Police chiefs have hit back at national outrage over "hypocritical" methods used to catch speeding motorists - saying officers are exempt from traffic regulations.
The comments come after Nottinghamshire Police were accused of double standards this week for allegedly breaking the law themselves while trying to catch speeding drivers.
For fed-up Mansfield motorists say officers are blocking pavements with their
police vans while waiting to snap speeding vehicles.
The claims come amid a national outcry at officers using rogue methods as they wage war on speeding drivers – with police vehicles being double-parked on busy roads or recklessly jamming bus stop bays.
But a traffic management spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police this week denied that the officers were doing anything wrong or causing an obstruction.
And she added: "It must be stressed that vehicles used for policing are generally exempt from most traffic regulation orders."
Chad took a photograph of one speed trap on Mansfield's Nottingham Road on Friday where a police officer had parked his van on the pavement before setting up his camera.
And residents have also complained of a regular mobile unit operating on Chesterfield Road North in Pleasley where they say a police van blocks the pavement.
The camera has caught a number of motorists failing to slow down in time between the road's national speed limit and where a 30mph limit is enforced.
Shirebrook resident Tony Clarke told Chad he had been fined £60 and had three penalty points imposed on his licence - but has complained as he believes he was not speeding.
Said Mr Clarke: "As you're slowing down, if you forget yourself and go a bit too fast, then he's waiting for you.
"In my opinion he's parked illegally while catching people speeding. It's hypocritical. If you did that they would come and do you for causing an obstruction – but they get away with it."
But a police spokesman told Chad yesterday that officers were not committing any offences: "The parking of our traffic safety camera vehicles is carefully controlled – each site has been risk assessed not only with the safety of our staff in mind, but also motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
"Vehicles are never parked in such a position that the footpath is totally blocked. We always allow at least enough room for a pushchair or wheelchair to comfortably get past."
