Earl Purple wrote:
People are more likely to know them in context on the road than just seeing a diagram of some lines.
Anyway, in spite of what you have said, I think "rights" do have a lot to do with this case.
You have no idea how difficult it is to get charges laid for "inconsiderate and even dangerous" In fact - in the latter - we usually go for "careless" as easier to secure a conviction and get the danger removed by way of ban.
Am baffled by what Ed says anyway... we have to have the evidence to get CPS lay charges in the first place. I do not understand how any cop can claim an edge line constitutes a "cycle lane" if I understand correctly here.
I have never come across any police officer long career to date booking and pressing charges nor CPS going for it on such apparetnly flimsy grounds.
Truth will out in long run anyway.
If there was something biased in this prosecution - my Mum always told me that "what goes around - comes around with knobs on!"
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Was he holding up other drivers? Yes. But that does not necessarily mean he was illegally causing an obstruction. Otherwise, as others have said, any driver on the road is causing an obstruction. The fact that one has an alternative route to the destination is irrelevant.
But it depends on the perception. There is one item in Ed's post above which I would suggest he re-reads and thinks hard about. CPS will pick and grill over it. Not suggesting anything "untoward" in Ed's behaviour but it can open up some awkward questions on the stand: I think it only right if we are to help Ed that he reads one sentence up there and considers how to field the questions when on the stand. Am not going to say what it is... BC will start off on one again
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Effectively the judgement was that he had no legitimate right to use that particular road.
As it comes across - neither prosecution nor the defence could prove the case to the D.J - and he was probably confused by the overwhelming expert witness input. A few photos of the site, the path, and photocopies of relevant Cycle Craft pages/Proficiency/National Standard criteria/Know Your Road Signs and the Highway Code with reard to solid whites and "non legal" rquirement re cycle paths would have been short
and sweet to the point!
Even though I passed comment that the judge was the same one who acquitted Milton over the speeding charges is really neither here nor there. Speeding and inconsiderate cycling are separate issues and West Mercia did not have a requirement for explicit permission to "test cars" whilst on duty at the time. Owing to public and media outcry - all 43 forces are harmonising procedures. As for Milton - going to appeal on point of law again anyway and he was still discharged without judiicial and statutory punishment for dangerous driving.
For record - do not condone and every Force I have been with over the years has always insisted on procedure being followed regarding training and familiarising ourselves with our " toys!"
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By the way, I think it is not enough if he wins the appeal that he just "goes free". I think the police who reported him and the judge who found him guilty should be found accountable. How about making the judge pay £300 in compensation?
Oh yeah..
You not heard then of the blokes wrongly accused of murder .. recent cases the Rochdale and Bakewell murders whereby some slow learner was jailed for murder and then found innocent. Compensation for miscarriage of justice, wrongful deprivation of liberty had costs of board and lodging at HM pleasure deducted. The women convicted by virtue of an "anything but expert witness" will receive very little compo - if any per the tabloid press.
Life's a bitch and seems to short term to favour those who can manipulate and defraud. Slippery and they silther though our fingers. They'll suffer in senile years - hopefully
I do not have the same respect for elderly suffering criminals as I would for war veterans and other steady old folk - let's put it that way.
I wish a long lingering real suffering for them and a short but happy-ish "senile/ga-ga" existence for other old boys and girls.
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Lucky it was him and not me. If it had been me it would have made a real criminal out of me. I have enough road-rage incidents as it is.
Road rage solves nothing. It just adds to the problems and the violence and mindless, nonsensical deaths.
Best to drive and ride to COAST.. pre-empt and defend against problems. Makes life a lot simpler.