Driver using laser jammer banned.
Discussion
The police must have had some good evidence to convict or the driver admitted that's what it was for.
News Story said:
Speeding driver with camera jammer gets ban
A Porsche driver caught with a laser jammer to scramble speed cameras has become the first person to be banned from driving for using one.
The driver, Jamie Shreeve, 21, from Caister near Great Yarmouth, is only the second motorist in Norfolk to be prosecuted for using such a device and he's the first in the UK to receive a driving ban as a result.
He received a 30-day ban when he was caught red-handed by police.
The action was welcomed by two Norfolk police offices, who have been cracking down on speed camera jammers since discovering them earlier this year.
Sergeant Geoff Bowers and PC Chris Harris first came across the devices when they pulled over a Porsche 911 Turbo in March and they've since discovered many more.
The gadgets are sold over the internet as 'parking sensors'. They are wired up under the dashboard with an on/off switch and feature a small jamming device on the exterior of the car.
A Porsche driver caught with a laser jammer to scramble speed cameras has become the first person to be banned from driving for using one.
The driver, Jamie Shreeve, 21, from Caister near Great Yarmouth, is only the second motorist in Norfolk to be prosecuted for using such a device and he's the first in the UK to receive a driving ban as a result.
He received a 30-day ban when he was caught red-handed by police.
The action was welcomed by two Norfolk police offices, who have been cracking down on speed camera jammers since discovering them earlier this year.
Sergeant Geoff Bowers and PC Chris Harris first came across the devices when they pulled over a Porsche 911 Turbo in March and they've since discovered many more.
The gadgets are sold over the internet as 'parking sensors'. They are wired up under the dashboard with an on/off switch and feature a small jamming device on the exterior of the car.
The guy who got banned wasnt the porsche driver he was in a Vectra,when he didnt show any reading on the speedgun the officer radio,d his mate further down the rd to stop the Vectra.They siezed the car then did a search an found the "parking" sensor and the hidden switch
Norfolk police have 8 similar cases going through the courts at the moment
Norfolk police have 8 similar cases going through the courts at the moment
This says he was driving an Astra...
EDP Report
EDP Report
EDP said:
In a landmark court ruling, magistrates yesterday handed down a 30-day driving ban to a Norfolk motorist caught using a laser jamming device to disable police speed guns.
Jamie Shreeve, 21, of Covent Garden Road, Caister, is only the second driver in Norfolk to be successfully prosecuted for using such a device - and he is the first in the county to be given a driving ban for it.
The result of the Great Yarmouth court hearing was welcomed by two Acle road traffic police officers who have been spearheading a clampdown on the high-tech speeders.
Sgt Geoff Bowers and PC Chris Harris only became aware of the gadgets - fixed to the outside of cars and wired up under the dashboard with an on-off switch - when they stopped a turbo-charged Porsche 911 on the A47 in March.
They have since come across dozens of similar devices, costing up to £500 and marketed on the internet as parking sensors, and at least 10 other drivers are waiting to come to court following Shreeve.
Sgt Bowers said: “This is the first case in Norfolk in which a motorist has been banned from driving for using a laser jamming device.
I’m extremely pleased with this result which shows that the courts are taking these offences seriously.
“People using laser jamming devices have no regard for speed limits and therefore put themselves and other road users in danger.
“I hope this sentence acts as a warning to other drivers considering fitting such devices to their vehicles.”
Shreeve, an offshore worker, admitted the willful obstruction of a police officer, and the prosecution agreed to drop a second charge of exceeding the 70mph speed limit.
Gary Mayle, prosecuting, said Sgt Bowers was conducting speed checks from the bridge over the A47 at Acle on October 2 when he noticed a black Vauxhall Astra rapidly making ground on other vehicles and appearing to be travelling at over 70mph.
However, when he pointed his speed gun at the car it failed to supply a speed reading.
He radioed to officers to stop the Astra at the Acle roundabout and on examining the car they discovered the sensor on the front and the other elements of the laser jammer, including the wiring under the dashboard and the on-off switch inside.
The officers seized the vehicle and removed the laser jammer.
In interview, Shreeve said he had paid £200 for the device and fitted it himself.
