Wednesday 6 August 2014

Folk Lore??

A fortnight ago today I drove through a Police Speed Trap.   I didn't see it until the last minute but on the whole I never exceed the speed limit.   I glanced at the speedometer - and I think I was doing 32 miles per hour, certainly no more than that. (it was a 30mph limit).

So since then I have been waiting with trepidation to see if I would get a notice to say I was over the speed limit.   But what has surprised me is the folk lore that surrounds such events.   Here are some of the things I have been told:

Whether you get caught or not depends on who is pointing the camera - they could let you off if they like the sight of you.
All speedometers are set in such a way that if you think you are doing 32 you will only be doing thirty anyway.
 
They will allow you 10%.
They won't allow you 10%
By law (!) they have to send you the notice within fourteen days.

Well, fourteen days is up today and I have heard nothing.  I will keep you posted. 


15 comments:

Rachel Phillips said...

During the week when I was too lazy to catch the train to work I took the car. (This was recent, my blog refers). During that week I received my first speeding conviction ever -I went 38 mph in a 30 mph limit in the rush hour. I am surprised this was possible. However, I wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible so paid a fine, told nobody, and got three points and got it over with as quickly as possible.. That will teach me to be too lazy for the train. Good luck.

MorningAJ said...

Good luck. I hope you don't get a ticket!

Tom Stephenson said...

Most of those lores are true. I got done for 68 in a 50 zone, so didn't qualify for the slap on the wrist - too fast.

I was racing an Audi at the time. It has cost me about £600 so far.

jinxxxygirl said...

I always considered 5 mph a buffer zone...as long as i wasn't doing more than 5 miles per hour over the speed limit then i was okay...so far no tickets! :) Fingers crossed for ya! Hugs! deb

Heather said...

You should be safe only doing 2mph over the required 30 - I hope so anyway. So many drivers seem to drive at least 10mph over whatever they are supposed to be doing.

Maureen @ Josephina Ballerina said...

Almost always drive at or a little below speed limit. I'd rather spend my money on Dark Sea-Salted chocolate than a speeding ticket!

Cloudia said...

Glad you seem blameless!
We hate photo-tickets and complained loudly until "speeding vans" and their cameras were withdrawn. Some places do have red light cameras and might be surprised with a ticket as you feared. But by in large, if we make it home citation-free we feel safe (at least in respect to speeding, etc. )

ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^= . <3 . >< } } (°>




Cro Magnon said...

Here we have those wretched machines that flash when taking a speeding car's number. Seeing that flash must be one of the worst feelings possible; I've experienced it twice..... my own fault of course.

Amy said...

hpefully you won't receive a ticket. last one I got was because I parked on a yellow line at the surf beach, there was absolutely no parking and we were hot and bothered and in need of a swim so we were a bit desperate.

mrsnesbitt said...

I was caught doing 34 in a 30 limit. I was invited to a speed awareness course instead of the fine & points. Quite a good day out really - free tea and biscuits! lol!

Em Parkinson said...

I thought the 10% thing was real but who knows. Sounds like you're going to be okay.........I hope.

Virginia said...

I've read a lot recently to the effect that most car speedometers are inaccurate and almost always read a speed higher than the car is actually traveling, It'a a hot topic at home as there are new more sophisticated cameras being deployed.

Good luck!

PS As a confession of sin goes, that's a pretty minor one!! Tom, now you are a naughty boy!

Gwil W said...

In 1967 I was caught doing 52 in a 30 zone. Since then I've been obeying the traffic laws!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Now today someone has told me that sometimes you have to wait a month to hear whether you have been fined or not!! So another two weeks to go.

Tom - words fail me (and that doesn't happen often!)

Unknown said...

Well, it can be a good thing that you didn’t receive any calls or notice after. Still, it’s always best for everyone to always be under the speed limit, unless there's an emergency, so that any kind of trouble on the road can be avoided.

Norma Richards @ Just Bail Bonds