paraphrasing) “Dear Fred Bloggs, May we remind you that you are obliged to name ONE driver and not the four" (or however many) "that you have named. We will give you 28 days to reply to this notice”.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This is absolutely misleading</span>!
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<br />Under the Law, you must name the <span style="font-style: italic;">person or people</span> who could have been driving at the time of the alleged offence after making the appropriate enquiries.
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<br />There is no Law stating that you should nominate only one person, or limiting the number of people you can nominate.
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<br />So, if they try this one on you, then just send a letter back saying:
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(if you are a <a href="http://www.driveprotect.co.uk/">DriveProtect Member</a> then of course this will all be done for you)</span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Dear (NAME)</span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Thank you for your letter dated (DATE).</span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I have taken advice and can confirm that your assertion that I am obliged to supply the name of just one possible driver is legally incorrect.</span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">By doing so I would be lying and so would be perverting the course of justice.</span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I have supplied you with the names and addresses of the people who could have been driving at the time of the alleged offence, as is my responsibility under Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act.</span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Yours sincerely,</span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">(SIGNED)</span>
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<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">(YOUR NAME)</span>
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<br />Feel free to save this letter and share it with your friends and family.
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<br />Happy motoring,
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<br />Adam
<br /><a href="http://www.driveprotect.co.uk/">http://www.driveprotect.co.uk/</a>
<br />Adam Blairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661113465396176367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390398575155238208.post-54637966653459513142011-07-28T12:33:00.004+01:002011-07-28T13:42:28.297+01:00What I've been up to...Although you haven’t heard from me as much as usual recently, I've been busier than ever ‘behind the scenes’!<br /><br />The two big things we’ve been up to are:<br /><br />1-<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bolstering the Talex Speed Camera & Mobile Speed Trap Database even more.</span><br /><br />...and<br /><br />2-<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Creating a brand new service that we’ll be announcing in the not too distant future, which I think will have great appeal amongst our Members.</span><br /><br />There’s also been a load of other stuff going on, such as trying to take DriveProtect to France and Spain (you think Motorists <span style="font-style: italic;">here </span>have it bad?!)... and creating the BTST/Talex/DriveProtect Brochure that we'll send out to Members in the post, as well as a whole load of other bits and pieces.<br /><br />I’ve let the newsletter slide a bit because of it to be honest.<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br />Anyhow, about the improvements to the Talex Database...</span><br /><br />As you'll know if you’re already a Talex user, the Talex Speed Camera & Mobile Speed Trap Database has been the best in the UK for some time, for reasons I’ve gone in to many times before.<br /><br />We were updating it <span style="font-style: italic;">every day</span> until a few weeks back (even though the “version number” only changed every Friday for a technical reason I won’t bore you with here).<br /><br />However, the Database Team -- comprising Adam K, Kim, Frances, Anton and Dmitry, who are assisted by a whole army of “Camera Scouts” all over the UK -- are now updating it <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">multiple times</span> per day.<br /><br />And that includes Sundays and Bank Holidays, by the way.<br /><br />The only day we don’t update is Christmas day.<br /><br />The reason for the increased frequency is that we now have many more data sources than when we first started out, including the recently launched Talex iPhone app, as well as the ever growing Talex community who report back whenever they see a new site.<br /><br />We’ve also agreed a new deal with a competitor which means we are now paying them for their updates.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(incidentally, we are not swapping data, just buying theirs).</span><br /><br />Due to a confidentiality clause in the Contract, I can’t tell you who it is, but if you had three guesses you would be quite likely get it right :-)<br /><br />Anyway, now that’s all set up, I hope to get a bit more regular with the newsletters again.<br /><br />I’ll be in touch soon!<br /><br />Happy Motoring,<br /><br />AdamAdam Blairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661113465396176367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390398575155238208.post-50241600974378022522010-12-30T20:26:00.010+00:002010-12-31T13:11:56.530+00:00Success Story from Member "Mike"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >From Mike:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >(The short version of the story is in black text in case you are in a hurry).</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >I was recently stopped by the police on the M62 near Wakefield / Dewsbury and given a ticket for speeding.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >They were using a pro laser 3 device and alleged I was speeding in excess of +95 MPH.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >I am employed as a self-employed driver, delivering new and used motor vehicles across the UK.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >On 19th January, this year, I collected a Saxo VTR at 10:45pm, from our base in Barnlsey, with a view to delivering it to a destination in Inverness.