Getting Rid Of Speeding Tickets – Can It Happen
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Getting Rid Of Speeding Tickets – Can It Happen
Look at these examples of how you can get rid off speeding fines. They all have a common link. You must find some technical fault with what the traffic authorities and the police have done in bringing the prosecution. That happens more often than people think.
A supervisor for the camera enforcement unit told the court he wasn’t certain when the signs went on display in a new speed limit area. He said it would have helped everybody greatly if signs had been placed on all the approach roads to show the change in speed limit. – The driver got off.
The signs had a black border around a speed camera logo which infringed the Road Traffic Regulation Act. – The driver got off.
The speed had been reduced from 40mph to 30mph, but only one signpost was present, it was on the right-hand side of the road, and it wasn’t illuminated. Thus, at night, it was almost invisible. – The driver got off.
The most valuable piece of evidence I had in court was a photograph of the scene with the missing signpost. It was shown that the form had been signed by a clerk who had not been authorized to sign forms on behalf of the Chief Constable. – Case not proceeded with.
A speed camera was set to 30mph, yet there were no 30mph signs upon entering the village. The police alleged that the presence of street lighting indicated a 30mph limit. In a temporary 40mph speed limit not only were the speed limit signs deficient, but the highway authority had made mistakes in making the temporary traffic regulation orders. – The drivers all got off.
The authorities had to refund thousands of fines after a judge discovered the police had been printing signatures on forms rather than getting an officer to check and sign each one. The signature had been scanned and added by computer.
Where most cameras are situated:
The Yellow cameras
Most of them are on Main Roads going into towns. Many are placed near schools. You get plenty of warning signs as a camera drawn on a white background. Officially, speed cameras are designed to slow the traffic, and not to catch people out.
Variable limit cameras
On Motorways, the big ring roads around some cities often have Variable Speed limits imposed when there is heavy traffic. It is vital not to exceed the speed limits flashed on the bridges which can change minute by minute.
Average speed cameras
Very nasty cameras record the average speed between two points several miles apart. These are commonly used on the outside fastest lane of long-standing roadworks on motorways. It is very easy indeed to slightly exceed the limit over the distance and be caught. What is not widely known is that at the time of writing, such cameras only record the speed across one carriageway, either the nearside lane or the outside lane.
If you think you have been caught by the first camera and cannot realistically slow down sufficiently, there may be no parking places, then you could try switching to a different lane to exit. It is best to travel on the inside, usually a slower lane, all the time in roadworks.
Laser gun cameras
These are operated by specialist police units and are moved around to strategic points, either on motorway bridges or, more commonly, on roads on the outskirts of towns or in villages. They may be in place only for a couple of hours before being moved on. For example, someone may kick up a fuss about local speeding and the Police will send a laser team at regular intervals to the spot.
Police cars. Police cars can record your speed from in front of you as well as behind and they use video cameras to do so. Again, they are anxious not to be the cause of any accident if you stop suddenly, so you may find that it is easier to catch you speeding on an empty motorway at 1:00 am than it is during rush hour.
Speed signs
There are often flaws in the traffic order setting the speed limits and your lawyer may be able to get you off on a technicality. If speed signs are obscured by foliage or if, at the start of a restriction area, there is not a sign placed on either side of the road, then this may get you off if you can prove it with photos. Take a digital camera in your car.
A few tips if stopped by traffic police:
They tell you not to argue with any policeman who stops you, but you must not admit the offense even if you are guilty. Any admission, however slight, and you are lost in Court. Just say your solicitor advises you always to say nothing until he is present. If you upset them with a vigorous argument, they could look around your vehicle and check your tires or brakes. If your tires are poor, you could get another offense.
Don’t upset the police. On the other hand, if the policeman is on his own, and particularly if he is not a specialized traffic policeman, then I have always found it better to get out of the car, hold up my hands and say something like that was the worst driving I have done in years Officer. A senior police officer friend of mine has the same view. It is a judgment call.
How your lawyer may get you off
Your defense may lie in finding something wrong with the police procedure or with the local authorities not signing the roads properly. Thousands of motorists have paid fines without challenge when they might even be due to get their money. Many mistakes are made by the authorities, or by the police. A bit of effort on your part and you might get off.
If you can, keep a digital camera in the car with you, stop the car or go back to the site and photograph the speed signs, distances between them, distance markings in the road, and obstructions. You’ve got to give your lawyer all the help you can. You can ask for copies of the photographs they have taken, but this may be resisted unless you plead not guilty. A lawyer is needed really, but you need to find a specialist in this law. He or she can request copies of the traffic orders to see if the restrictions were legally imposed.
More great blogs here:
https://www.butlerandprimeau.com/red-cars-and-traffic-tickets/
https://www.sambrandlaw.com/about-moving-violations/
https://www.petergoldsteinlawfirm.com/types-of-traffic-violations/
https://www.thaddavidson.com/traffic-violations-lawyer-san-antonio/
https://www.keithsaylorlaw.net/traffic-violation-lawyer/
https://www.irvingattorney.net/speeding-ticket-attorney/
https://www.griffithlaw.net/speeding-high-speed-ticket-defense/
https://www.siringolaw.com/traffic-violations-lawyer/