He said he had done it to safeguard his job as his company did not tolerate employees being prosecuted for speeding.
Mr Mayle asked magistrates to consider imposing a discretionary driving ban.
Annette Hall, mitigating, said: “This device is not illegal to sell and not illegal to purchase and that is clearly an area that needs to be looked at.”
She said Shreeve had gone to a reputable outlet intending just to buy a sensor to help him park, but perhaps a reflection of his age and maturity, had come away with a device that was also a laser jammer.
She said: “There are numerous devices like these to be found on the internet that can be set up as a parking sensor as well.
“He accepts that because he had it switched on he was willfuly obstructing the police officer.”
Fining Shreeve £100 with £85 costs in addition to the ban, magistrates said it was a “premeditated deliberate action to avoid detection for speeding”.
Jamie Shreeve, 21, of Covent Garden Road, Caister, is only the second driver in Norfolk to be successfully prosecuted for using such a device - and he is the first in the county to be given a driving ban for it.
The result of the Great Yarmouth court hearing was welcomed by two Acle road traffic police officers who have been spearheading a clampdown on the high-tech speeders.
Sgt Geoff Bowers and PC Chris Harris only became aware of the gadgets - fixed to the outside of cars and wired up under the dashboard with an on-off switch - when they stopped a turbo-charged Porsche 911 on the A47 in March.
They have since come across dozens of similar devices, costing up to £500 and marketed on the internet as parking sensors, and at least 10 other drivers are waiting to come to court following Shreeve.
Sgt Bowers said: “This is the first case in Norfolk in which a motorist has been banned from driving for using a laser jamming device.
I’m extremely pleased with this result which shows that the courts are taking these offences seriously.
“People using laser jamming devices have no regard for speed limits and therefore put themselves and other road users in danger.
“I hope this sentence acts as a warning to other drivers considering fitting such devices to their vehicles.”
Shreeve, an offshore worker, admitted the willful obstruction of a police officer, and the prosecution agreed to drop a second charge of exceeding the 70mph speed limit.
Gary Mayle, prosecuting, said Sgt Bowers was conducting speed checks from the bridge over the A47 at Acle on October 2 when he noticed a black Vauxhall Astra rapidly making ground on other vehicles and appearing to be travelling at over 70mph.
However, when he pointed his speed gun at the car it failed to supply a speed reading.
He radioed to officers to stop the Astra at the Acle roundabout and on examining the car they discovered the sensor on the front and the other elements of the laser jammer, including the wiring under the dashboard and the on-off switch inside.
The officers seized the vehicle and removed the laser jammer.
In interview, Shreeve said he had paid £200 for the device and fitted it himself.
He said he had done it to safeguard his job as his company did not tolerate employees being prosecuted for speeding.
Mr Mayle asked magistrates to consider imposing a discretionary driving ban.
Annette Hall, mitigating, said: “This device is not illegal to sell and not illegal to purchase and that is clearly an area that needs to be looked at.”
She said Shreeve had gone to a reputable outlet intending just to buy a sensor to help him park, but perhaps a reflection of his age and maturity, had come away with a device that was also a laser jammer.
She said: “There are numerous devices like these to be found on the internet that can be set up as a parking sensor as well.
“He accepts that because he had it switched on he was willfuly obstructing the police officer.”
Fining Shreeve £100 with £85 costs in addition to the ban, magistrates said it was a “premeditated deliberate action to avoid detection for speeding”.
Some vehicles use a similar device to measure distance to the car in front iirc. Nissan perhaps and the wavelength is a public frequency so they'll be jamming when driving I imagine.
The guy admitted it's primary purpose was to jam so was doomed. I'd have argued it's primary purpose was as a parking aid that also helps prevent bumps in slow moving traffic.
The guy admitted it's primary purpose was to jam so was doomed. I'd have argued it's primary purpose was as a parking aid that also helps prevent bumps in slow moving traffic.
runner911 said:
........................and the Police in the UK can't understand why they have lost the support of the Public when they waste so much time chasing this sort of rubbish.
How much time have they wasted?2 people convicted and a few in the runnings?
Of course in that time the officers concerned could have caught 40 burglars, rapist and paedophiles!
