A radar detector supplier is claiming compensation from the government on behalf of motorists who use its device. The company is asking for up to £2m or a £100 per motorist. The company's move follows the proposal in last year's Road Safety Bill, to ban radar detectors -- though not GPS-based devices. PistonHeads covered the story last month (link below).
Mark Cornwall, boss of UK-based Car Parts Direct which has a five year agreement to supply the Quintezz XT7000 radar detector (right) here, has asked transport minister Alistair Darling to leave the law alone and allow motorists to continue to use their speed trap detection device.
Cornwall said, "Our radar detector does exactly what a speed camera is supposed to do - it advises a motorist to check their speed and keep within the limits of the law. It is a road safety device that has helped thousands of motorists keep their driving licence and avoided hefty speeding fines. Alistair Darling has demonstrated once again his greed for speed camera cash – road safety is just a feeble excuse to extort easy money from the motorist."
Cornwall said that his local MP had seen information from within the government showing conclusively that the only valid reason proposed for banning radar detectors was financial. The other reason the government put forward, said Cornwall, was technically incorrect. "They said that detectors set off supermarket door openers but of course it's the other way round."
Cornwall added that he will do everything possible to make sure the law remains unchanged. He said, “While ever there are speed cameras we will have huge demand – and we will also continue to supply the Quintezz and pay the cost of the £60 speeding ticket to our customers – it’s about the only defence the motorist has left against speed cameras.”
Mobile speed cameras are of course a huge source of government income. One police officer managed to give 329 tickets in five hours, raising nearly £20,000 in revenue, said Cornwall. Police overtime pay is regularly given to officers willing to carry out the mobile speed checks.
Cornwall caused outrage with the Government last year when he announced that any motorist using their device who is unfortunate enough to receive a speeding ticket would have the cost of their fine paid.
Cornwall said: “Any customer purchasing our Quintezz XT7000 Radar detector will have up to £100 refunded to them if the Government manages to ban the product within 12 months of purchase. We will then take action against Alistair Darling to recover the costs from the Government – and the Government fails to pay, further action will be taken through the European Court of Human Rights.”
Quintezz XT7000 Radar Detector: www.carparts-direct.co.uk
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