Stopping Scamera Vans
Discussion
The tread on the Van in Reading has got me thinking. What would be the legal position if one were to park next to a van and block the camera from seeing the traffic properly.
Most scamera vans I have seen tend to park in a layby. As we all have the right to use laybys as and when we wish what is to stop us parking in front of the vans. The operators are civis so they would have no right to make us move or to charge us with perverting the course of justice or anything like that.
If enough people did this, then the money they raise would just disappear.
Alternatively, If you know that a van is zapping drivers, how about putting a sign up before the van - "Slow Down - Scamera Ahead". No offence would be commited as the sign will slow people down which is after all what the vans are there for. If the police tried to procecute, it would make an interesting test case. I think a pile of signs in my car ready for this purpose may be in order
Most scamera vans I have seen tend to park in a layby. As we all have the right to use laybys as and when we wish what is to stop us parking in front of the vans. The operators are civis so they would have no right to make us move or to charge us with perverting the course of justice or anything like that.
If enough people did this, then the money they raise would just disappear.
Alternatively, If you know that a van is zapping drivers, how about putting a sign up before the van - "Slow Down - Scamera Ahead". No offence would be commited as the sign will slow people down which is after all what the vans are there for. If the police tried to procecute, it would make an interesting test case. I think a pile of signs in my car ready for this purpose may be in order
? 
As I said, putting up signs prevents a crime and therefore can not be perverting the course of justice. If it went to court, the CPS would have to argue that the placing of a sign prevented them from catching speeding drivers. But as no crime has been commited by the drivers no crime can have been commited by the person placing the sign.
The national press would have a field day and the Scamera partnership would be show to be a sham.
The national press would have a field day and the Scamera partnership would be show to be a sham.
ledfoot said:
Apparently our have threatened anyone warning motorists of a camera with perverting the course of justice.
I remember reading a long time ago that flashing headlamps at oncoming traffic to warn of speed traps is also an offence.
But the police already put signs up to warn motorists of speed traps. This would just be clarifying the position and would be supporting the police in the "Speed Kills" campaign.
You guys are cracking me up.
I was thinking I was going mad, as I have often considered sticking signs up to warn people of an impending burden on their pockets by means of scamera van.
Instead I have always just resorted to waving my arms about like a madman further down the road to give people a subtle hint
"Honest officer all of those people driving past were my friends which is why I was waving at them"
We need to decide on appropriate wording I think then launch our "help the scamera van campaign"
I was thinking I was going mad, as I have often considered sticking signs up to warn people of an impending burden on their pockets by means of scamera van.
Instead I have always just resorted to waving my arms about like a madman further down the road to give people a subtle hint
"Honest officer all of those people driving past were my friends which is why I was waving at them"
We need to decide on appropriate wording I think then launch our "help the scamera van campaign"
I am no legal expert, but surely encouraging motorists to NOT break the speed limit is in no way, shape or form perverting the course of justice? Why, it's good citizenship at it's finest - your fellow motorist avoids an NIP and will thank you with a cheery wave, simultaneously reducing stress and road rage, the accident rate will obviously plunge, as we all know speed kills, court time will be freed up for dealing with real criminals, thus engendering a positive relationship with the forces of law and order, and the safety partnership people will have lots of lovely reduced accident rates to marvel at. Of course, they won't be making any money, but then we all know that their motives are pure, so this really shouldn't be an issue should it.....
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