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Shortly after picking up the vehicle, I fuelled it up at a local Shell petrol station, at precisely, 11:02pm</span>, putting in 45 pounds worth of diesel, before setting off northwards en route to Inverness.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >Before fuelling up, I reset my sat - nav to my destination, and was able to roughly calculate how much fuel I might need for the journey. It was a Garmin device which also has the capability to calculate the maximum speed which I would travel after I set off from the fuel station, including any time I was stood still, or stopped in traffic. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >Once I joined the M1 motorway, northbound, I had travelled about 14.1 miles when the police stopped me and accused me of speeding, saying that they had taken a reading on their pro - laser 3 device, and recorded that I was doing +95 MPH.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I told them that they must have made a mistake because I had been adhering to the speed limit and that I had only been doing about 70MPH</span>, and that they must have got the reading off another vehicle coming down the hill.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">They told me there was no other vehicle coming down the hill, and that the vehicle I was driving was the only vehicle on the motorway, which I pointed out to them, was not true</span>...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >I was cautioned...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >I was asked if I was responding to an emergency?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >I was asked if the speedo was accurate in the vehicle I was driving?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >I was then given a fixed penalty notice, but I refused to sign it, because the details recorded upon it, in my opinion were not accurate, and did not relate to me...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Upon leaving the police vehicle, I asked the police to come to my vehicle and look at the reading on my sat - nav, which showed that I had been travelling at a maximum speed of 70.4 MPH, but they refused to do so...</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >Upon returning to my car, I took four photographs using a camera which I carry, of the aforementioned readings on my sat-nav.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >A few weeks later, I was summoned to appear at Wakefield Magistrates court, and to enter a plea as to whether or not, I intended to plead guilty, or not guilty?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >I elected trial...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >A pre-trial hearing was fixed in front of the District Judge, at which point I produced the fuel receipt, pointing out to the court that I had left the fuel station shortly after 11:02pm, and that I had been stopped 38 minutes later at 11:40pm, by the police, and that I could not have been doing the sort of speed the police were alleging otherwise I would have arrived at the place where the police stopped me, sooner than I did.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >I introduced the four pictures of my Sat - Nav device, which I took at the scene, and informed the court that I intended to rely upon them, the time I fuelled up at 11:02pm, the distance I travelled (14:1 miles), over a 38 minute period before the police stopped me, and the reading taken from my sat - nav device at the time I was stopped by the police.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >In addition, I told the court that the police must have taken the reading from another vehicle on the hill...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >The District judge pointed out to the prosecutor, that this seemed to be a case of Home office approved device, against a public device, and the readings produced by both.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >The case proceeded to trial weeks later...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >Prior to the commencement of the trial, held at Wakefield Magistrates court, I was given access to in-car video footage taken by the police at the time of the incident.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >The patrol car had been parked at a right angle to the motorway at the time of the alleged incident, and showed them moving off before the vehicle I was driving passed their position...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >Furthermore, some 7 seconds before the vehicle I was driving passed their position, another car sped past them and was out of sight, once they joined the motorway behind me.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >I was prevented from asking any questions about the Pro laser 3 device, because I was not an expert...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >But, I was eventually allowed to suggest that the device may have been misused by its operator...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >Both police officers denied there was any other vehicle on the hill at the time they took the reading which they attributed to me...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >However, video footage taken by the police from inside their patrol car showed this other vehicle had passed their position some 7 seconds before I did, and that the patrol car was moving off before I passed their position on the hard shoulder, and that this other vehicle was out of sight by the time the police were able to pull out onto the motorway...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" >Video footage taken by the police confirmed this to be true...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Prosecution accepted I had taken the four pictures at the time I was returning to my vehicle after the police stopped me</span>, which showed a reading on my sat - nav that I had been doing a maximum speed of 70:4 MPH during the journey I had taken from the Shell filling station earlier that evening...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >Prosecution objected to the reading taken from my sat - nav, because they said I was not an expert, but the court allowed it, saying that members of the public used these devices all of the time, and that the GPS system was accurate enough for a court to accept it as evidence in court proceedings...