Talivan page 2

The white Ford Focus is a marked police car and the driver is pointing a laser gun at approaching traffic. This particular spot happens to have a conventiently placed telegraph pole with which to partly hide behind.

This stretch of road is the old A30 between Honiton and Exeter which was bypassed in the late 1990s with a dual carriageway. As usual with modern bypasses, lots of new speed limits have appeared on the old route despite the fact that traffic levels are much lower and safer for higher speeds.


Police car partly hidden


This van in Newport IOW is hidden behind foliage. See the next picture for more.


Hidden van


This is a front view of the last picture. If this van is only targetting vehicles heading towards it then OK but if its targetting the motorbike coming down the hill then this is nothing more than a money making scam.


Which direction of traffic is this van targetting?


This is another Hampshire van and shows how desparate they are to get your money. The speed limit on this section of the A30 at Blackwater changes from 30mph to 40mph and the van gets you at the end of the 30mph limit. Not only that but its parked in amongst a group of cars on the pavement.


This is taking the piss


This van is on the B430 at Weston near Oxford. A portable sign has been deployed but it's so close to the van that by the time you see it your speed has already been recorded.


Talivan with sign


This van in Aylesbury is deliberately concealed behind signs and foliage.


This sort of concealment serves no safety purpose


Here's the same van and its parked on the pavement due to the yellow lines. I wonder if the black Golf has just become its latest victim.


A large portion of the pavement is taken up


This is another Aylesbury Talivan. This one is parked in a bus stop on the A41 catching traffic just before the speed limit increases from 30mph to 40mph which is the dirtiest trick in the book. The 40mph limit may not last much longer since at the time of writing there are notices around the town giving details of a proposal to reduce all the 40mph limits in Aylesbury to 30mph.


Talivan


This van in Swindon is one of the more sensible locations I've seen as its out in the open and not hidden behind anything. Portable signs have been placed about 1/4 mile before the van in both directions which give motorists plently of notice that the van is present. The 50mph limit is also appropriate for once.

However, even this van isn't perfect. The back doors have flourescent stripes which cannot be seen as its parked sideways and the remaining livery is hardly eyecatching. Its also parked just before some permanent speed camera signs.


A half decent location


Here's another van near Swindon. This one is parked above the M4 and cameras here have been raking it in. The livery is still the same.


Maximum revenue being earned here


This van on the A50 in Knutsford is also parked sensibly. The livery is spot on and this can be seen long before you're within range of it. This is assuming its taking front facing pictures of traffic going towards it.


Talivan


This van is parked on the outskirts of Hemswell in Lincolnshire. The 50mph limit in the distance is new and the van is parked in the unusual position of targetting traffic in the 60mph limit just before the limit drops. Normally they get you in the lower limit.

There are double yellow lines here due to the nearby airfield. These usually forbid parking on the verge as well.


Talivan


This van is parked on a side road off the A61 near Sheffield. The slogan on the van is very true - they are making a difference.....to police revenue. If I was the owner of that house I'd tell the cunt to shift as its blocking my view.


Parking on pavement


This is the tripod that accompanies the van in the above picture. This is located on the A61. Parking the van out of view is a favourite trick as the tripod is much smaller so isn't as easy to spot.


Tripod with camera


This van in Shropshire is parked alongside the A5 just to the east of Oswestry. This is part of the West Mercia force who use a system called DS2. This consists of three strips in the road and a small grey post. When the van pulls up a wire is run to the post which connects to a camera inside the van. The post is next to the parking sign although it can't be seen clearly from this distance. The unofficial name for DS2 is Plug and Pay, for obvious reasons.

Most of these sites are located on fast rural roads where they can maximise the income from fines. This wide stretch of the A5 is riddled with them.


DS2 system in operation


This is another Talivan in Shropshire which is plugged into a DS2 post. The speed limit here on Castlefields Way in Telford is a reasonable 40mph for a change.


DS2


This van is trying to hide in bushes and behind the brow of a hill in Much Wenlock, Shropshire.


