Hand held speed cameras, how do they work?

Question

i drove past a police car today that was pulled up on the side of the road and noticed the police officer was pointing a hand held speed camera. i think i was doing about 72 mph on the motorway. do these cameras record your speed or take a photo of the car? or if i was speeding would the police officer have pulled me over? im confused!

also if a police car is sitting on the other side of a motorway from me and has a hand held speed camera/gun will that record how fast i was going?

if a yellow box camera at the side of the motorway has a pole in front of the glass lens, well not totally in front, about 10 inches in front, does that record your speed?

Answer 1

I'm not sure about the yellow box camera, but the hand held one, on the back of it there is a screen that displays the speed of the car. It doesn't take a picture (unless it is high tech and I doubt it was) so if you WERE speeding, the question is why didn't he stop or chase you? He  could have noticed that there were others around you doing the same or going faster.

One thing that police definitely check for is wreckless drivers, the ones that weave in and out of cars.

Answer 2

the hand held only takes speeds, im sure, maybe a picture of the license, i dont think so, if you get a thing in the mail that says so, i guess, but only time can tell

Answer 3

hand held guns use a laser/timer set up..it can work from both sides of the motorway...generally they will pull you if you were 10% obver the speed limit,you wernt...not sure about the yellow box cams....hope this helps.