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >Court eventually found me not guilty, stating that police must have got the reading from another vehicle on the hill.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />--------<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >Thanks a lot for the story Mike. It just goes to show that even faced with the Police being ...uhem... ‘mistaken’ you still have a good chance of defending yourself if your case is presented properly.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >Adam</span>Adam Blairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661113465396176367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390398575155238208.post-41981163932336911932010-10-14T12:50:00.006+01:002010-10-14T14:01:08.675+01:00Is It OK For Police To Waste YOUR Time?I was driving from one meeting in Kent to another in Croydon a few weeks back.<br /><br />During the 25 mile journey I saw no less than NINE drivers pulled over in the space of about half an hour.<br /><br />The Police were apparently going on a spot-check rampage.<br /><br />I personally hate the idea of “spot checks” regardless of the arguments for and against.<br /><br />The fact is that virtually none of us are criminals. But we are made to feel like we just <span style="font-style: italic;">might</span> be.<br /><br />The very least I think should happen is that drivers should be greeted with an explanation <span style="font-style: italic;">“I’m very sorry to have pulled you over, Sir/Madam, but we are having to carry out spot checks today because</span> (insert reason). <span style="font-style: italic;">We’ll be as quick as we can and try not to hold you up any longer than necessary”.</span><br /><br />That might just about placate me for the theft of my time, and I reckon it would most people.<br /><br />But as you will know if you have ever been pulled over of one of these spot-checks (where they check your tax disc, tyres, and so on), that’s not exactly how it is.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“Where are you going; What are you doing; Your left rear tyre looks a bit low to me”</span> seems to be the routine.<br /><br />So anyway, I carried on my journey and stopped at the Esso garage on the M23 and saw this (click on the image for a larger version):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELF9ImKhrzYr8mSze-8cO6-e0Eif4eLozwjK2hwQkJGhK4HUZUPgg5Hz2T5NhGZWGyJmc_s104JqFcXLkKGwilCahtu5c2TTLdqdGmE7NZIR1V_zdZUJ-yKWBWOZeNX9RdlyeMZYw0NGd/s1600/Wasting+Police+Time.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELF9ImKhrzYr8mSze-8cO6-e0Eif4eLozwjK2hwQkJGhK4HUZUPgg5Hz2T5NhGZWGyJmc_s104JqFcXLkKGwilCahtu5c2TTLdqdGmE7NZIR1V_zdZUJ-yKWBWOZeNX9RdlyeMZYw0NGd/s400/Wasting+Police+Time.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527870921701870770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />“Many of these are forgetful drivers and <span style="font-weight: bold;">waste valuable police time</span>...”</span>!<br /><br />While I agree that it IS a waste of Police time, do they not see the irony of putting this poster up and within visual range of 2 innocent motorists who have been pulled over?<br /><br />Are they saying that it’s <span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> OK for the public to (inadvertently) waste their time, but it <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> OK for them to (deliberately) waste our time?<br /><br />After all, as taxpayers <span style="font-style: italic;">we are paying for them</span>, and not the other way around. So if anyone shouldn’t be wasting anyone else’s time...<br /><br />But what I am really interested in is what <span style="font-weight: bold;">you</span> think?<br /><br />Write your comment below... :-)<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />AdamAdam Blairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661113465396176367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390398575155238208.post-9626887714341896582010-09-15T19:28:00.014+01:002010-09-15T20:21:55.531+01:00...they make HOW much?<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >I managed to infiltrate a Speed Awareness Course on Tuesday this week...<br /><br />A friend had got a speeding ticket for doing 36mph in a 30 zone and got offered the course rather than the points because it was deemed to be “marginal speeding”.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />I don’t want to get her in trouble with anyone so I’ll re-name her “Amy”.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />I was staying at Amy and her partner's house on Monday night and even though it meant getting up early, I couldn’t pass up the chance of trying to ‘sneak in’ to the course.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />The </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >first</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" > thing that struck me was that the tone of the trainer was </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >really</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" > patronising on arrival.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >He was actually a pretty nice bloke but it seemed to me that it was designed to be systematically patronising, maybe to get people to take it seriously or something...</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />He greeted the 21 attendees - in my view - like young children who had been naughty.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />The </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >second</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" > thing that struck me was the fact that the course was being run by a PRIVATE COMPANY, called AA Drivetech.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />I must admit that I was surprised the AA would want to associate itself with the </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >third</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" > thing I noticed...</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />Which was </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >how much money they must be making from running this course</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />Here is the mental calculation I was doing while the naughty people were being told off...<br /><br />21 people attended.<br /><br />They paid about £62 each.<br /><br />That’s £1302 or £1073.80 after VAT.