Safe Speed Forums

I didn’t read your old post at the time Barkstar. I think you were unlucky to be followed by a cop to be honest because I just don’t see them much these days.

If you are over the limit or a druggy, so long as you don’t draw attention to yourself while driving I think these times have never been so good for you!

I live in the UK’s second largest city yet I see very few traf pols. The ones I do see are always on another mission somewhere. The last time I was stopped was so long ago I have to approximate, so about 1986ish I think. The over-reliance on automation has not only made our roads more unsafe but is not catching the truly dangerous.

If I weren’t so old I think I would join the Force because I would love to get bad drivers, including those speeding in the wrong place/time/situation. I’m not contradicting myself here either. My road is narrow with parked cars the whole length and yet drivers come hacking down at 40-45mph in the wet! I’ve changed my cycle route to work because of them in fact.

The really scary thing for me is that people are worshiping money more than ever - and with good reason. Without it you get second rate, or no, legal representation and second rate health care etc. etc. The list is endless and it just creates a society of greed out of necessity to survive.

I’ve depressed myself now.

_________________
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

The judicial independence of court clerks is guaranteed in law and they are obliged, via their contract of employment, to offer accurate and unbiased advice to unrepresented defendants. Such advice will be given without being asked for if the clerk considers it necessary to do so in the interests of justice. As a clerk is not allowed to conduct a case on behalf of a defendant there will be occasions, in particularly complicated cases, when that advice may be for the defendant to engage the services of a lawyer. Or, when the defendant has no viable defence, to plead guilty.

The quickest way for a clerk to lose his job and pension would be to side with the prosecution to the disadvantage of the defendant. The second quickest way would be to advise not guilty pleas by defendants who have no defence.

_________________
I am not a lawyer and can't give legal advice. I do have experience of the day to day working of courts and use that knowledge to help where possible. I do not represent any official body and post as an individual.

That might just be the case in your court fisherman but i can assure you that it is not in North Wales or Shropshire from bitter experience. The clerk has his nose in the same funding trough as the camera partnership and fellow travellers. The judicial independence of court clerks is of course guaranteed in law .....its just not the case in practice

_________________
Richard Ceen
We live in a time where emotions and feelings count far more than the truth, and there is a vast ignorance of science (James Lovelock 2005)

There was a piece on the radio this morning about a judge saying that funding the court service from fine income was a clear conflict of interest. This was to do with the funding cuts planned for the courts and how money was to be raised in future.

However independent you might think you are, if the choice is no income or justice served, how do you think fines will be set? This is just one more example of how our country is decaying.

_________________
Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

Funding ANY part of government expendeture from fine income represents a conflict of intertest!

_________________
"The road to a police state is paved with public safety legislation"

Quite.
And how much of a conflict does going to court for speeding represent, when the court itself is part of the prosecution ?
All-in-all, the fines funding the court is just another brick in the wall....

_________________
The world runs on oil, period. No other substance can compete when it comes to energy density, flexibility, ease of handling, ease of transportation. If oil didn’t exist we would have to invent it.”

56 years after it was decided it was needed, the Bedford Bypass is nearing completion. The last single carriageway length of it.We have the most photogenic mayor though, always being photographed doing nothing

What should be done with the income when citizens use their government to fine wrongdoers? Should it be used for good stuff (hospitals, schools, wars against our enemies ...)?

How about recompense to the victims of the crime?

So in the case of speeding it would go to - Oh, wait a minute.

_________________
Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

Society is the "general" victim of crime, so perhaps a tax cut is right?
Or, if not that, at least a reduction in the next tax rise!

I too do not think fines should fund government. The simple reason is that to raise £1000 by taxation might cost £100 needing £1100 to be raised To raise £1000 through fines would cost £1000+ in administration let alone enforcement. so in excess of £2000 of fines need to be issued. If the public become wise they stop commiting the offence and the revenue drops needing further legislation and rule bending as we are seeing here.

If the motorist are winning more cases It just goes to show they need to make thier cases more watertight by doing everything by the book. signs, detection, traffic orders, sumonses, evidence. From my experiance they havn't done even the basics right.

_________________
Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code

Fantastic post.

Take your evidence to the media. The Mail would be delighted to run with it and will do lots of research at no cost to you. The clerk concerned can then join the dole queue and possibly get a seat on the cell bus from court to the nearest jail.

_________________
I am not a lawyer and can't give legal advice. I do have experience of the day to day working of courts and use that knowledge to help where possible. I do not represent any official body and post as an individual.

Followed immediately by Cindy Barnett (chair of the magistrates association) pointing out that almost all fines are imposed by JPs who have no pay packet or career to protect and thus no conflict of interest could arise.

_________________
I am not a lawyer and can't give legal advice. I do have experience of the day to day working of courts and use that knowledge to help where possible. I do not represent any official body and post as an individual.

When did this happen? Last time I was in court the CPS were still prosecuting, and still protecting their legally guaranteed independence to do so free from interference by the courts.

_________________
I am not a lawyer and can't give legal advice. I do have experience of the day to day working of courts and use that knowledge to help where possible. I do not represent any official body and post as an individual.

Excellent. I'll immediately discount any utterances by judges in future.

_________________
Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.