If you visit North Wales/beware

[merlodlliw]

This may interest you, if you visit North Wales,
HomeNewsNorth Wales News

North Wales Police use horsebox to trap motorists

Mar 31 2008 by Carl Butler, Daily Post
It was proved this weekend North Wales Police are using a horsebox in their latest move to stop speeding motorists.
Police would not confirm or deny rumours that a horsebox was going to be the latest anti-speeding weapon.
But a photographer spotted the horsebox parked on a verge in the Conwy Valley yesterday – with two officers inside apparently manning a speed camera.
When asked about the horsebox ploy, a North Wales Police spokeswoman said: “As days get longer we can anticipate many more motorcyclists riding in North Wales.
“Tragically some of these will die or some will be seriously injured and in some cases excess speed will be a significant factor in these incidents.
“With our partners we are seeking to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries to motorcyclists and other road users through education, rider awareness, engineering and enforcement.
“Our enforcement activity will increase as the days get longer, but we’re not prepared to comment now on the precise tactics that will be used. We would ask that all road users obey the law and ride and drive responsibly.”
Yesterday the horsebox was parked alongside the road at Maenan, near Llanrwst – a straight stretch with a 60mph limit but renowned for speeding.
A police sergeant told photographers who spotted it: “I want my wife to be safe on the road just like I want you to be safe on the road.”
North Wales chief constable Richard Brunstrom has previously raised the prospect of speed cameras being hidden in cats’ eyes. But despite the crackdown on motorists, road deaths and serious injuries are up.
His Arrive Alive speed cameras caught 55,704 offenders in 2007, and another 5,610 were nabbed by officers with hand-held laser devices.
Yesterday Llandudno businessman Arthur Roberts, of the pressure group ‘People for Proper Policing’ claimed: “This horsebox will be another serious distraction for motorists and doesn’t really address road safety. It’s another cynical way of raising revenue. I don’t think they will just target motorcycles.”
He added: “It’s a great talking point among drivers and motorcyclists. Some are suggesting it should have a slot in the top and be called Piggy Bank.”
Law changes
LAST year rules which meant police partnerships were required to make cameras conspicuous and clearly signposted, were changed.
But they were no longer allowed to keep a proportion of the money they made from speeding fines, following protests that police had a financial incentive to catch drivers.
The partnerships now receive a fixed grant but they are no longer bound by the rules that stated that fixed speed cameras had to be visible.
The rule change also meant partnerships did not have to publicise the location of mobile cameras and that partnerships no longer had to focus almost all their enforcement on roads where there had been several deaths or serious injuries.
Police argued it was better to tackle a potential hot spot before anyone died.
When the Department of Transport changed the rules to give partnerships greater flexibility, in January 2007, it issued them with guidelines which included: “Vehicles from which enforcement may take place should be liveried and clearly identifiable as an enforcement vehicle.
“Visibility of the livery should be maintained during enforcement, eg where it is necessary for the doors to be open, markings or livery should be apparent to approaching traffic in the direction of enforcement. If the enforcement officer is undertaking enforcement away from the vehicle, the enforcement officer should be conspicuous by wearing high-visibility clothing.”
But it went on to say: “This element of the Department's guidance has no bearing on the enforcement of offences and non-compliance does not provide any mitigation of, of defence for, an alleged offence. Neither does it restrict or fetter the police's discretion to enforce covertly anywhere, at any time.”
Last night the RAC said it did not agree with concealing speed cameras. A spokesman said: “The general idea behind a speed camera is that it should be a visible reminder of what road statistics say is a hot spot.
“By concealing them it seems you are missing the point a little bit. You should have them post signage as a way of saying you need to slow down on this particular stretch of road.
“If you conceal a speed camera, why are you concealing it?
“We do not encourage anyone to speed. There are 400 road deaths a year which can be attributed to speed and it needs to be kept in check, there are ways of doing that and concealing a speed camera does not seem to be the way.”

I am sorry for this, but today the North Wales POLICE HQ at Colwyn Bay
was almost burned to the ground, by roofers, dial in Daily Post and see the pics, but no smiling allowed.

[pontiend]

Bob, Are you sure the date was 31.3.08 and not 1.4.08.

[merlodlliw]

Originally Posted by pontiend

Bob, Are you sure the date was 31.3.08 and not 1.4.08.

It is correct the story was carried on the 31st,it had been rumours of the day what this Chief Constable would do next,a pig trailer was too much to hope for,now every horse owner can expect their trailor to be trashed.

It is awful here, every motorist is classed as a criminal, yet the real criminals are not touched.

Bob

[pontiend]

I like the one about cats eyes.what will they think of next.
They must have a shed full of people thinking these things up.

[merlodlliw]

Originally Posted by pontiend

I like the one about cats eyes.what will they think of next.

And we are paying for this,and even Chief Constables from other areas
come to North Wales to commit suicide.

Suppose it could be worse. But doubt it.


Bob

[pontiend]

What could be worse that the cats eyes winking at you after taking a photo.

[merlodlliw]

Originally Posted by pontiend

What could be worse that the cats eyes winking at you after taking a photo.

It sounds a load of old winkers to me, however they use this technology on race tracks.

Bob

[lincsat]

I saw the photo of the Horse Box speed camera - did anyone else notice that it was parked illegally

[stevo25]

north wales BAAA BAAAAA

[merlodlliw]

Originally Posted by lincsat

I saw the photo of the Horse Box speed camera - did anyone else notice that it was parked illegally

Yes. Hope the box was still full of bullshit.



B O B