<br /><br />The organisers costs were 6 jugs of water, 21 disposable cups, 21 cups of coffee.<br /><br />Call that £10.<br /><br />Then the venue -- I reckon £100 for 4 hours.<br /><br />Then the trainer -- again I reckon £100.<br /><br />So if that’s right then it gives a </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >profit </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >of £863.80 ...from </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >ONE VENUE</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >!</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />I spoke to the trainer afterwards and he said that the courses are run </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >every day</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >, and there were <span>3 happening </span><span style="font-style: italic;">that day</span> in the county we were in day (I won't mention the county so as not to identify Amy).</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />He didn’t know how many are run in total but he said that “3 per country, per day” sounded about right.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />I should say here that in some counties the council run the course.<br /><br />But AA Drivetech operate in <span style="font-style: italic;">Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Hampshire & Isle of Wight, London, Northern Ireland, Northumbria, North Wales, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Surrey and Thames Valley</span>.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />That’s 13 counties. So the maths as I work it out is:</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />Each course = £800 profit.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />Times 3 per day = £2400.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />Times 13 counties = £31,200.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />Times 7 days per week = £218,400.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />Times 50 weeks a year = £10,920,000</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />...or </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >Ten Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty Thousand Pounds</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >profit</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />With hindsight they could have probably have afforded to give us some biscuits :-)</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />All the best,</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />Adam<br /><br />P.S. "Amy" is now a <a href="http://driveprotect.co.uk/promo/">DriveProtect</a> Member :-)<br /></span>Adam Blairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661113465396176367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390398575155238208.post-66604023269173979352010-05-07T09:40:00.006+01:002010-05-07T10:21:50.149+01:00fire engines used as mobile speed traps?On Sunday I drove down to the coast to see my parents with my girlfriend.<br /><br />On the way down we saw an abnormally high number of Police on the roads, and two separate mobile speed traps.<br /><br />They were both in the Talex's database -- but thanks to the kind motorists travelling in the opposite direction who flashed their headlights all the same :-)<br /><br />I must admit that because it was bank holiday weekend I'd had my eye out for any 'dodgy' speed traps like the ones we've exposed in the past...<br /><br />>> <a href="http://www.btst.co.uk/sneaky/">http://www.btst.co.uk/sneaky/ </a><br /><br />But I didn't see any...<br /><br />However, someone who believes they <span style="font-style: italic;">did </span>see one is BTST Member Janet:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">"Dear Adam, Please could you tell me if the police can use Fire Engines in their hunt for speeding motorists?<br /><br />Yesterday afternoon I was taking the dogs for a walk on the beach at Morfa Bychan, Porthamadoc and a police car passed me, heading back to town.<br /><br />Further up the road - where they have just altered the speed limit to 30 mph - there was a fire engine parked.<br /><br />There are only a couple of houses on that stretch of road, and there was definitely no fire.<br /><br />But as I got closer I noticed what was definitely a camera against the windscreen of the Fire Engine.<br /><br />Are the Welsh police being more devious than ever?<br /><br />Unfortunately I didn't have my camera and there was nowhere to park safely on my side of the road.<br /><br />I hope you can clear this matter for me. It's bad enough watching out for the police without having to watch out for fire engines as well! They don't hesitate to prosecute you for being just 2 mph over the speed limit.<br /><br />Thank you, Janet.</span><br /><br />While this is not a confirmed sighting, it's consistent with other instances we know about where Police have commandeered vehicals you wouldn't expect in order to catch motorists speeding.<br /><br />Here's pictures of just a few of them...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.btst.co.uk/sneaky/">http://www.btst.co.uk/sneaky/</a><br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Adam<br />- <a href="http://www.btst.co.uk/sneaky/">http://www.btst.co.uk/sneaky/</a>Adam Blairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661113465396176367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390398575155238208.post-62050654471579992282010-04-26T23:23:00.001+01:002010-04-26T23:40:31.563+01:00This blog has moved<br /> This blog is now located at http://btsttalex.blogspot.com/.<br /> You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click <a href='http://btsttalex.blogspot.com/'>here</a>.<br /><br /> For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to<br /> http://btsttalex.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.<br /> Adam Blairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661113465396176367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390398575155238208.post-10957597688206975692010-03-31T07:29:00.007+01:002010-03-31T07:57:35.949+01:00Survey ResultsThe survey results are in from last weeks poll... and even though the poll software slowed -- almost to a halt -- we had over 3000 votes:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://btst.co.uk/AdamsBlog/uploaded_images/Survey-Results-774327.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="http://btst.co.uk/AdamsBlog/uploaded_images/Survey-Results-774319.