Speed Trap Ahead » Pictures

Driver, 64, who flashed headlights to warn fellow motorists of speed trap hauled to court and fined for ‘obstructing police’

admin — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 03:48:41 +0000

Criminal record: Michael Thompson, seen here outside Grimsby Magistrates’ Court, believed he was doing his ‘civic duty’ by alerting drivers on the opposite side of a dual carriageway

A driver has been convicted of a criminal offence for flashing his headlights at oncoming motorists to warn them of a police speed trap ahead.

Michael Thompson, 64, believed he was doing his ‘civic duty’ by alerting drivers on the opposite side of a dual carriageway.

When stopped by a police officer Thompson disagreed with the suggestion that he was ‘perverting the course of justice’ and was then allegedly told: ’I was going to let you off with a caution – but I’m not now.’

Thompson denied wilfully obstructing a policewoman in the execution of her duty on July 21 last year, but was convicted after a trial at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court.

He ended up £440 out of pocket after being fined £175, ordered to pay £250 costs and a £15 victims’ surcharge.

Thompson of Grimsby, north-east Lincolnshire, told the court he was warning motorists for safety reasons.

He said he had been involved in an accident a year ago when two drivers in front of him braked sharply after seeing a speed trap and although he braked in time another motorist crashed into the back of his vehicle.

‘It is not an offence to warn people of a possible speed trap because of the danger involved with vehicles braking quite hard,’ he claimed.

‘It’s a civic duty to warn people. I flashed my lights. I had a very good reason to warn oncoming motorists, in my opinion. My first thought was:”This may cause an accident.”

‘I tried to warn vehicles that there was a speed trap. Because I challenged the officer he would not let me off with a warning.’

Thompson was pulled up as he headed out of Grimsby on the A46 at 10am. He claimed the officer involved was a ‘Rambo character’ who was acting like ‘Judge Dredd’ in using the law unnecessarily. The officer pictured here is using a speed gun on the A130 in Essex

The stretch of road outside of Grimsby where Thompson was pulled over. He denied willfully obstructing a policewoman in the execution of her duty on July 21 last year, but was convicted after a trial and ended up £440 out of pocket.

The trial took a morning of court time and three officers were involved in giving evidence for the case.

One solicitor at court criticised the decision to prosecute as a ‘ridiculous waste of taxpayers’ money’ and said the defendant, who represented himself, should be praised for his actions.

FROM NOT GETTING A SALUTE TO GPS WARNING SYSTEMS – A HISTORY OF AVOIDING SPEED TRAPS

The history of speed trap evasion dates back more than a century.

Helping motorists to avoid speeding fines was one of the main reasons for the Automobile Association being formed in 1905 – a year after speeding fines and endorsements were introduced into UK law.

The AA’s first patrolmen used bicycles to patrol the streets and warn motorists of police speed traps.

In 1910 a test case established that a patrolman signaling a driver to reduce speed in order to avoid a police speed trap was obstructing an officer.

The AA then developed a coded warning system that lasted until the 1960s. A patrolman (pictured) would salute the driver of a car displaying an AA badge, except in the presence of an approaching speed trap.

This warned the driver to reduce their speed in a way that could never be prosecuted by a court.

When radar detectors came into use in recent times they were thought to be banned under the 1949 Wireless and Telegraphy. But a High Court ruling in 1998 established that devices for detecting radar speed traps were lawful as they did not intercept a ‘message’.

The Road Safety Act which became law in 2006 was intended to clarify the law. It made clear that GPS-based speed trap warning systems were legal as they warned drivers of published camera sites and posted speed limits.

According to the AA, regulations under the act that would enable the Government to ban other radar detecting devices have not so far been enforced, although few such devices are currently on the market.

Defending the decision to prosecute, a spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: ‘Cost is not a consideration in our decision to prosecute.

‘When a file is provided to the CPS from the police, it is our duty to decide whether it presents a realistic prospect of conviction and whether a prosecution is in the public interest.

‘In accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors a prosecution was deemed appropriate.’

Prosecutor John Owston told Thompson he was not trying to avoid an accident occurring. He said: ’You were doing it to warn them of a speed trap because as a motorist you don’t want other motorists to be caught speeding. You wanted to make sure that people who were speeding slowed down.’

Mr Owston added: ’The natural reaction of most drivers in those circumstances would be to brake. Your first reaction would be that there is some sort of hazard ahead and I will approach it at a lower speed.

‘You are causing people to brake to avoid going through a speed trap at an excessive speed and all it does then is allow people, when they are past it , to pick up speed again and speed on.

‘It’s not the speed trap that causes the accident it’s the idiot behind the wheel who brakes heavily that causes the accident.’

Magistrates rejected Thompson’s defence.

Presiding magistrate Jean Ellerton told him: ’We found that your flashing of your headlights was an obstruction, we found that you knew this action would cause vehicles to slow down and cause other motorists to avoid the speed trap and avoid prosecution.’

Thompson, a married man who is now semi-retired, said he was ‘disgusted’ with the verdict and intended to appeal.

He said: ’It’s a sad day for justice because the law is being abused. I flashed a vehicle for a good reason in the interests of safety.’

The offence of obstructing a police officer carries a maximum sentence of one month’s imprisonment and/or a £1,000 fine.

Andrew Howard, the Automobile Association’s head of road safety, said: ’It’s an unusual case, but I have heard of this happening before. There are lots of people who are not aware of this law.’

Mr Howard said ‘a lot of people would be upset’ to be prosecuted for such an offence.

Solicitor Anton Balkitis, a specialist in motoring law, said most motorists who flash at other drivers to warn them of a speed trap ‘think they are doing people a favour’.

