Do Mobile Speed Camera Vans Take a Picture of the Driver?
Have you recently received a speeding ticket? If so, you’re not alone. Each month, our site is visited by over 32,000 people who are looking for advice on tickets and fines.
Getting a ticket can be a big worry, but there’s no need to fear. In this article, we’ll help you understand:
- How mobile speed camera vans work and if they take a picture of the driver
- The costs of a speeding fine and how to manage them
- The process to appeal against a speeding ticket
- The rules around police camera vans
- How to know if you have been caught by a speed camera
I understand how you might be feeling right now. Don’t worry; I’m here to guide you through your speeding ticket and help you make sense of what to do next.
Let’s dive in.
Do You Have to Pay?
In some circumstances, you might have a legitimate reason not to pay your fine.
It’s a bit sneaky, but the last time I needed legal advice, I paid £5 for a trial to chat with an online solicitor called JustAnswer.
Not only did I save £50 on solicitor feeds, I also won my case and didn’t have to pay my £271 fine.
Chat below to get started with JustAnswer
In partnership with Just Answer.
Do mobile speed camera vans take a photo of the driver?
Not necessarily. A mobile speed camera van catches an image of a speeding vehicle rather than the person driving. However, depending on where the camera is placed, an image of the driver could be captured too.
Mobile speed cameras are not designed to capture the image of drivers, just speeding vehicles.
What happens after you receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution?
If you’re the registered keeper and you got the Notice of Intended Prosecution, make sure you respond and return the notice within 28 days. The notice includes a section 172 request which you must fill out.
If you weren’t the driver, you’ve got a legal obligation to let the police know who was. Or you could face prosecution and a hefty fine plus penalty points on your licence.
The police have to send the offending driver a Fixed Penalty Notice within six months. If you were the driver and registered keeper, you can accept the fine by pleading guilty.
However, you could plead not guilty and be taken to court. But if you lose your case, you’ll end up with a heavier fine, more penalty points plus court costs!
Do police camera vans have to be marked?
No. According to the guidelines, police camera vans should have fluorescent stripes on them, but it’s optional. However, being seen works well at slowing motorists down!
Where are mobile speed camera vans usually parked?
Mobile speed camera vans are typically placed in areas where there’s a high number of traffic accidents. Moreover, how they are placed depends on which police force has them in operation.
Sometimes the vans are not clearly visible, whereas other times they are.
At what distance can you be snapped by a mobile speed camera?
You could be caught speeding by a mobile speed camera from up to a mile away. In short, you may not be aware of a speed camera up ahead early enough to slow down!
Moreover, the van doesn’t have to be on the same side of the road as you. It means you can be caught speeding by a mobile van even when it’s positioned on the other side of the road.
Successful Appeal Case Study
Situation
| Initial Fine | £100 |
| Additional Fees | £171 |
| Total Fine | £271 |
The Appeal Process
Scott used JustAnswer, online legal service to enhance his appeal. The trial of this cost him just £5.
| Total Fine | £271 |
| Cost of legal advice | £5 |
JustAnswer helped Scott craft the best appeal possible and he was able to win his case.
Scott’s fine was cancelled and he only paid £5 for the legal help.
In partnership with Just Answer.
Can you challenge a mobile camera speeding fine?
The only way you could challenge a mobile camera speeding fine is to plead not guilty to the offence. But you may have to face the following:
- Attend a court hearing
- Pay a larger fine if you lose
- Get more penalty points on your licence if you lose
- Pay court costs if you lose
The evidence against you is caught on camera, which is difficult to disprove!
That said if you weren’t the driver when the speeding fine was served, or your car was stolen, and you can prove it, you may be able to challenge a speeding fine.
How do you know when you’re flashed by a speed camera?
You may not know if you were caught speeding by a mobile speed camera straight away. But you’ll know when a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) drops through your letterbox. The notice must arrive in the post within 14 days of the offence.
» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer
If the notice arrives any later, you can’t be prosecuted for the offence. However, again, this is not set in stone. Why? Because when you’re caught speeding in a hired vehicle or borrowed car, the notice is sent to the registered keeper.
So, the hiring company or the vehicle owner receives the notice meaning the police fulfilled a legal obligation to serve the notice within the deadline!
I’ve included an example of such an incident here:
Source: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6257296/speeding-photo-evidence-of-driver
Join thousands of others who got legal help for a £5 trial
Getting the support of a Solicitor can take a huge weight off your mind.
Reviews shown are for JustAnswer.
Do the police allow a 10% tolerance?
You may have heard about a tolerance afforded to motorists who go over the speed limit. It’s thought that mobile speed cameras are calibrated to factor in a 10%+2mph over a set speed limit.
However, it’s not set in stone, so it’d be a mistake to think you’d automatically be allowed the tolerance before being fined.
A speed limit is set at the maximum you should drive and not a “suggested target speed” according to Go Safe.
Hire a Parking Solicitor for less than a coffee.
If you’re thinking about appealing your parking ticket then getting some professional advice is a good idea.
Getting the support of a Solicitor can make your appeal much more likely to win.
For a £5 trial, Solicitors from JustAnswer can look at your case and help you create an airtight appeal.
Try it below
In partnership with Just Answer.