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">You can click on the image above if you want to see it bigger.</span><br /><br />As you can see, <span style="font-weight: bold;">the VAST majority of Members (96%) think that the Police are wasting resources on prosecuting motorists for minor speeding offences</span>.<br /><br />What I was more surprised about was what a <span style="font-style: italic;">low opinion</span> of the Police the majority of people have.<br /><br />I'm guessing here, but could a big part of the reason be that we feel victimised by the Police -- <span style="font-style: italic;">who as tax payers we pay for</span> -- being constantly 'on the hunt' for us while we use the roads that we also pay for?<br /><br />Just an idea...<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />AdamAdam Blairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661113465396176367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390398575155238208.post-33329332053513607002009-05-07T15:47:00.002+01:002009-05-07T15:47:49.848+01:00PCSO speed traps now here...<span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Hi</span></span> <p><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">I've just got off the phone to Darren, who's one of my<br />researchers (it's 0:43 in the morning as I write this -<br />they don't let me get any peace!) and he told me about<br />a new discovery the team have made this week.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Our source is a Police Constable whose name I won't<br />mention to avoid him getting into trouble with his<br />bosses. He has informed us about <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Community_Support_Officer">PCSO's</a> <strong>being in<br />charge of laser speed guns</strong> in the Kent area, and<br />possibly across the rest of the UK.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">According to our source, these PCSO's are <span style="text-decoration: underline;">untrained</span><br />in the use of the speed guns and because of this,<br />their speed readings can <span style="text-decoration: underline;">not</span> be used to <em>directly</em><br />prosecute motorists.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">HOWEVER...</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The speed measurements they collect and the "offending"<br />cars registration numbers are stored on a central<br />Intelligence Database which is accessed when a driver<br />is stopped.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Now, I will have a word with our specialist Solicitors in<br />the morning about this (they will not be amused if I call<br />them now :-) and ask them if this information could be<br />used in any prosecution. I am 90% confident that it<br />could not though.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">BUT...</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Our source says that it <em>does</em> indeed <span style="text-decoration: underline;">effect an Officers<br />decision</span> if they pull you over. In other words, if they pulled<br />you over for, say, your headlight being broken, then they<br />would access this Intelligence Database and this could<br />effect how they deal with you. Even if the original reading<br />was a load of rubbish, for a different car (mistake), or if<br />someone else was driving your car!</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">I must say that this sounds a bit dodgy to me, but I'd like<br />to ask your opinion?</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Take the poll: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://btst.co.uk/poll5/">http://btst.co.uk/poll5/</a></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks.</span></span></p><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:small;">Adam Blair</span></span>Adam Blairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661113465396176367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390398575155238208.post-13881719899944816232009-05-07T15:45:00.001+01:002009-05-07T15:45:31.407+01:00pictures of new camera...<span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are the pictures I promised you last week of the brand<br />new Speed Camera on test on the A24.<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://btst.co.uk/A24/"><br /><br />http://btst.co.uk/A24/</a><br /></span></span> <p><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">As the camera is not yet type approved (hence the test)<br />we have to make some guesses, so I consulted my camera<br />"Guru" Steve Walsh.<br /></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">You'll notice in the pictures that there are three poles<br />rather than the normal one. We believe this extra equipment<br />is part of the testing of the device and it's being used to assist<br />the evaluation for Home Office Type approval.</span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><br />There appears to be an extra infra red device facing the traffic.<br /><br />We do know that the camera is manufactured by <em>Robot</em> and<br />both myself and Steve are going to go and find out more at<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">the <em><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.traffex.com/index.cfm?do=home.welcome">Traffex</a></em><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.traffex.com/index.cfm?do=home.welcome"> show</a> at the NEC this week. If they are there we will<br />go and find out more!</span></span></p> <span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">On a different note...<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />If I told you where I am off to now you might think I have gone<br />quite mad!<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />We are filming a TV commercial today for "Project D" and I<br />bet you can't guess the celebrity we have got on board to do<br />the advert!<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />More soon...<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Adam</span></span>Adam Blairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661113465396176367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390398575155238208.post-21111501062993375512009-05-07T15:44:00.001+01:002009-05-07T15:44:57.027+01:00more about the new camera...