Breaking News! Police suspend use of all laser speed guns

**StlouisX50** · 10-09-2007, 09:20 AM

Police suspend use of all laser speed guns – and ban officers from exceeding 100mph
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/Ne...?&R=EPI-95411#

By Steve Farrell

Politics & the law

09 October 2007 11:08

Police in Kent have suspended use of all laser speed guns following a court case, MCN can exclusively reveal.

An email sent globally to all officers in south Kent, leaked to MCN, stated: ‘Following a court case at Folkestone yesterday and in liaison with the Criminal Justice Unit (traffic) a review of speed enforcement policy is to be made regarding the use of all laser speed guns in South Kent.

‘Pending this review, NO further FPN’s [fixed penalty notices] or summons should be issued.’

A source has told MCN the action is force-wide.
The email was dated October 4 and said it was hoped the review would be completed within two weeks. It was signed by roads policing officer Phil Sharp and said officers would be notified of ‘any changes in policy required before any further enforcement takes place’.

A second email to all south Kent officers stated that standard police drivers may not exceed 100mph. The email, from area driving examiner Ian Clark, said: ‘Standard Drivers/Riders are trained to drive/ride response vehicles up to, and not exceeding, a speed of 100mph. Therefore, Standard Drivers/Riders will be required to justify their actions if found to be travelling in excess of the 100mph speed limit. Only accredited Advanced Drivers/Riders may exceed speeds of 100mph.’

MCN was awaiting an official response from Kent Police at the time of writing. The force has not confirmed whether the suspension includes LTI 20.20 laser speed detectors used in speed camera vans.

**StlouisX50** · 10-09-2007, 09:35 AM

Scientist Uses Own Gadget To Escape Speeding Fine

Oct 9 2007 By Mark Mcgivern

Boffin Beats Rap With Own Device

A SCIENTIST escaped a speeding fine after a hi-tech system he devised appeared to prove a police speed camera wrong.

Dr Phillip Tann insisted he was driving at exactly 29.177196mph after being clocked at 42mph in a 30mph zone.

After his case was dropped he said the ruling could open the floodgates for others to challenge the laser cameras.

He said yesterday: "The cameras are not 100 per cent accurate, but my system is."

Dr Tann's system, which he likened to a plane's black box recorder, measures data every half metre and works out speeds using simple maths.

It can be installed on a mobile phone, and records the location and speed of the handset on a computer database.

The 45-year-old technology firmboss, from South Shields, was driving through Sunderland collecting data in November last year when he was spotted by a police mobile speed camera.

He received a letter and fine from Northumbria Police and decided to challenge it through the courts.

He said: "The system I was testing is more accurate than anything else on the market.

"It said I was only doing 29.177196mph at that time."

Northumbri a Police insisted the camera reading was accurate and said the case - which was to be called at Sunderland Magistrates' Court - was discontinued for "administrative reasons".

But Paul Smith, founder of speed camera critics SafeSpeed.org.uk, called on the Home Office to withdraw laser speed guns immediately.