Do Mobile Speed Camera Vans Take Picture Of Driver?

Are you feeling annoyed after getting a speeding ticket and not sure what steps to take next? You’re not alone. Every month, more than 130,000 people like you visit our website for advice on fines and parking tickets.

In this helpful guide, we’ll explain:

• How mobile speed camera vans work
• If they take a picture of the driver
• The process of getting a speeding ticket 
• Options you have after receiving a fine, such as paying or appealing it
• Different types of speed cameras in use across the UK

We know it can feel frustrating when you get a ticket. Rest assured, we’re here to help you understand your options and decide on the best course of action.

How you can be caught speeding

There are several methods of detecting speeding in the UK. You can be caught speeding by:

1. A police officer on patrol
2. A speeding camera at the side of the road
3. A police van equipped with a speed camera, also known as a mobile speed camera van

How do I know if a speed camera caught me?

You won’t know if a speed camera caught you until the vehicle’s registered keeper receives a Notice of Intended Prosecution letter. This must be sent to their address within 14 days of the incident, or you cannot be fined for this speeding offence.

Understanding Notices of Intended Prosecution

The Notice of Intended Prosecution includes a form that must be filled out by the vehicle owner and returned within 28 days. If true, this allows the vehicle owner to state that someone else was driving. 

In general, once they have sent their reply, the police have up to six months to send the speeding ticket (officially called a Fixed Penalty Notice) to the speeding driver. The driver can then accept the fine and possibly penalty points, or they will have to go to court. 

Unlock says a Fixed Penalty Notice is not a conviction. It won’t affect your banking or housing, but the police will record it.¹

Do speed camera vans have to be visible to drivers?

No UK laws state that a speed camera van must be visible to motorists. However, speed camera van operators don’t usually make themselves hidden because their presence is known to deter speeding and keep motorists safer. You’ll usually see a speed camera van in the distance.

They are operated by local police forces and placed in positions where many traffic incidents have occurred due to people breaking the speed limit. They could be hidden by chance due to the surroundings rather than purposefully staying hidden. 

In such cases where you think you’ve been unfairly issued a speeding ticket, there are some valid reasons you can use to appeal the decision.

Violation Category	Specific Offense	Common Appeal Reason
Traffic Signal	Running a Red Light	Traffic light was malfunctioning/out
Insurance	Driving without Insurance	Proof of valid insurance at the time
Speed Limit	Exceeding Speed Limit	Incorrect speed limit signage/malfunctioning speedometer
Seat Belt	Not Wearing a Seat Belt	Belt was worn but not visible or medical exemption
Mobile Phone Use	Using a Mobile Phone while Driving	Emergency situation or not in use
Vehicle Condition	Driving a Vehicle in Poor Condition	Recent vehicle maintenance or misjudgment of condition
Parking	Illegal Parking	Unclear, obscured, or misleading parking signs
Documentation	Failure to Display Tax Disc	Disc was displayed but not visible
Driving License	Driving without a Valid License	License was valid but not present
Vehicle Registration	Driving Unregistered Vehicle	Registration was in process/delayed

How far away can a speed camera van catch you?

Mobile speed camera vans are known to catch motorists speeding up to one mile away. The range of mobile speed camera van detection is why it’s essential to obey the speed limit at all times, not just when you notice a speed camera van nearby.

Do mobile speed camera vans do both sides of the road?

Yes, the functionality of mobile speed camera vans means that even if one is parked on the other side of the road, it can still identify motorists speeding on your side of the road. 

Do they take a photo?

Mobile speed vans take a photo of speeding vehicles as evidence of the speeding. They will attempt to take a picture of every vehicle caught speeding, but the image may be of different angles of the vehicle, and it can sometimes be blurry. 

Do speed cameras take the driver’s picture?

The average speed camera or speed camera van doesn’t take a photo of the driver. However, some images may capture the driver’s picture depending on the camera’s position and the vehicle at the time. 

The registered vehicle owner’s responsible for telling the police who was driving during the speeding incident. This is done by returning the form attached to the Notice of Intended Prosecution. 

This form must be completed and returned within 28 days, or it is considered a criminal offence – and so is lying about who was driving!

Comparison of Different Types of Speed Cameras

I have compiled an overview of speed camera types in the UK to help you tell the difference between them.

Fixed speed cameras

Fixed speed cameras are the most commonly-used cameras in the UK. They’re the ones that are bright yellow, and they photograph vehicles from the front. This means there is a chance they can capture an image of the driver at the wheel.

Mobile speed cameras

Local police forces run most mobile speed cameras, which can be found in areas with a history of road traffic incidents. Some are used as part of speed safety campaigns and as part of safety camera partnership teams. You can find them on marked and unmarked cars and manually operated by the police using laser guns and radar guns.

Average speed cameras

These cameras use Automatic Number Plate Reading (ANPR) digital technology to calculate the average speed of a vehicle by recording the date and time you pass between two cameras. You can find these cameras on major roads and at roadworks.

Variable speed cameras

These cameras work similarly to average speed cameras. However, it is unlikely they are in operation all of the time. They are used on smart motorways when there is a hazard on the road, in the event of adverse weather conditions, and to ease congestion in instances where the speed limit is lowered. Variable speed cameras reside on overhead gantries, and the speed limit should be displayed on multiple signs.

Traffic light cameras

These cameras use sensors or ground loops to detect vehicles that pass through traffic lights after the lights turn red. Once triggered, a photograph is taken of the vehicle.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer

Can I be caught by two speed camera vans on the same journey?

If you’re caught speeding by two speed camera vans within 20 mins of each other, these two instances are generally considered as one speeding offence. 

This means you could be issued two separate speeding tickets on the same journey when the journey is longer than 20 minutes. The consequences of multiple speeding offences on the same journey are more points on your license and another fine.

Quick recap

Speed camera vans could, by chance, capture the driver’s image, but it’s not the primary intention of speed camera images. They are used to identify speeding vehicles and record evidence. 

The registered vehicle owner is obligated to inform the police of who was driving at the time. Otherwise, they’re committing a criminal offence.

References

1. Unlock – Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) / Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND)