Items in uk.transport.london

Subject:Re: Speed traps - NEW M4 drivers beware.
Date:Wed, 22 Oct 2003 17:28:02 +0100
From:"James" <jamesb@buggeroffspam.opsisltd.co.uk>
Newsgroups:uk.media.radio.bbc-r4,uk.media.radio.bbc-r5,uk.politics.misc,uk.transport,uk.transport.london

> "arealman" <Macho@PlayboyInternational.Int> wrote in message
> news:bn6a9m$702$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk...
> > I have been sent this from a friend at the RAC and confirmed by someone
> > >
> > > at the Met Office and thought I should let you know..................
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > You know those new electronic signs on the M4? Well they were switched
> > >
> > > on by some transport minister on Tuesday. N ow the bad news, they are
> > >
> > > rigged with the SPECS speed cameras. SPECS is a camera based system.
As
> > >
> > > you go past a camera software detects and reads your number plate.
When
> > >
> > > you go past the next camera, it detects and reads your number plate
> > >
> > > again. It knows how far apart the cameras are so it can work out your
> > >
> > > average speed between the two cameras.
> > >
> > > The system is f ully automatic and will automatically issue a ticket
> > >
> > > without any form of human intervention. It does this for every single
> > >
> > > vehicle that passes a camera! You will not know you've been nicked as
> > >
> > > the cameras don't flash. There's no film in them either, they're
> > >
> > > digital. Images of you in your car, together with the date and time
are
> > >
> > > stored on disc (I assume they only keep them if you've been nicked).
> > >
> > > It works 24/7, 365 days a year, and theoretically, there's absolutely
no
> > >
> > > limit on the number of tickets that it can issue. The whole section of
> > >
> > > the M4 between Theale (J12) and Membury Services (between 14 and 15)
is
> > >
> > > wired, both ways. It is believed that the system is set to trigger a
> > >
> > > ticket at 78 mph.
> > >
<snip>

Has echos of a virus hoax type message to me...