Thursday 12th January 2006

Speedcam nabs 'dangerous driver'

Case vindicates scameras, say police

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A danger to others?

A man who made "peace signs" at a mobile camera van has been banned for a year having been convicted of dangerous driving. He will be forced to re-sit his test and pay a fine of £90.

The case, reported in The Scotsman, involved driver Sean Toehill, who had four people in the car, said he was having a laugh with his mates. He was not exceeding the 40mph speed limit.

Toehill said he'd acted on the spur of the moment and was not using his hands in an offensive manner. Two days later, police officers came to his door, questioned and charged him.

Fife's road policing chief Joe Swanston said the case showed that speed cameras weren't just there to counter speeding but also against inappropriate driver behaviour. Swanson said that Toehill put his four passengers and other road users at risk by taking his hands off the wheel.

It could also be argued that, had the camera not been there, the driver might not have been so tempted...

^{Picture courtesy www.speedcam.co.uk}

[pdV6]

Driver reacts to speed camera. Camera operator gets the huff. Police prosecute.

"Vindication" for speed cameras? They're really grasping at straws now...

[deltafox]

Wow! 6000+ speed cameras and ONE yes ONE "dangerous driver" nabbed!
Dam i feel sooooooooooooo safe now!


Prick idiotscammers and prick driver.

[ashes]

Surely a pull, quiet word 'Don't be a prat son', driver goes off chatised, jobs done.

1 year ban - surely thats 'cruel and unusual punishment' and human rights legislation?

What is going on here - sounds like the dying days of E Germany......

[Swilly]

Hold on- taking his hands off the wheels.

I do that to change gear

[littleblue]

what a waste of time and money

i often drive one handed, to change gear, adjust the stereo and heating/air con, etc etc etc etc

this is a pathetic waste of public money, bringing this guy to court.

[eccles]

Swilly said:

Hold on- taking his hands off the wheels. I do that to change gear

handS....?

[Gruffy]

The natural assumption would be that the 'peace sign' was perhaps back-to-front and that the police didn't want to let it go. Removing one hand from the wheel - dangerous driving? This sort of case isn't going to do the Scamera Partnerships any favours and I would guess is just the result of a bruised ego.

Personally I'd usually be tempted to give them the peace sign if I spotted them too, but I find sudden braking is more safely executed with both hands on the wheel.

Gruffy

[trax]

What we need to know, is did he take both hands of the wheel, or just one. If one, then not a problem at all. If he took both off the wheel, then not great, but not dangerous driving or one year ban. Sounds very strange to me, unless he swerved all over the road when he took both hands off.

[manek]

He took both hands off, according to the news report.

[711]

Nice to know the Little Hitlers are now in control.

Also notice the ORANGE lights on the Talivan in the photograph, with the rear doors wide open so markings only visible from the sides...highly visible from every angle apart from the one you need to see it from.

[OUTLAW-1]

hes best bet would have have been park up his car legaly, walk up scammer and punch there lights out.

punishment probly a 100 quid fine at local magisttraits court
pluss endless satisfaction.

>> Edited by OUTLAW-1 on Thursday 12th January 11:13

[nel]

Sentence seems well over the top, but then they're trying to make an example of him.

I guess this means that my habit of driving with my knees so I can roll a joint on the way to work wouldn't go down to well then...

[lunarscope]

[redacted]

[lord summerisle]

aye, grab a mate and he can steer for you from the passenger seat while you roll...












...just like my mate used to do, when he was giving me a lift

[PhilWattis]

So if I wind down my window and start giving hand signals (turn left, turn right, slowing down, etc) then I'm driving dangerously?

Better get that highway code changed...

Phil.

[CupraR]

What a joke. Sorry to use a cliché, but why don't they go and do some real work?

[Smok3yMcPot]

That is one of the most petty things i have ever heard. Im sure most people have been temped to give them the fingers from time to time. He wouldnt have committed the "crime" if the scamera van wasn’t there in the first place.

GRRR

[MilnerR]

CupraR said:

What a joke. Sorry to use a cliché, but why don't they go and do some real work?

And risk denting SCP profit margins?

This is crazy! If you mug an old lady you get slap on the wrist and asked not to do it again. You give the V sign to some bloke in a van and all of a sudden your licence (and possibly your livelihood) are taken off you.

This appears to be a case of the authorities wanting members of the public to show them respect even though they have done nothing to earn that respect!

[james_j]

Swilly said:

Hold on- taking his hands off the wheels. I do that to change gear

Quite, it doesn't even sound as if he was even driving dangerously.

These people really are the most pathetic fools. As said above, clutching at straws - do they really think anyone goes along with their camera justification argument. Kin_elllll!

[kooper]

OUTLAW-1 said:

hes best bet would have have been park up his car legaly, walk up scammer and punch there lights out. punishment probly a 100 quid fine at local magisttraits court pluss endless satisfaction. >> Edited by OUTLAW-1 on Thursday 12th January 11:13

Is it just me that thinks that it won't be long until a road-rage style attack on a camera operator leads to one of them being killed? Even normal and rational people, when pushed hard enough, can turn into a Michael Douglas "Falling Down" response.

Also, being a bit stupid, but are there some grounds for the camera/operator being said to be attempting to rob you of £60, so attacking the camera and thus thwarting the robbery is self defence?!