Cyclist condemns red light fine
Discussion
Cyclist condemns red light fine
A Bristol cyclist is condemning a decision to prosecute him for riding through a red light early in the morning, as a waste of public money.
Chris Adams was issued with a fixed penalty notice by a police officer near Queens Road last December.
He appealed against the fine, but says magistrates went ahead with the case, which involved three costly hearings.
A police spokesman said officers have to respond if they see an offence being committed in front of them.
Inspector Mike Cox said: "Cyclists have a responsibility to the Road Traffic Act.
"We don't go out to target them, but if it happens in front of us, we have to deal with it."
We're living in a world where it's imperative to get people out of their cars and this sort of thing doesn't encourage people onto their bikes
Chris Adams, cyclist
He added: "Other members of the public will feel we were right to do this."
He admitted that police have a range of options when dealing with an offence, but said the officer in this case felt it was necessary to issue a fine.
But Mr Adams, who was ordered to pay £30 with £100 costs, said: "It was 5.55am, I was surprised when the police stopped me, I was the only traffic on the road.
"Not only is it a waste of time and money on both sides, there is another important issue.
"We're living in a world where it's imperative to get people out of their cars and this sort of thing doesn't encourage people onto their bikes."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/br
A Bristol cyclist is condemning a decision to prosecute him for riding through a red light early in the morning, as a waste of public money.
Chris Adams was issued with a fixed penalty notice by a police officer near Queens Road last December.
He appealed against the fine, but says magistrates went ahead with the case, which involved three costly hearings.
A police spokesman said officers have to respond if they see an offence being committed in front of them.
Inspector Mike Cox said: "Cyclists have a responsibility to the Road Traffic Act.
"We don't go out to target them, but if it happens in front of us, we have to deal with it."
We're living in a world where it's imperative to get people out of their cars and this sort of thing doesn't encourage people onto their bikes
Chris Adams, cyclist
He added: "Other members of the public will feel we were right to do this."
He admitted that police have a range of options when dealing with an offence, but said the officer in this case felt it was necessary to issue a fine.
But Mr Adams, who was ordered to pay £30 with £100 costs, said: "It was 5.55am, I was surprised when the police stopped me, I was the only traffic on the road.
"Not only is it a waste of time and money on both sides, there is another important issue.
"We're living in a world where it's imperative to get people out of their cars and this sort of thing doesn't encourage people onto their bikes."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/br
However.......... (and no i'm not a cyclist)
You dont have to take any tests to cycle on public roads, so suppose (somehow - maybe you arrived from Mars or Venus) you have no idea what a traffic light is and there is no test for you to have passed to say you are fit to cycle on the public roads. What then? Where is there a compulsion for a cyclist to have read the Highway Code?
You dont have to take any tests to cycle on public roads, so suppose (somehow - maybe you arrived from Mars or Venus) you have no idea what a traffic light is and there is no test for you to have passed to say you are fit to cycle on the public roads. What then? Where is there a compulsion for a cyclist to have read the Highway Code?
Thing is, is this case it might have been perfectly safe and indeed a waste of time for the police/magistrates/perp. But this is a bit like speeding. I happily go through red lights on my bike but only after taking proper precautions to make sure I'm not endangering myself or others. I do the same with speeding.
A little common sense is needed in both cases. A cyclist can safely cross a red light just as a car driver can safely speed.
Rules are for the guidance of the wise, and the strict adherence of the stupid.
SM
A little common sense is needed in both cases. A cyclist can safely cross a red light just as a car driver can safely speed.
Rules are for the guidance of the wise, and the strict adherence of the stupid.
SM
supermono said:
Thing is, is this case it might have been perfectly safe and indeed a waste of time for the police/magistrates/perp. But this is a bit like speeding. I happily go through red lights on my bike but only after taking proper precautions to make sure I'm not endangering myself or others. I do the same with speeding.
A little common sense is needed in both cases. A cyclist can safely cross a red light just as a car driver can safely speed.
Rules are for the guidance of the wise, and the strict adherence of the stupid.
SM
A little common sense is needed in both cases. A cyclist can safely cross a red light just as a car driver can safely speed.
Rules are for the guidance of the wise, and the strict adherence of the stupid.
SM
By that "logic", why not cross red lights when in your car?
That's interesting - on the local news this morning he was quoted as maintaining his innocence. Clearly that was bollox.
Good. I can sympathise with being annoyed at having to wait at a red light when there's nothing coming but its high time all road users understood that they all have to abide by the same set of rules when using the road.
Good. I can sympathise with being annoyed at having to wait at a red light when there's nothing coming but its high time all road users understood that they all have to abide by the same set of rules when using the road.
percy flage said:
By that "logic", why not cross red lights when in your car?
It would be very unusual, but there are some circumstances where that would actually be the sensible thing to do. I'm not pretending that anyone should drive through red lights as a matter of course, but if a traffic light appeared faulty, would you sit there like a lemon until the council got round to fixing it, or would you wait until it was safe and then carefully drive through it? There are no absolute rights or wrongs, common sense is needed.
Inspector Mike Cox said: "Cyclists have a responsibility to the Road Traffic Act.
"We don't go out to target them, but if it happens in front of us, we have to deal with it."
We're living in a world where it's imperative to get people out of their cars and this sort of thing doesn't encourage people onto their bikes
"We don't go out to target them, but if it happens in front of us, we have to deal with it."
We're living in a world where it's imperative to get people out of their cars and this sort of thing doesn't encourage people onto their bikes
Inspector Mike Cox said: "Cyclists have a responsibility to the Road Traffic Act.
"We don't go out to target them, but if it happens in front of us, we have to deal with it."
We're living in a world where it's imperative to get people out of their cars and this sort of thing doesn't encourage people onto their bikes
Get people out of their cars? What is a cop doing poking his nose into politics? Very revealing quote methinks.
"We don't go out to target them, but if it happens in front of us, we have to deal with it."
We're living in a world where it's imperative to get people out of their cars and this sort of thing doesn't encourage people onto their bikes
Get people out of their cars? What is a cop doing poking his nose into politics? Very revealing quote methinks.
Good. About time.
Cyclist who run red lights should have penalty points put on their licences.
A significant number of them appear to believe that the law does not apply to them, self righteous c
s
"Saving the planet, me...."
Cock off.
And another thing while I'm at it. They should ALL have complusory third party insurance.
/bigbrother tourettes MODE/ *cough* W@NKERS *cough* /big borther tourettes MODE off/
Cyclist who run red lights should have penalty points put on their licences.
A significant number of them appear to believe that the law does not apply to them, self righteous c
s "Saving the planet, me...."
Cock off.
And another thing while I'm at it. They should ALL have complusory third party insurance.
/bigbrother tourettes MODE/ *cough* W@NKERS *cough* /big borther tourettes MODE off/
Edited by Vesuvius 996 on Friday 14th July 12:02
So the cyclist is suggesting that the police are wasting public money prosecuting him yet is prepared to appeal against it and create three hearings instead of paying up a £30 fine for something he admits he did.
FFS You got caught doing something you shouldn't. Your choice, your problem. Stop whinging act like a man, take your punishment and GROW UP.
FFS You got caught doing something you shouldn't. Your choice, your problem. Stop whinging act like a man, take your punishment and GROW UP.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff