Those mobile safe speed vans

[SneakyStuff]

I live in the state of Maryland and was curious to know if anyone here either has these vans in their home state or knows how they work. I've been fortunate so far in the fact that I haven't recieved any tickets but the noose is gradually getting tighter as more and more of these vans have been appearing all over my county!!! I am under the impression that the vans snap your liscense plate as you are driving past them, not towards them. Is this correct or do they work both ways? These are the dodge caravans with tinted windows that are parked on the sides of the road with an orange cone in front of them. Thanks!

(And I don't want to hear any "well don't speed and you'll be fine!" posts because that doesn't answer the question and don't tell me you have never exceeded the speed limit in your life... )

 

[GRIFFIN1]

A few weeks ago, I saw a white van pulling people over here in Louisiana.

Does the white van you are talking about take pictures and mail out tickets? If so, then that's pretty nasty.

 

[SneakyStuff]

Originally posted by: GRIFFIN1
A few weeks ago, I saw a white van pulling people over here in Louisiana.

Does the white van you are talking about take pictures and mail out tickets? If so, then that's pretty nasty.

Yea, there is a civilian operator in it some of the time, other times it is just left parked with an automated camera in it. They measure your speed (don't know which direction they do it from) and then take a picture and 14 days later... SUPRISE!!! $40 ticket in the mail, no points, but extremely annoying no?

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Don't speed?

 

[Scouzer]

Are you serious? You guys don't have Photo Radar in the US?

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: SneakyStuff

Originally posted by: GRIFFIN1
A few weeks ago, I saw a white van pulling people over here in Louisiana.

Does the white van you are talking about take pictures and mail out tickets? If so, then that's pretty nasty.

Yea, there is a civilian operator in it some of the time, other times it is just left parked with an automated camera in it. They measure your speed (don't know which direction they do it from) and then take a picture and 14 days later... SUPRISE!!! $40 ticket in the mail, no points, but extremely annoying no?

doppler effect radar ftw/ftl

 

[daniel1113]

My guess is that these tickets are not through the court, and therefore completely unenforceable. They probably bank on people not knowing better and just sending in the check (and thus admitting guilt). Again, this is just a guess.

 

[SneakyStuff]

Well in Maryland the company that is hired by the state to process the photos sends them to the police, who then determine if a violation has been made. Ultimately the police send you the ticket, it can be appealed but they are banking on you not wanting to waste your time for $40. ANYWAY, i'm still looking for an answer about the direction the picture is taken from IN THE VAN. Anyone here gotten nabbed in Maryland or the District of Columbia?