Laser jamming devices
Discussion
Tens of thousands of pounds wasted on a full blown Crown Court trial just to convict a motorist doing what most of us would if we could, i.e. avoiding a government stealth tax and conviction for "speeding."
Meanwhile gun crime IS spiralling out of control with children and adults being shot dead daily, drug peddling and violence rampant throughout the country.
Just what is going on ? Could it be as simple as the fact that revenue from speeding convictions assists the exchequer, or am I just being cynical ?
SEE BELOW FROM TODAYS GUARDIAN
Driver who deflected speed guns guilty of perverting justice
· Motorist denied fitting laser-busting device
· Businessman is 'first to be convicted' over equipment
Martin Wainwright
Friday August 31, 2007
The Guardian
A businessman who had a speed gun "zapper" fitted to his Range Rover and then denied knowledge of it to police was fined £5,000 yesterday and banned from driving for a year.
John Eady, 61, who had been close to losing his licence for repeated speeding offences, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice. He denied knowing that the £350 transponder had been attached to the luxury 4x4, but a jury at Doncaster crown court decided that he was not telling the truth.
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The judge, Jacqueline Davies, said: "I am also satisfied that you took deliberate action in acquiring this equipment with a view to avoiding further points."
A four-day trial heard that the transponder had appeared to deflect a handheld police "laser gun" during a routine speed check in June last year. Eady, from Sheffield, who runs a laboratory equipment firm and drove some 140,000 miles a year, was targeted when he seemed to be ignoring a 40mph zone. A traffic officer aimed the speed gun, but it failed to register and showed an error message. Eady was traced to his home and police found the device, which may be legally used to open garages or gates.
The court heard that his garage was used for storage and had no automatic system to connect with the zapper.
Eady claimed the device must have been fitted by mistake when other changes were made to the Range Rover.
After the sentence and an order to pay £1,000 legal costs, he continued to deny wrongdoing. "I didn't know the thing was fitted," he said. "The guy who did the thing stood up in court and said he couldn't remember me asking him to fit it. "This whole thing has been a witch-hunt. It's as though it was a murder trial just for having a little thing on the car.
"I am going to have to employ somebody to drive me for work, which is going to be very expensive as I work very long hours. It's crazy. I don't mind paying my dues, although I still don't admit I knew the thing was on."
The judge told Eady she had taken into account his previous good character.
South Yorkshire chief constable, Meredydd Hughes, believed Eady was the first person to be convicted for using such a device. "The judge has sent a clear signal that these devices are wholly unlawful; their use will be regarded as a serious matter," he said. "Roads policing officers throughout the country have been briefed on how to detect the devices in action and the appropriate steps to be taken to ensure the successful prosecution of the dangerous law-breakers who use them."
Meanwhile gun crime IS spiralling out of control with children and adults being shot dead daily, drug peddling and violence rampant throughout the country.
Just what is going on ? Could it be as simple as the fact that revenue from speeding convictions assists the exchequer, or am I just being cynical ?
SEE BELOW FROM TODAYS GUARDIAN
Driver who deflected speed guns guilty of perverting justice
· Motorist denied fitting laser-busting device
· Businessman is 'first to be convicted' over equipment
Martin Wainwright
Friday August 31, 2007
The Guardian
A businessman who had a speed gun "zapper" fitted to his Range Rover and then denied knowledge of it to police was fined £5,000 yesterday and banned from driving for a year.
John Eady, 61, who had been close to losing his licence for repeated speeding offences, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice. He denied knowing that the £350 transponder had been attached to the luxury 4x4, but a jury at Doncaster crown court decided that he was not telling the truth.
Article continues
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The judge, Jacqueline Davies, said: "I am also satisfied that you took deliberate action in acquiring this equipment with a view to avoiding further points."
A four-day trial heard that the transponder had appeared to deflect a handheld police "laser gun" during a routine speed check in June last year. Eady, from Sheffield, who runs a laboratory equipment firm and drove some 140,000 miles a year, was targeted when he seemed to be ignoring a 40mph zone. A traffic officer aimed the speed gun, but it failed to register and showed an error message. Eady was traced to his home and police found the device, which may be legally used to open garages or gates.
The court heard that his garage was used for storage and had no automatic system to connect with the zapper.
Eady claimed the device must have been fitted by mistake when other changes were made to the Range Rover.
After the sentence and an order to pay £1,000 legal costs, he continued to deny wrongdoing. "I didn't know the thing was fitted," he said. "The guy who did the thing stood up in court and said he couldn't remember me asking him to fit it. "This whole thing has been a witch-hunt. It's as though it was a murder trial just for having a little thing on the car.
"I am going to have to employ somebody to drive me for work, which is going to be very expensive as I work very long hours. It's crazy. I don't mind paying my dues, although I still don't admit I knew the thing was on."
The judge told Eady she had taken into account his previous good character.
South Yorkshire chief constable, Meredydd Hughes, believed Eady was the first person to be convicted for using such a device. "The judge has sent a clear signal that these devices are wholly unlawful; their use will be regarded as a serious matter," he said. "Roads policing officers throughout the country have been briefed on how to detect the devices in action and the appropriate steps to be taken to ensure the successful prosecution of the dangerous law-breakers who use them."
Edited by runner911 on Friday 31st August 08:43
He had 9 points from various speeding offences, seems to me to indicate a clear lack of observation and a potential danger on the road. Purchased said item to allow him to speed with impunity and zapped again in a 40mph zone. Good ridance to him. Hopefully his new chauffer will be paying more attention. 
Edited by peterperkins on Friday 31st August 09:26
The PCJ charge could surely be defended by a)I never speed so there's no justice necessary to pervert the course of and b)everyone knows for certain that these speed guns are not even accurate when used in accordance with the guidelines, never mind when waved about casually by these imbeciles in camera vans so you're defending against being caught "speeding" when you're not.
Speeding milkfloats, cars restricted to less than the speeding charge, brick walls doing 40mph, any numbers of other "amusing" anecdotes of potential miscarriages of justice only avoided when the laws of physics prove you're innocent.
If you're clocked doing 110mph and you're car can conveivably do 110mph, you're nicked. You can't get off, you will lose your licence. The fact you were doing 70 is irrelevant. You're guilty until proven innocent, and you cannot prove you're innocent.
And that doesn't even take into account the proven irrelevance of this whole speed measurement nonsense to road safety issues.
Can you wonder at people fitting jammers?
SM
Speeding milkfloats, cars restricted to less than the speeding charge, brick walls doing 40mph, any numbers of other "amusing" anecdotes of potential miscarriages of justice only avoided when the laws of physics prove you're innocent.
If you're clocked doing 110mph and you're car can conveivably do 110mph, you're nicked. You can't get off, you will lose your licence. The fact you were doing 70 is irrelevant. You're guilty until proven innocent, and you cannot prove you're innocent.
And that doesn't even take into account the proven irrelevance of this whole speed measurement nonsense to road safety issues.
Can you wonder at people fitting jammers?
SM
I have little sympathy with the guy, TBH. This has been on the cards for a long time, ever since North Wales Police brought the first prosecutions for using laser jammers probably 3-4 years back. It was fairly well-publicised at the time, as was Dibble's intention to throw the book at and make an example out of anyone they managed to catch doing it.
If he was daft enough to leave it on without making sure that his story was watertight i.e. fitting an automatic opener to his garage, he is the author of his own misfortune.
If he was daft enough to leave it on without making sure that his story was watertight i.e. fitting an automatic opener to his garage, he is the author of his own misfortune.
Edited by Lurking Lawyer on Friday 31st August 10:57
What a stump, at least make sure the garage was clear.
For someone doing that number of miles each year you could argue that there is a strong chance of getting points on your license but I used to do 30K + every year and never got points (and I dont drive slow). You just need to use some common sense.
Deserves everything he got, serves him right for having a RR.
For someone doing that number of miles each year you could argue that there is a strong chance of getting points on your license but I used to do 30K + every year and never got points (and I dont drive slow). You just need to use some common sense.
Deserves everything he got, serves him right for having a RR.
nine6four said:
140k miles a year? Surely that isn't possible? Another porky pie?
I used to do 40k a year and found that tough enough whilst having to a job in-between. Mind you I did manage keep a clean license!
How the heck does he doe 140,000 miles a year?I used to do 40k a year and found that tough enough whilst having to a job in-between. Mind you I did manage keep a clean license!
Edited by nine6four on Friday 31st August 12:43
8hrs a day at 60mph true average (which is hard to do) 480miles a day x 5 days = 2400 a week x 52 assuming no holidays 124,800 miles.
superlightr said:
nine6four said:
140k miles a year? Surely that isn't possible? Another porky pie?
I used to do 40k a year and found that tough enough whilst having to a job in-between. Mind you I did manage keep a clean license!
How the heck does he doe 140,000 miles a year?I used to do 40k a year and found that tough enough whilst having to a job in-between. Mind you I did manage keep a clean license!
Edited by nine6four on Friday 31st August 12:43
8hrs a day at 60mph true average (which is hard to do) 480miles a day x 5 days = 2400 a week x 52 assuming no holidays 124,800 miles.
He should be banned purely for being stupid! 140,000 miles a year hmmm
Having said that WHY WHY WHY COULDN'T A MAGISTRATE LOOKING AT ALL THE FACTS ADD UP!!
THATS QUITE SCARY!!
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