Partially hidden


This van is parked on the A40 at Pencraig in Herefordshire. The speed limit was recently reduced from 70mph to 50mph and Talivans have started to make money from the new limit.


Revenue collecting


This van on the A5 at Montford Bridge is the same as the one above but from the side there are no clear markings. At first it looks like a camper van but by the time you see the camera pointing out the window it's too late.


Poorly marked Talivan


Here's a West Mercia Talivan and Talibike.


Talibike


This Talibike is parked in bus stop in Trowbridge, Wiltshire.


Talibike


This is a Talivan which operates in the West Midlands. As there are no camera signs on Greets Green Road in West Bromwich a mobile sign has been placed to comply with the regulations.


Talivan


Here's another West Midlands van. This time it's parked in Great Bridge Road in Moxley. Above the rear doors it says speed enforcement.


Talivan


This van is parked beside a road which runs parallel to the A1 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Its the morning rush hour and the A1 is at a standstill. This road can be used to avoid the queue and the scamera partnership obviously take exception to this.

Parking with two wheels on the pavement is permitted here as shown by the dotted lines.


Targetting motorists who wish to avoid congestion


This van is parked immediately before the end of the speed limit in a Lincolnshire village. This is bang out of order and serves only to reduce respect for the law.


Extortion racket


This picture is taken 100m from a Talivan which is hidden round a corner. The speed limit was reduced from 60mph to 30mph a few years ago.


Hidden van


At 80m this van becomes visible.


Parking round a bend is an old trick


This closeup shows the operator isn't wearing high visibility clothing. Thankfully the damp weather may reduce the range of the laser.


Talivan


Here's another Suffolk Talivan. This one is parked on the A1065 outside RAF Lakenheath. This stretch is a clearway and parking is forbidden but the scamera partnership will flout all traffic laws in order to get your money.


Parked illegally


The driver of this safety van in Norfolk is changing the film in the Gatso. As well as having a bright yellow camera housing, the post has also been given the hi-vis treatment.

This camera has been set alight. See the Vandalised Gatsos page.


Norfolk safety van


What does it take for a scameraship to change a film in a Gatso? Two vans and four people.


All this to change a film


The occupants of this van are also changing the film in a Gatso. They have chosen to park on double red lines whilst leaving the lights flashing. This is the oldest trick in the book and parking wardens are well used to it.

Most of the major routes in London are Red Routes where stopping is prohibited. This is to ensure that traffic isn't held up by parked vehicles blocking the road. If you see other Talivans parked illegally take some pictures and I will place them here.


Hazard lights are no excuse for illegal parking


This van in Reading is also parked illegally. The camera operator may have thought it was safe to park here but that's no excuse for parking on double yellows.


Illegally parked


This closeup shows the van has also parked in a hatched off area of the road bordered by solid lines. Where are the parking wardens when you need one?


At least two offences are being committed here


This van in Reading is parked illegally in a bus stop. The yellow line means no parking.


Right in front of the bus shelter as well


Police resources should be spent catching the vandals who've graffitied the bus shelter.


A clear example of police getting their priorites wrong


When a bus stops here it will have to foul the bus lane, but a least it will block the vans vision for a while.


All in the name of revenue


This is another van in the Thames Valley area. This one is on the A308 in Maidenhead and is parked in a bus stop. The driver of this van knows he is doing wrong by the fact that he's parked right at the end of the bus stop so that buses might be able to fit in the remainder of the bus stop.


Dodgy parking


This is the same location a few years later. The van has changed but it's still parked at the end of the bus stop in a feeble attempt to allow buses to use it.


Parking in a bus stop


This van on the A6044 Agecroft Road in Prestwich, Manchester is also parked in a bus stop. The yellow line means no parking.


Talivan


Here's another Thames Valley van. This one is parked on the A4 between Newbury and Hungerford right at the end of the 30mph limit. As the side window is open it's fair to assume that traffic leaving the 30mph limit is being fleeced as it accelerates into the 60mph limit beyond.


