Police Suspend Use Of All Laser Speed Guns

slarty bartfast · Post by **slarty bartfast** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:07 am

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/to ... 0&t=448660

8)

duncan · Post by **duncan** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:17 am

mmm

Chris ??? - comments?

lsop · Post by **lsop** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:17 pm

News to me!!!

I suppose it depends on what speed detection they use in Kent. Just read the actual court case post http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default ... ryId=16921

He obviously put up a good case at court and I wonder if the manufactorer was called as a witness which they should be in a case like this? I also wonder if there were some other problems, re:calibration dates maybe?!Like most things, the whole story never gets published!!

The way we should conduct speed checks is we observe a vehicle exceeding the speed limit in our professional opinions and then use a 2nd mechanical or electronic device to confirm this. This can be the speedometer, radar/laser device, VASCAR system, etc.

We have just got the latest ProLaser 3's, apparently the best on the market.

lsop · Post by **lsop** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:21 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/7033353.stm

and so you read a little bit more....

A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: "The officer who operated the camera has since retired.

"Without his verbal evidence, we could not prove the case to the required standard."

So basically the CPS dropped the case because the main witness was not going to turn up at court.. Without his evidence then you have no case!!!

slarty bartfast · Post by **slarty bartfast** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:24 pm

Are these two cases actually linked???

As pointed out, the case was not dropped because the gun was deemed as inaccurate, so it seems strange to then stop the use of the guns, unless there is more to the story.

slarty bartfast · Post by **slarty bartfast** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:28 pm

PS could one of these new guns be demonstrated at, for instance, a track day???

lsop · Post by **lsop** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:28 pm

slarty bartfast wrote:Are these two cases actually linked???

As pointed out, the case was not dropped because the gun was deemed as inaccurate, so it seems strange to then stop the use of the guns, unless there is more to the story.

Ahh yeh my bad!! I read the pistonheads thread quickly!!

Sunderland isn't nowhere near Kent!!!

I'll try and do some digging !!!

lsop · Post by **lsop** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:34 pm

duncan · Post by **duncan** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:14 pm

progress but they should still get rid of all fixed cameras.

While they are at it they should go back to having the correct number of police people on the streets/roads rather than jo public in fancy dress outfits thinking they are cops and just there to make the numbers look good and scrimpt on training.

lsop · Post by **lsop** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:37 pm

In a statement issued this evening, Inspector Geoff Wood from Kent Police said:
"There is no problem with the use of laser speed guns. The court case revolved
around a technical calibration issue which is being resolved. Police in the
South Kent area are to recalibrate their laser speed guns."

Taken from another website...

Seems that the problem lies with Kents calibration of their devices. Whether it has been done wrongly or hasn't been done at all I'm sure it will all come out!

1st thing you do before you leave the office is check the calibration date of the laser and then check distance it over a measured distance.. :?

The above memo was leaked to MCN apparently!! Someones in for a bollocking!