Posted on 06/07/2004 2:48:18 PM PDT by swilhelm73
A 71 year old man has been banned from driving for warning other motorists of a speed trap up the road - even though he wasn't in his car at the time! He was also ordered to pay £364 in costs.
Stuart Harding stood on the A325 near Farnborough with a sign saying "Speed Trap - 300 yards ahead". He had stood there on previous occasions warning motorists to slow down because of a car boot sale up the road which generated a lot of pedestrian traffic. Police however took exception when Harding warned of their speed trap.
The court was told that Sgt Sarah Cashman confiscated his sign and was told by the defendent - under caution - "I stop people speeding down here. I am only doing what I think is right ".
Harding pleaded not guilty when he appeared in front of magistrates in Aldershot. He said: "I have been convicted of breaking the law because I was trying to stop others from doing so. It is totally unjust ."
An appeal is to be lodged but the Magistrates passed up on the option to suspend his driving ban and implemented it immediately.
How dare this gentleman interfere with that!
Stuart Harding stood on the A325 near Farnborough with a sign saying "Speed Trap - 300 yards ahead".
I see more speed traps in my area towards the end of every month. The police don't do it to slow motorists down - they do it to make money, period.
They law against reducing the goverment income. ;->
Everyday police in this Country act as if they can RUN all our lives - the random check-points set up by police (in the name of Safety of course) are a terrible infringement on our rights - yet, the public stands by and lets it happen -
Police sell everything under the banner of "safety" - yet they are nothing more then revenue enhancers for the State -and their own police Stations.
The requirements for becoming a police officer are way to low - The absolute junk that passes through to become police officers today is incredible - people that you wouldn't allow to make a $50 decision - are being given a gun and allowed to make "life changing" decisions (often times in split second time frames) it is scary -
Add to that, that half the police officers that stop people over "speeding" act is if they are Navy Seal wannabes -
Yet, we see on a monthly basis whenever a real shooting type situation breaks out - it is the police officers waiting and waiting and so on - That the police in Colorado allowed that Teacher to bleed to death for over an hour - without having the STONES to go in there and get him is disgusting -
And I don't want to hear about this or that - they knew he was in there, they had him on the phone and they were scared (not saying I wouldn't be....BUT) these were the Police forces "special Swat" units - being given SOF type outfits and have attitudes galore - yet when push came to shove they were scared of 2 (dead at that time) 17 year-olds!
ANd not once have I heard any police dept. around the Country criticize them for their lack of action - the old Blue on Blue "testa-lie" came through loud and clear!
In the UK they say it's in the interests of reducing accidents but the simple fact is that it’s a way of increasing revenue on the already ridiculously overtaxed motorists. Recently they installed speed cameras in new motorway constructions which undercuts the argument that they’re only installed on areas where speeding is a problem, since how can they know beforehand?
More here.
http://www.speedcam.co.uk/
I recently received a speeding ticket here, and in the few weeks since I have received at least 8 solicitations from attorneys offering to "fix" my ticket. I assume this is by (bribing) negotiating with the district attorney in a given county. Not all counties do this, only the rural ones that need the income. Such crap.
This is Britain.
UK?
About 30 years ago, my cousin became a cop in a small town. I don't think the standards have gone any lower than then.
It's a pig eat dog wrapped in seatbelt world out there.
proof the goal is revenue not safety.
Those officers were/are POS's and unworthy of any respect from me or anyone, ever.
actually its not bribing its a matter of using the system. Since tickets affect your license you hare entitled to a court hearing. If every ticker went to a full trial the system would collapse, thus they cut deals which keep points off your insurance.
The other reason is that it keeps the surpluss of young lawyers busy. (however clossing wildly profitable law schools or reducing enrolment is not going to happen.)
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