A typical money making location


This van in Lancashire is parked at the end of a bus stop in a feeble attempt to allow buses to pull in like the example in Maidenhead a few pictures above.


Parked in a bus stop


Here's another van parked in a bus stop.


Parked in a bus stop


This van in Chippenham is parked on the pavement.


Talivan


Here's the same van from a different angle. There's no markings at all from this direction and it looks like an innocent van.


Poorly marked


This van is parked near the edge of a 30mph limit in Wiltshire.


Talivan


Here's another van in Wiltshire, this time in Devizes.


Talivan


The next three pictures were taken on the A36 in Wiltshire by someone who was caught by a Talivan. This first picture was taken from the spot where his car was recorded - can you see the Talivan from here?


Robbery in progress


This picture is taken from the same spot with the zoom on full - can you see it now?


Mobile cash machine up ahead


This picture was taken a few car lengths from the van. It's definitely visible now but at this point it's too late to avoid the fine.


This van will have you long before you can see it


Here's another Talivan on the A36, this time parked in a bus stop in Wilton.


Talivan


This setup is targetting traffic on the A635 in Manchester, just after Mancunian Way ends. The speed limit also drops from 50mph to 40mph at this point. The van they use is plain white and can be seen parked in a side road.


Another money making exercise methinks


This van is parked on a bridge overlooking the A12 in Essex. This is a downright dangerous place to park by directing pedestrians to walk in the road which is used by heavy lorries. There is also the possibility of two lorries meeting, and thanks to the van, there would in insufficient room for them to pass.


Dangerous parking


This van operates in Sussex and is perhaps the best example of what a camera van should look like. The fluorescent paintwork with a large camera symbol and Camera Unit is all thats needed to make drivers aware of what is going on.


This van is well marked


This is a more general view which shows the police pulling drivers over in a side road. With both officers away from the van there could be a chance for someone to sieze the camera equipment, in this case an LTI20-20 laser gun.

The police are targeting traffic heading from left to right in this picture and the laser gun is mounted on a tripod behind the van. Notice how the van is clearly visible from this direction which isn't being targetted. Compare this with the next picture which shows a drivers view on the approach to the van in the direction that is targetted.


This speedtrap seems to be generating plenty of income


This is what drivers will see as they approach the speedtrap. The van is obscured by the hedge and all thats visible is the tripod in front of the officer. You can make out part of the van under the hedge.


Approaching the speedtrap


The next four pictures were sent to me by a visitor to this site who has spotted Essex Police flouting the rules on visibility. This is required as part of the conditions for keeping some of the money in the cash for cameras scheme. Read on and judge for yourself if you think this van is out to save lives or just to extract money from motorists.

My source tells me they target the rear of passing vehicles so this tripod won't be seen until you're level with it. Camera operators must wear high visibility clothing which the person in the van is not. Notice the lack of markings on the van.


Camera operators must wear flourescent jackets


This is the only writing on the van. My source says they never park the van side on to the traffic which makes the writing pointless.


Camera symbol can't be seen when approaching the van


This is what motorists see as they approach the speedtrap. As many recovery vehicles and contractors vans have fluorescent markings on them this van could easily be mistaken for any of these. Some speed camera logos on the back doors would make all the difference.


No writing on the back doors


This is standing further back. The grassland is maintained by the council and a fence has recently been erected which divides the area of grass. My source claims this is so the van can be partially hidden.


The fence was built to hide the van


Shortly after the above pictures were taken the Essex vans received this yellow panel. This is hardly a suitable livery for a speedtrap and I wonder how many motorists will think its just an innocent van. Notice how 'Safety Camera Partnership' is in small writing. At least the police are now wearing fluorescent jackets.


Essex Police are still using poorly marked vans


This van is partially hidden from this angle but a car approaching from the left wouldn't see a thing.


Obscured Talivan


Its our old friend from Essex and he's up to his usual trick again.


Hidden Talivan

Continued on page 3