NewNiceMrMe Posted September 28, 2005 Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 On Saturday I passed a VOSA car parked in a layby on the A19. Am I right in saying they don't use mobile speed camera's in these and that they're only used for tax dodging or illegal fuel use? I hope so, because I was doing 95. However, I passed another, parked behind a bush in a layby, today! This time I was doing 82 on the M1. I'm a tad worried. They're all labelled up in green and yellow chequers and they look like POlice cars - but they're not of course. So the question is simple... DO VOSA CARS CARRY/USE MOBILE SPEED CAMERA UNITS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOSE Posted September 28, 2005 Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 I've often wondered this as well, cos they do look very similar to mobile camera vans. Lots of them about this area, and a hell of a lot of unmarked grey Skoda Octavias lately too, specially along the A331, A3 and M3. Just the uniform gives it away abit!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted September 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 Both of these were heavily marked as VOSA cars (and both were the little Mercedes A Class units). I've visited the VOSA web site and I think I'm okay because there is no reference at all to speeding units other than those monitoring HGV's (as VOSA is largely a commercial vehicle monitoring service for the government). I just don't trust the government where speeding is concerned anymore so they could have all kinds of b*stards out there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GCab Posted September 28, 2005 Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I was doing 95. [/ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] DO VOSA CARS CARRY/USE MOBILE SPEED CAMERA UNITS? [/ QUOTE ] Well, there's one certain way to find out, and it sounds as if you've taken it Hope not, anyway - good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted September 28, 2005 Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 Who are this VOSA lot ? I see them all the time on the M3 in spanking new Range Rovers, ususally after they've pulled over a truck ? Are they cops ? can they pull you for speeding? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOSE Posted September 28, 2005 Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 Hand on heart time, I've been past one of these at quite a high speed on the M25 heading towards J12 (M3). From a distance I though it was paramedic wagon, until I got a bit closer then slowed down abit, but still went past it at a fair pace. I didnt get pulled over, but did get a "look". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotdog Posted September 28, 2005 Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 The VOSA crew are indeed concerned with commercial vehicles. They would normally be found at checkpoints along with traffic division police, stopping and checking vehicles and their drivers for operating infringements and offences. They don't carry speed measuring equipment except for checking Tacho's with. However, the traffic officers that may accompany them will have speed guns. So, if the VOSA vehicle was on its own, you should be OK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted September 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Who are this VOSA lot ? I see them all the time on the M3 in spanking new Range Rovers, ususally after they've pulled over a truck ? Are they cops ? can they pull you for speeding? [/ QUOTE ] They're a very powerful government agency for vehicle services - but mainly commercial. Here, have a look..... VOSA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted September 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 [ QUOTE ] So, if the VOSA vehicle was on its own, you should be OK [/ QUOTE ] Well they were both on their own. The first unit (on the A19) had it's rear hatch open with equipment pointing out towards the road....that's what started me worrying a bit. I'm 95% sure they were taking vehicle details (HGV) for taxation, MOT and tacho purposes. It just set my mind racing though. I have a clean licence and I like it that way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted September 28, 2005 Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Who are this VOSA lot ? I see them all the time on the M3 in spanking new Range Rovers, ususally after they've pulled over a truck ? Are they cops ? can they pull you for speeding? [/ QUOTE ] They're a very powerful government agency for vehicle services - but mainly commercial. Here, have a look..... VOSA [/ QUOTE ] cheers - as soon as I posted that I remembered that google is my friend They do look very much like cop cars from a distance - espeically in Range Rover spec ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotdog Posted September 28, 2005 Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 The cameras are as you said for checking tax discs and operator licence details. They Also catch PSV drivers who have people standing next to them chatting away whilst driving an empty coach!! I don't know of any cases where the VOSA have prosecuted any car drivers for speeding using video kit. Hope you're not the first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted September 28, 2005 Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 Good luck. I can safely say that the fecker on the A40 a couple of days ago was a gratuitous revenue generator. I suspect that I will be contributing. (the normal rant about a 40mph limit on a three-lane dual carriageway, and being a damn sight safer doing a little over the limit there than all the morons who weave in and out of the traffic and cut in at the last moment) (and the usual admission that it will only be my fault if I do get done) (bugger) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted September 28, 2005 Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 Nothing to worry about Chris, they may of gave you a look but they have no powers to pull you over unless they feel that your car is producing high emmisions (i.e. removed CAT so a FPN can be served) or no MOT. On top of this they can only pull you over with IF they have been granted said powers by the Chief Constable of the Police in that force area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted September 28, 2005 Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 Theres loads round the A14, A1198 at the moment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botang Posted September 28, 2005 Report Share Posted September 28, 2005 They are also the ones that will get involved with tinted windows and the like, you some times see them around the boy racer cruises looking for various different offences, but as said above they are generally with traffic officers if it involves stopping vheicles. They did spot checks on a load of Limo's at Royal Ascot @ York this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted September 29, 2005 Report Share Posted September 29, 2005 As long as they were just VOSA vehicles you have nothing to worry about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted September 29, 2005 Report Share Posted September 29, 2005 Even at 82 on the M1 you should be OK. If you check your speedo reading against a sat-nav (ie digital v analogue measurement), you'll prob find that 82 speedo is 78ish actual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted September 29, 2005 Report Share Posted September 29, 2005 Isn't sat nav supposed to have a 2 second delay on your actual speed though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted September 29, 2005 Report Share Posted September 29, 2005 Depending on the car, mine is doing 78 when it reads 85 on the speedo. There is a slight delay in the speed but 82 will still be a good 3/4 mph less at least on most cars. It has to read over by law as far as I am aware, buy how much is up to individual manufactures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisg Posted September 29, 2005 Report Share Posted September 29, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Nothing to worry about Chris, they may of gave you a look but they have no powers to pull you over unless they feel that your car is producing high emmisions (i.e. removed CAT so a FPN can be served) or no MOT. On top of this they can only pull you over with IF they have been granted said powers by the Chief Constable of the Police in that force area. [/ QUOTE ] Yep unless the Law has been chamged. Few years ago I was involved in school transport buses and the forunners to VOSA used to tip me off if they were decsending on a school to check the buses out BUT they had no authority to, legally, stop vehicles so they always bought a traffic man with them --- not that it was really needed koz you'd have to be brain dead to ignore their polite please stop signals !! Yes the woiuld take coaches off the road there and then if there was a serious problem. So they should - shame they don't do it to some of the cars we all see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisg Posted September 29, 2005 Report Share Posted September 29, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Depending on the car, mine is doing 78 when it reads 85 on the speedo. There is a slight delay in the speed but 82 will still be a good 3/4 mph less at least on most cars. It has to read over by law as far as I am aware, buy how much is up to individual manufactures. [/ QUOTE ] Thought Construction and Use stated within 10% ??? So - in theory you can do 33mph in a 30 limit 77mph on the motorway and still be OK. Any takers for a practical demo !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted September 29, 2005 Report Share Posted September 29, 2005 Well I'm going upto York on Saturday, so if I see a copper car on the M1 I'll give it a go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Thought Construction and Use stated within 10% ??? So - in theory you can do 33mph in a 30 limit 77mph on the motorway and still be OK. [/ QUOTE ] I always thought that was the case too. I was thinking though, if you're on a motorway and you're safe up to 77 mph, if your clock is reading +10% you could effectively drive at a clock speed of 85 mph (with a true speed of 77 mph) and still be inside "the law". There's a thought Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 Well I have been relying on the tomtom when cruising at a constant speed, and no tickets yet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NunchukHamster Posted September 30, 2005 Report Share Posted September 30, 2005 I was coming back from the Lakes down the M6 a few weeks back, and the Highways Agency also seem to have got themselves some off-roaders ( Toyota Amazons or similar I think) all done up with the big chequered sides (yellow and black when you get close). These look just like plod when you first see 'em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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