Speed camera photo with another vehicle in it. Can I get off?

[FJRider]

I'm angry over the expectation that I should ride around with my eyes glued on my speedo so that I don't go 5 km/hr over the posted limit.

The photo doesn't allow me to see the rego plate because of poor printing quality and the paper on which it is printed, but the bike is definitely out of focus. I presume the Police have a 5Gb, 1000x600 mm image on their computer which allowed them to read the rego plate.

On the information bar at the top of the photo, the speed reads just "85 km/hr", no +ve or -ve. There is an "away/towards" entry, this photo has "away", after the speed entry.

Just to clear a few things up ...

Exceeding the speed limit is an offence (or at least ... a traffic infringement) how YOU achieve that is your problem ...

So you dont refute their claim it was YOU in the photo ... just you cant read the rego in the photo provided ...

So you were photographed while you were traveling away from the camera ... so the car in the photo would need to have been traveling in reverse at 85 km/hrto be the subject of interest in the photo sent to you ...

Perhaps you are guilty as charged ...

[Kickaha]

just interested in revenue.

That must be why a while back they reduced the fines and upped the demerits

[wysper]

Just to clear up a couple of things.

I'm angry over the expectation that I should ride around with my eyes glued on my speedo so that I don't go 5 km/hr over the posted limit.

After riding on your bike (what ever it is) you should be able to judge the speed pretty accurately with out having to have your eyes glued to the speedo. Do you do that in the car?

When you get to an area where the speed has changed, surely it is not difficult to adjust to the new speed, and pretty much keep to it. The bike will generally only go faster if you apply more throttle.

It is your choice as a rider to choose how close to the speed limit you sit, either just under it, bang on it, just over it or well over it. If you travel just over it be prepared to get nabbed sometimes. There are plenty of times when you will have been travelling over the speed limit and not got nabbed.

Oh and the you is a general you not a specific getting at you you.

[Jantar]

After riding on your bike (what ever it is) you should be able to judge the speed pretty accurately with out having to have your eyes glued to the speedo. .....

Strange. After riding for 40 years I have not yet developed this skill. I can tell when I riding too fast or too slow for the conditions, but not whether I'm too fast or too slow for any abitary speed limit. I have tried looking at the speedo just every now and again, but even that means taking my eyes off the road for 3 seconds. So like Old Steve, my preference is to ride safely, rather than absolutely legally.

Maybe you could assist by teaching us how to jusdge the speed so accurately without reference to a speedo.

[steve_t]

Strange. After riding for 40 years I have not yet developed this skill. I can tell when I riding too fast or too slow for the conditions, but not whether I'm too fast or too slow for any abitary speed limit. I have tried looking at the speedo just every now and again, but even that means taking my eyes off the road for 3 seconds. So like Old Steve, my preference is to ride safely, rather than absolutely legally.

Maybe you could assist by teaching us how to jusdge the speed so accurately without reference to a speedo.

+1 I thought I could maintain speed by listening to the pitch of the exhaust but it's so easy to creep up (or down for that matter) that you really do need to look at your speedo regularly to maintain speed within a small tolerance

[scumdog]

After riding on your bike (what ever it is) you should be able to judge the speed pretty accurately with out having to have your eyes glued to the speedo. Do you do that in the car?

I have tried this not looking at the speedo thing - rarely very far out when I do look.

And it only takes a glance at the speedo - not 3 or four seconds, shit, why do people claim it takes them that long? - are they trying to hypnotise it or something??

You don't actuall have to read the number, do you?

[red mermaid]

Perhaps they are not as competent a rider/driver as you...and I?

And that would be why they 'have to spend 3 sec' looking at the speedo.

[Jantar]

I have tried this not looking at the speedo thing - rarely very far out when I do look.

And it only takes a glance at the speedo - not 3 or four seconds, shit, why do people claim it takes them that long? - are they trying to hypnotise it or something??

You don't actuall have to read the number, do you?

Tom, you have sat on my bike, and yes, it does take that long to look at the speedo, estimate just where between the 10 kmh divisions it is, then subtract the speedo error. While looking at the speedo I have dropped my vision so far that the road isn't even in perepheral vision.

Alternatively I can look at the GPs and get my speed exactly, but that means dropping my eyes even further from the road.

[scumdog]

Tom, you have sat on my bike, and yes, it does take that long to look at the speedo, estimate just where between the 10 kmh divisions it is, then subtract the speedo error. While looking at the speedo I have dropped my vision so far that the road isn't even in perepheral vision.

Alternatively I can look at the GPs and get my speed exactly, but that means dropping my eyes even further from the road.

I guess I was lucky in that Harley (and my particular Suzuki) seem to have placed the speedo in a place where a mere flick of the eye lets you see where the needle is.

You soon learn where the relevant numbers are so it's just a matter of noticing where the needle is, no need to 'read' the speed.

[MSTRS:Me]

Place a thin strip of signwriter's vinyl on your speedo. Then a glance will show you the needle either above (tsk tsk) or below (tax safe).
I did this with mine, particularly because it's a MPH model.
White at 50kph, green at 100kph, red at OhShitMyLicenceIsGone!

[FJRider]

At 110 km/hr ... my FJ is ticking over at 4500 RPM (in top gear) ... so I spend more time checking the rev counter than the speedo ...

[scumdog]

At 110 km/hr ... my FJ is ticking over at 4500 RPM (in top gear) ... so I spend more time checking the rev counter than the speedo ...

Just under 3,000rpm = a tad under 110kph for me.

[FJRider]

Just under 3,000rpm = a tad under 110kph for me.

Yep ... but yours is only running on two cylinders ...

[C.Linnell]

Obviously ... ??? Can't be sure ... ??? So he can't remember where he was a few weeks previous ... ??? and especially can't remember if he was in the area / at the time stated on the original ticket ... ??? and... the "person" on the bike "just happens" to be wearing the same riding gear the OP has ... (OK coincidence ... right ... ???)

If the OP "can't" remember any / ALL of that ... he shouldn't be on the road ... in control of a bike OR in control of a car ...

Personally ... in MY opinion ... Your theory lacks (a LOT of)credibility ....

Well I think we're agreed that the OP

a) is aware the bike is his,
b) knows he was doing 85 kph,
c) is annoyed to have been caught,
d) thinks that a 5kph limit increases the risk of crashing due to distraction too much to be worth it (rightly or wrongly, who knows)
e) wants to get off the fine for reasons stated above
f) wants to stick it to the man, who he believes is being unfair

So half of KB comes along and plays along with the exercise in theoretical fine dodging for the fun of it... I have no "theory" as such...

Big for you, FJ!

[CookMySock]

So half of KB comes along and plays along with the exercise in theoretical fine dodging for the fun of it...

Of course! We're bikers!

The inexpensive fines are worth playing out in my opinion. They are good for trying shit on to see if you can get off it. If it goes all pear-shaped, its still not a lot of money.

I got stopped back in early jan and I gave the man some lip after (politely even!) consenting to his breathalyser test - which I think is a good thing) so the prick gets the fine tooth comb out and discovers that I happen to have left my license at home.

I won't pay his fine. I returned both his notices after writing CANCELLED and NO CONTRACT across them. If he tries to approach me again in writing I will revoke all implied consent and forbid him or his agent to approach me in writing or otherwise. If he or his agent attempts to contact me further, I will file a legal document in the courts alleging harassment. He won't win.

Fuck them. It's my money not theirs. I won't play their game any more. The king can go get a fucking proper job instead of bullying the general public into parting with their money.