It always helps to be polite. Do NOT, however, admit to ANYTHING when you're stopped. If you're asked if you knew how fast you were travelling then reply simply 'yes'. It's reasonable to assume that the police don't actually have enough concrete evidence to make a sound case for a formal court hearing. If you reply nn miles per hour that's tantamount to a confession which makes it much harder for you to overturn the fixed penalty offer in a subsequent court hearing.
Asking for evidence of calibration usually winds them up, but, if you think you're being treated unfairly then stick to your guns. Expect a roadside bollocking anyway and no admission of inadequacies on behalf of the police but you might well walk away with nothing to report.
You can also ask the police to be accurate in their statements. I was stopped by an unmarked police pursuit vehicle and accused of travelling at speeds between 109 and 114mph. (This was on a deserted dry dual carriageway BTW, in good light). I asked the officer to be more specific (ie. 109 or 114) as I could not be travelling at both speeds at the same time unless of course their equipment was that far out of alignment. Got away with it after a quick discussion regarding the penalties that COULD (past tense) have been imposed.
Above all - be careful - try not to get caught out. |