Safe Speed Forums

Since receiving my NIP dated 17/8, I've been over to pepipoo and have received some useful advice. I have my own compelling photographic evidence that the signage in the 1.1 mile 30mph section where I was caught is defective. There is no street lighting (rural road).

I understand that the legislation quoted in this thread title says something along the lines of "a motorist shall not be convicted of a speeding offence if the signs are defective". Can anyone supply a URL where I can find the entire text of this Act?

I have an appointment with a solicitor on Wednesday, who will be advising me of the judicial process and how to present my evidence to the Court. Wish me luck!

What I'd really like to be able to do is to have quashed the convictions of all the other motorists who were caught at that same spot that day, and to write to each one of them inviting them to join SafeSpeed.

GOOD LUCK

_________________
Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

If I may suggest, it may be best to concentrate on winning your own case first, since it may just prove to be a little more difficult, costly and time consuming than you think.

Good luck, hope you are successful and let us know how you get on.

Good point, Dr. L, and well received.

The solicitor I'm due to see next week normally charges £190/hr. As he himself pointed out, it would be cheaper to pay the fine and (as I have none as yet) take the points. When he realised that I'd already received competent advice (from here and from pepipoo, although I didn't reveal my sources) he seemed to think that our meeting would take about half an hour, if that, and intends to charge me £50+VAT.

I don't care about the expense. I'm going through with this. I might not win the case but I'll give it a good try.

When I first started driving in the 70s, the only speed limit you'd see on a rural road might be a 50 in various places. I always remember thinking, back then, that if there was a 50, it was there for a valid reason. Now, my feeling has changed. There is no doubt in my mind that limits are being set to create entrapment opportunities for the authorities.

When my father was alive, until 1997, he used to speak of a 30mph zone as a "built up area". That's how it was in his day. The terms "30mph zone" and "built up area" were synonymous. Not any more - and unless we fight back (and be prepared to lose some battles before we can win the war) then the situation we see on our roads will just get worse and worse. How would you like it if the motorway speed limit were reduced to 60, or 50? (50 was tried in 1974, and yes - some MPs wanted it to become permanent). Could you live with 30mph on all rural roads?

You could try, Clive Burton, Nottingham; Tel: 07970657046, Email burtonmail@gmail.com

He is willing do legal aid work, but was not able to get that in my case, so I had to represent myself in court.

He was very helpful to me and provided useful advice. When I won my case and was able to claim costs for him of £250.

He is listed on Richard Bentley's site at;
http://web.mac.com/rmbscarb/iWeb/rmbcon ... Links.html

Be prepared to lose, which could cost about £400 in fines and costs, but you will learn a lot about the process so you will be much better prepared the next time around and even more determined to fight-back.

I regret that even if you win you are unlikely to be reimbursed for more than the basic travel costs and not for your lost time and effort, but even so it is a good feeling.

Take a look at the speed signing requirements at http://www.abd.org.uk/speed_limit_signs.htm

Also contact your MP. See Paul’s notes about that elsewhere on this site. Contact details given at;
http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/alms.cfm
http://www.dodonline.co.uk/
www.faxyourmp.com