Gaoled speeder to fight in European court
Issue is speed cameras as revenue raisers, not safety devices
The issue of speed cameras as revenue raisers is to be debated in the European Court of Human Rights, thanks to motorist Ernest Harbon.
Harbon was sent to gaol because he refused to pay a £60 speeding fine. He was driving on an open country road with no visible speed limit signs. He assumed the limit was 40mph but was snapped by a hidden mobile speed camera and prosecuted for doing 38mph in a 30mph limit.
After refusing to pay on principle, he was sent to gaol for 14 days, reduced to seven days for good behaviour. Since leaving gaol, Harbon has been ill with depression, has lost both his job and his licence -- something the Government does if you refuse to admit to the crime.
He said he has received thousands of letters of goodwill from the public -- and the doctor who examined him in prison shook his hand and congratulated him on his stand once he found out what Harbon was in for.
Harbon said that the hidden mobile speed camera was illegally placed and that there were no visible speed limit signs, although with neither licence nor job he cannot afford the cash to support his case.
Ernest has found a cause. He went to Carparts Direct's Web site and left his story online. The company is on a crusade to stop the Government banning radar detectors. Car Parts Direct supplies the Quintezz XT7000 speed camera spotter, which can detect the 2,500 mobile cameras .
Car Parts Direct caused outrage when it announced that motorists using their £199 Quintezz camera detection device would have their £60 speeding ticket paid if they received a ticket while their unit was fitted.
Mark Cornwall of Car Parts Direct said, “The Government love easy money from the motorist – Ernest had no chance. The Government wants to catch and fine motorists – it’s not about slowing them down – the Quintezz radar detector is about the only defence the motorist has left.”
At the last count 15,059 motorists were in prison for various motoring offences – yet only 10,178 housebreakers were under lock and key. Speed camera revenue was around £112 million last year – and still rising. A £60 speeding ticket is issued about every 15 seconds, and 286,186 motorists have had their driving licences taken away – most due to the speed camera points system.
The Government admits to using hidden mobile cameras and says that radar detectors are affecting its income. Mark Cornwall said that sales of the Quintezz radar detector are strong with motorists desperate to keep their licences – and avoid fines. Cornwall added “A MORI poll found that a motorist with a radar detector is 28 per cent less likely to have an accident – it is a road safety device too.”
Cornwall said: “Alistair Darling should keep the Quintezz radar detector as it is now – legal to buy and to use. Alternatively, he should stop the use of hidden speed cameras and motorists would not need our device.
Alistair Darling was unavailable for comment and a spokesman from his office who would only be named as Ian, confirmed the Government would continue to use hidden mobile speed cameras – the spokesman added the Government would not back down on trying to outlaw the Quintezz radar detector.
Ernest Harbon said: “A driver without a radar detector is asking to be banned. When I get my licence back I will not drive without one. It’s easy to slip over the limit. It has wrecked my life.”
article said:
He was driving on an open country road with no visible speed limit signs. He assumed the limit was 40mph
Then he obviously has never read the highway code, in the absence of any signage the limit is 30, 60 or, on duals 70, it is never 40. I appreciate his point of view , but this seems to make him a bit of a numpty.
>> Edited by einion yrth on Friday 18th February 07:19
article said:so hundreds of thousands of people have had their much relied upon mode of transportation taken away from them. How many jobs have been lost and families torn apart by this system? And for what? We all know that the current camera policy does nothing for pedestrian or driver safety.
.......and 286,186 motorists have had their driving licences taken away – most due to the speed camera points system
article said:If there are no repeater signs and no streetlamps (sounds like it may have been the case), then one could assume the limit was 60. Imagine the fallout from that!
open country road with no visible speed limit signs. He assumed the limit was 40mph
I’m not being funny or trying to incite anyone, but I really wonder how various members of our government have not yet been the subject of assassination attempts by such disgruntled individuals.
supraman2954 said:Because unlike on the continent, we are a nation of sheep that over the last 25 years have had any shreds of organised dissent and rebellion knocked out of us:-
I’m not being funny or trying to incite anyone, but I really wonder how various members of our government have not yet been the subject of assassination attempts by such disgruntled individuals.
- CND - demonised
- Unions - emasculated and hamstrung by legislation, one by one
- Labour party - abducted by right wing individuals in the mid-1990s - reward offered for safe return!
einion yrth said:
He was driving on an open country road with no visible speed limit signs. He assumed the limit was 40mph
Then he obviously has never read the highway code, in the absence of any signage the limit is 30, 60 or, on duals 70, it is never 40. I appreciate his point of view , but this seems to make him a bit of a numpty.
>> Edited by einion yrth on Friday 18th February 07:19
That must be why all the numpties travel at 40 down my favorite country B road where there are national speed limit signs.
Is it possible to have a speed limit checked and changed ?
Next to the industrial estate where I work there is a stretch of A road about 400- 500 yrds long between 2 round abouts. Each Round about leads to a different inductrial estate, but there are no entrances on this stretch of road. There are street lights. There are no houses, shops, fields, just a pavement across a 20 foot verge. The speed limit is 30 FFS. Beyond the roundabout it become 40, through a small hamlet (Tunnel Top) where there are pub, garage, houses, junctions, and farmers fields.
And guess where the camera van sits ?
jacko lah said:
Next to the industrial estate where I work there is a stretch of A road about 400- 500 yrds long between 2 round abouts. Each Round about leads to a different inductrial estate, but there are no entrances on this stretch of road. There are street lights. There are no houses, shops, fields, just a pavement across a 20 foot verge. The speed limit is 30 FFS. Beyond the roundabout it become 40, through a small hamlet (Tunnel Top) where there are pub, garage, houses, junctions, and farmers fields.
And guess where the camera van sits ?
Just ask "if I wanted to maximise revenue, where would I put the van?..."
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