‘It does seem somewhat ironic that they are actually encouraging people, by flashing their lights, to drive in a safe manner and yet to be prosecuted for that seems somewhat at odds with the purposes of the legislation,’ he said.

‘But it is an offence of obstruction and people do get taken to court for it so perhaps people need to be made aware of it.’

Super Speeders: Breakneck Drivers Face Extra $200 Fine with new state law

admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:30:13 +0000

A New Year’s resolution to ease off the gas pedal could spare lead-foot drivers hundreds of dollars – and make roads safer.

Starting Friday, Jan. 1, a new state law in Georgia will tack on an additional $200 fee to any local fine received for a speeding conviction. The “Super Speeder Law” is aimed at “high-risk” drivers whose speed are deemed threats to fellow motorists.

Georgia averages one speed-related death a day, according to the official “Super Speeder” Web site.

“That makes speeding a habitual disaster just waiting to happen,” said Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Bob Dallas in a statement. “But it’s one of life’s bad habits that can and should be kicked.”
The added fine will be applied for any driver convicted of speeding at 75 mph or more on any two-lane road or 85 mph and over anywhere in the state.

Sheriff Richard King encourages motorists to drive safely.

“The best thing to do is to keep a watch on the speedometer,” he says. “If you watch your speed, you won’t have to worry about being a super speeder.”

Getting slapped with the new fee might feel like a double-whammy. A driver will get the initial speeding ticket from the local jurisdiction, only to receive a letter of notice for the state fine.

The state penalty must be paid within 90 days of the letter’s date. If a driver fails to pay the additional state fee, an additional $50 will be charged and the offender’s driving privileges and license can be suspended.

Fees collected through this new law are designed to pay for some of crash victims’ treatment. The funds could be used in the state’s trauma care hospital system, where approximately 60 percent of trauma patients are crash-related.

Final say of where the money is diverted is up to the state Legislature.

State safety officials hope the $200 “incentive” will remind more drivers to stick to posted speed limits and cut down risk for passengers and others.

Source: The Blackshear Times

Think Traffic Cameras Aren’t Watching You?!

admin — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:32:56 +0000

This is just too funny — or creepy, depending on what you think about these things.

Pew! Pew! Pew!

Pretty soon, these cameras will be turning and twisting around, tracking our movements. These traffic cameras, and security cameras and the like, are everywhere! Seems that there’s no place where you aren’t visible by one somewhere.

Google Street-View Car Captures French Speed Trap Cops

admin — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 06:17:46 +0000

Just one of the interesting things you can find on Google’s Street-View.

Here’s the original, live link to the Google Maps webpage.

French policemen along a street in Paris. Check out the funky tricycle motorcycle, with the single wheel in the BACK!

Virginia: Bogus Speed Limit Signs Generate Real Tickets

admin — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:40:33 +0000

Virginia state police issue speeding tickets, later voided, based upon a fake speed limit signs.

A Northampton County, Virginia resident decided to lower the speed limit outside his home by 20 MPH, and for more than six months police went along with it. Because Granville Hogg was upset at the legal 55 MPH pace on Townville Drive near Cherrystone campground, the elderly farmer decided to post his own authentic-looking 35 MPH speed limit signs nearly one year ago.

A Virginia state trooper wrote speeding tickets based upon the sign until June when someone noticed the speed limit sign was placed on private property, instead of public property on the roadside.

Troopers insisted the bogus signs be removed as installing one is a class four misdemeanor offense.

“No unauthorized person shall erect or maintain on any highway any warning or direction sign… in imitation of any official sign… erected as provided by law,” Virginia Code Section 46.2-831 states.

Instead of prosecuting Hogg, local officials dropped charges against all those who received tickets for exceeding the false 35 MPH speed limit.

Source: Virginian-Pilot (VA), 11/17/2007

Pizza! Compliments of the Lakeway Papa John’s

admin — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:15:08 +0000

I recently had a birthday and invited a few friends over for the festivities.

There was dinner, dessert, drinks, and…

Pizza!

…compliments of the Lakeway Papa John’s.

Seems a few of the drivers there had seen me on the road with my sign;
and, I guess this was their way of saying “Thanks!”

Of course, the “STA” is for “Speed Trap Ahead”!

Thanks Papa John’s!

Fake Speed Trap

admin — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:51:39 +0000

I have no idea where this thing is; but, It’s pretty damned funny, if you ask me.

Police Department Budget Cuts in Tennessee?

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:56:12 +0000

The Smyrna, TN Police Department has made cardboard cutouts of their police officers and will be moving them around town in an effort to slow motorists on city streets.

This reminds me of a story from England I heard about last fall. Large cardboard cutouts of police officers were used in department stores to deter shoplifting. The faux police were actually MORE effective in reducing losses to shoplifting than the actual cop — that is, until the cutout was stolen.

They ARE going to slow motorists down somewhat. It’s just human nature to step on the brakes when a cop is spotted, or a speed sign displays your speed that’s over the limit. But, I can only imagine how long these things are gonna last — after the paintball splats, the BB holes, the graffiti, etc. They cost about $205 to make!

Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country

“Police Officer Ahead” sign — Look Familiar?

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:53:27 +0000

Does this picture remind you of another sign you may have seen?

I found this picture while looking around on Flicker. The photographer is somewhat of a traffic activist, much like me. On his Flicker site, there are numerous pictures showing illegally posted speed limits, confusing signage, non-official signs, etc. There are also plenty of pics of beautiful scenic roads as well. Very pretty area!

This pic is one that I just thought was funny! I guess it’s actually a warning to slow down for the construction area ahead; but, It’s probably more of a “bluff” than anything.

Do YOU have a picture showing confusing, illegal, funny, or just interesting signage? Email it to the Admin of this site, and include a short message about the pic.

Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.