14-7 said:
News report said:
The action was welcomed by two Norfolk police offices, who have been cracking down on speed camera jammers since discovering them earlier this year.
Clearly those two officers aren't visitors to the PH shores. 
Puddenchucker said:
This says he was driving an Astra...
From which of the four Vauxhall Astra manufacturers? 
maser_spyder said:
'Broken windows' theory about catching people, but it doesn't do their public image any good whatsoever.
Could that be because it seems to be more commonly applied to motorists than to petty, non-motoring crime.Streaky
However it isn't though. Two officers from a Traffic Unit. Isn't a whole force. Isn't even a whole team.
It's just media and those with a vested interest who try to play it that way.
Anyone who is jamming to my mind shows a clear intent that they think they are above the law in relation to speed limits.
As for the rubbish argument about keeping their job. If you are physically incapable of being unable to keep to limits you shouldn't have a licence.
It's just media and those with a vested interest who try to play it that way.
Anyone who is jamming to my mind shows a clear intent that they think they are above the law in relation to speed limits.
As for the rubbish argument about keeping their job. If you are physically incapable of being unable to keep to limits you shouldn't have a licence.
Boosted LS1 said:
Some vehicles use a similar device to measure distance to the car in front iirc. Nissan perhaps and the wavelength is a public frequency so they'll be jamming when driving I imagine.
The guy admitted it's primary purpose was to jam so was doomed. I'd have argued it's primary purpose was as a parking aid that also helps prevent bumps in slow moving traffic.
You can argue all you like that it's primary purpose is a parking sensor but it is easy to bring evidence that this particular "parking sensor" can easily be shown to be specifically constructed and programmed to jam police speedmeters. The guy admitted it's primary purpose was to jam so was doomed. I'd have argued it's primary purpose was as a parking aid that also helps prevent bumps in slow moving traffic.
You don't have to be a mastermind to understand a parking sensor doesn't have to be programmed to respond to stimuli from specific speedmeters. Give it a run and see how you get on.
By the way; they are s
t parking sensors and magistrates laugh their various genitals and glands off when they see images of them mounted among arrays of factory fitted parking sensors; their ribs burst when they consider the advertising for them. Yes the same advertising you may have seen when you purchased yours.Good luck.
Edited to add: Active cruise and distance maintaining devices don't interfere with radar and laser speedmeters.
Edited by Puff the magic.. on Saturday 23 October 11:28
We've had discussions in past threads about the likelihood of avoiding prosecution for using a jammer. My view is the chances of facing prosecution are much higher now than they were 5+ years ago and not really worth the risk of using one.
What seems to have changed now is that this motorist was charged with something other than 'perverting the course of justice', which was the way they went about it before.
It's not clear to me what law the magistrates in this case deemed to have been broken. That would be useful to know.
In any case, however sure you are in your own mind that the device fitted to your car is a parking sensor, that's not going to count for much in a Magistrates Court. Magistrates form their own opinions based on the evidence put before them. They are usually reasonably intelligent and experienced people. It's quite unlikely they will dismiss the explanation given by the Police and CPS and accept yours.
Whatever you want to use as the basis for your argument, anything that interferes with the Police carrying out their duties is going to be frowned upon and that will put you at a massive disadvantage in any Court. But I wish you the best of luck if you want to give it a try.
What seems to have changed now is that this motorist was charged with something other than 'perverting the course of justice', which was the way they went about it before.
It's not clear to me what law the magistrates in this case deemed to have been broken. That would be useful to know.
In any case, however sure you are in your own mind that the device fitted to your car is a parking sensor, that's not going to count for much in a Magistrates Court. Magistrates form their own opinions based on the evidence put before them. They are usually reasonably intelligent and experienced people. It's quite unlikely they will dismiss the explanation given by the Police and CPS and accept yours.
Whatever you want to use as the basis for your argument, anything that interferes with the Police carrying out their duties is going to be frowned upon and that will put you at a massive disadvantage in any Court. But I wish you the best of luck if you want to give it a try.
Paul Dishman said:
runner911 said:
........................and the Police in the UK can't understand why they have lost the support of the Public when they waste so much time chasing this sort of rubbish.
They'll have less manpower for this sort of thing when the cuts take effect.
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