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5,600 CAMERA CONVICTIONS COULD BE OVERTURNED AFTER MASSIVE POLICE BLUNDER
Inside Bikes news – 25 FebruaryA recent press release issued by the Safe Speed organiseation suggests drivers or riders convicted of speeding at Folly Bottom in Wiltshire should appeal against those convictions now.
From SAFE SPEED:
Folly Bottom – the truth emerges slowly
After last week’s dismissed court cases it seems that the Crown Prosecution Service and the Swindon and Wiltshire Camera Partnership are gradually waking up to the magnitude of the error. Safe Speed demands that all drivers who have paid a fine are contacted by the camera partnership to have their fines and licence points refunded and compensation paid.
A press release recently issued by the camera partnership includes: “Although there was clear evidence of careful checks of the signage having been carried out by the enforcing police officers prior to conducting speed checks, the defence expert’s report highlighted that there was INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE to prove a consistently high standard of checks to ensure that the signage met legal requirements at all times.”
In other words: all convictions are unsafe.
Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign (www.safespeed.org.uk) said: “It has taken a week for the camera partnership to admit to the error. At first they falsely implied that the cases had been dropped and that only a small number of motorists were affected. Now it is clear that all 5,600 penalties were unsafe. This cowboy behaviour is all too typical of camera partnerships with highly misleading and self serving statistics at the top of the list. The camera partnerships must be disbanded immediately before more harm is done to road safety and the Police / public relationship.”
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LOVE IS GIVING SOMEONE THE ABILITY TO DESTROY YOU, THEN TRUSTING THEM NOT TO.
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, Vodka in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming…….WOO HOO, what a ride!
https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wiltshire/4331783.stm
U turn over speed camera blunder
Thousands of motorists caught at a speed camera site in Wiltshire are no longer able to challenge their fines.
Originally, people caught speeding at the A303 Folly Bottom roadworks between May 2003 and August 2004 were told they could have fines and points reviewed.
Now, the Wiltshire & Swindon Safety Camera Partnership says only people caught between October 2003 and 13 January 2004 can apply.
The change is down to record keeping, the partnership said.
The original invitation to have convictions reviewed came from the partnership after a woman had her court case for speeding dismissed.
Clair Allison was caught on camera exceeding the temporary limit at the roadworks, but claimed there were no warning signs.
A spokeswoman for the camera partnership told the BBC: “The timeframe [for reviewing cases] only relates to when contractors cannot provide documentary evidence to show the signs were there when we say they were.”
The partnership will only be contacting 2,467 drivers caught speeding and fined when the temporary limit was in place between October 2003 and January 2004.
It cannot say how many people were fined between May 2003 and August 2004.
“We have had letters and calls from people caught outside our timeframe. We are taking advice and will respond individually,” the spokeswoman added.
Lack of evidence
But a Wiltshire Police statement, issued on behalf of the partnership in July 2004, said more than 5,300 motorists were caught and fined in the first six weeks of the enforcement alone.
A police spokeswoman then said each case could cost up to £250 to review.
Paul Smith, from the Safe Speed Road Safety campaign, which is critical of speed cameras, claims the signs at the roadworks were faulty throughout the whole period.
“The right way forward is for someone with authority to now step in,” he said.
Ms Allison’s case was dismissed by Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on 17 February because of a lack of evidence from the Crown Prosecution Service.
LOVE IS GIVING SOMEONE THE ABILITY TO DESTROY YOU, THEN TRUSTING THEM NOT TO.
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, Vodka in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming…….WOO HOO, what a ride!
and if you were prosecuted the BBC would like to here from you….
BBC News Interactive journalists would like to hear from anyone who lost their licence (or job) after receiving a fine and penalty points for exceeding the 40mph temporary speed limit on the A303 at Folly Bottom between May 2003 and August 2004 and have had their fine refunded and penalty points removed.
You can speak to us either on the record or in confidence.
Please ring 0117 9747747 and ask to speak to to Dickon, Neil or Ian.
Or you can email us: [email protected]LOVE IS GIVING SOMEONE THE ABILITY TO DESTROY YOU, THEN TRUSTING THEM NOT TO.
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, Vodka in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming…….WOO HOO, what a ride!
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