One mans Protest .....
Author
Discussion

the Wiz

Original Poster:

5,875 posts

282 months

Monday 18th August 2003
quotequote all
From www.safespeed.org.uk/index.html

www.aylesburytoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=789&ArticleID=573455

(Monday August 11) An angry motorist has taken to standing by the side of the road to warn fellow drivers there are police speed traps ahead, after being caught speeding in a 30mph zone.

Paul Newman, of Taylor Road, Southcourt, Aylesbury, was recorded doing 40mph on the gyratory in June.

He has refused to pay a £60 fine and has now begun standing close to where he was caught with a sign reading '30mph speed trappers ahead!'

But police have warned Mr Newman he could be arrested for trying to warn other motorists about potential traps ( )and told him that if he cannot keep within the speed limit he should stop driving.

Explaining his stand, Mr Newman said: "I respect the law and understand the issue of speed and its problems, but it is out of order that the police can do this kind of thing. "On the motorway you are given ten to 15 miles grace, I just want to see a bit of leeway when you are keeping up with the flow of traffic."

Mr Newman has been taking to the gyratory three times a week with his warning sign and says he has received hoots and waves of support from the majority of motorists.

The minimum penalty for speeding is a £60 fine and three points on your licence but Mr Newman says he would rather go to prison than suffer the humiliation of such a punishment. "They may as well lock me up as they are treating me like a hardened criminal," he added.

Despite the threat of arrest Mr Newman plans to continue his protest.

He said: "We have lost our freedom, as soon as we step outside our front door we are being told what to do. The police should warn us that they are checking speed like they have to with the speed cameras. It is not fair, good citizens are being made to feel like criminals."

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "Mr Newman is breaking the law as he is causing an obstruction, if he is caught then he will be dealt with accordingly. Thames Valley Police believe that if drivers cannot stay within the speed limits then they should give up their licence."

aka keith

80 posts

280 months

Monday 18th August 2003
quotequote all

standing by the side of the road to warn fellow drivers there are police speed traps .......But police have warned Mr Newman he could be arrested for trying to warn other motorists about potential traps .....
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "Mr Newman is breaking the law as he is causing an obstruction, if he is caught then he will be dealt with accordingly.

Hopefully I am not asking an old old questions but could one of our friendly BIB's explain how this guy is "causing an obstruction"
Cheers

deltaf

6,806 posts

273 months

Monday 18th August 2003
quotequote all
Obviously he's obstructing hedgehogs on the verge...silly!
The obstruction theyre referring to is the obstruction of officers carrying out their duties!!! Complete bullshit of course!
He's obstructing an officer from extracting revenue? Or is he obstructing an officer from catching "people" speeding? Hmmmmmm which one is it then BOYS?
All the time we hear the same bollox from the scamera partnerships, "No we dont want to catch people" .."No its not about revenue"...yeah right, I -DONT -THINK -SO!
LIARS and HYPOCRITS they are.
MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY! Thats where the priority lies, otherwise theyd welcome this guys efforts to slow people down!!!

gshughes

1,317 posts

275 months

Monday 18th August 2003
quotequote all
I think obstruction is one of the catch alls they use, A bit like "behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace". ie we all do it simply by breathing, but it is only arrestable if they want/need to arrest you.

dontlift

9,396 posts

278 months

Monday 18th August 2003
quotequote all
aka keith said:
Mr Newman is breaking the law as he is causing an obstruction, if he is caught then he will be dealt with accordingly.


Dont worry so long as he moves very slowly they will never even see him

Munta

304 posts

269 months

Monday 18th August 2003
quotequote all
I'd like to see them try to take him to court. It would make an interesting test case and I would be happy to pay towards a fighting fund.

pwig

11,997 posts

290 months

Monday 18th August 2003
quotequote all
Its only what the AA were set up to do! .. _so_ unoriginal

====

What we got here is, failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach, so you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it... well.... HE GETS IT!!!

I dont like it anymore than you do.