<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">I was at the Traffex show yesterday and managed to have<br />a word with one of the top bods from Robot, who make the<br />new camera on test on the A24 and A3 (<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://btst.co.uk/A24/">http://btst.co.uk/A24/</a>).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The man from Robot requested to know who I was and<br />when I told him, he smiled and said <em>"oh yes ...I read your blog!"</em><br />(I don't have a blog, but think he means this newsletter).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">As promised, I found out a bit more about this new camera.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">According to Robot, it is in fact a <em>Radar</em> camera just like<br />the old Gatso's.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Normally I would have known this because I have a Radar<br />Detector in my car but on this occasion I was driving my girlfriends<br />car which doesn't have one (she "never" speeds...).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyhow, they were a bit evasive when I asked further questions<br />so I left it there.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"> The commercial.....</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">As mentioned the other day, we were filming the TV<br />commercial for "Project D" on Tuesday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">I haven't been back to the office yet since (writing this en route<br />back) but I understand that some of the film crew have got pictures<br />from the shoot.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">I will be having a dig through facebook later to find them and if<br />I do, I'll share them with you in the next few days...</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">You'll never guess who the stars of the commercial are!</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">All the best,</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Adam</span></span></p>Adam Blairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661113465396176367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390398575155238208.post-28168166716190338932009-05-07T15:40:00.001+01:002009-05-07T15:40:53.719+01:00QE2 bridge cameras go live this week...<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">During last week, there were SPECS average speed cameras<br />erected on the QE2 "Dartford" Bridge in Essex/Kent.<br /></span></span></p> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">They start just before the bridge and end before the tolls at the end.<br /><br />If you have driven by and not seen them last week, it's because<br />they are mounted on a road gantry rather than on the normal<br />yellow or blue poles.<br /><br />Pictures here: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://btst.co.uk/QE2BridgeCameras/">http://btst.co.uk/QE2BridgeCameras/</a><em><br /><br />(from 2 different spotters so that we got all the cameras)</em><br /><br />Often there is a big delay between the cameras being put up<br />and actually going live, but our source tells us that <span style="text-decoration: underline;">they are<br />going live this week</span>.<br /><br />The SPECS area on the other side of the road is also being<br />extended but we understand that the extra cameras haven't<br />been cabled in yet.<br /><br />If you own a BTST Locator then the bridge cameras are being<br />added in the morning ( along with 52 other changes last week) so<br />I strongly suggest you update yours tomorrow!<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Adam</span></span>Adam Blairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661113465396176367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390398575155238208.post-6913543673154259432009-05-07T15:39:00.000+01:002009-05-07T15:40:06.685+01:00sneaky bus lane camera...<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hope you had a good bank holiday weekend?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I went down to the west country with my girlfriend and as I write this on Monday, am just watching <span style="font-style: italic;">Battle of Britain</span> on the TV and waiting for my roast dinner!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway, I saw this in Orpington in Kent last Friday:</span><br /><a href="http://btst.co.uk/SmartBuslaneCamera/"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">http://btst.co.uk/SmartBuslaneCamera/</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">When I asked the driver what she was doing, she tried to ignore me. I persisted and she eventually wound the window down enough mumble something in broken English.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">So I asked <span style="font-style: italic;">“is it a speed camera?”</span> (I was playing dumb). She told me that it was a bus lane camera.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s a crafty little trap to catch drivers who put two or four wheels in the bus lane.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I know from experience that these guys aren’t just out to catch people actually <span style="font-style: italic;">using </span>the bus lane – they often get you for just ducking into it to overtake someone turning right or waiting to park on the opposite side of the road.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I took a few snaps of the little smart car on my iphone and the pictures are here:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://btst.co.uk/SmartBuslaneCamera/"><span style="font-family: arial;">http://btst.co.uk/SmartBuslaneCamera/</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Now this car was well hidden and it’s unlikely that anyone would have spotted it as they passed because of the cars size, the fact that it was further in towards the kerb than the normal sized cars in front of and behind it and because it was on the opposite side of the road to the bus lane.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I got one of my researchers on it straight away and we understand that the fine is £60, although this has not yet been “officially” confirmed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">So make sure you look out for a little black car when you put a wheel over that little white line…</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">All the best,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Adam</span></span>Adam Blairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16661113465396176367noreply@blogger.com