kid gets out of speeding ticket in the UK

[masraum]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/motoring/article-1122042/Motorist-beats-98mph-speeding-charge--buying-car-proving-manage-speed-85mph.html

Kid was busted by a camera supposedly doing 98 in a car that can only go 85.

Score 1 for the little guy.

[legion]

Look at how much time, effort, and money this took him.

In traffic courts on both sides of the pond, you are guilty until proven innocent.

[Jeff Higgins]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - we need to remove the financial incentive from traffic enforcement. There is a clear conflict of interest on the part of any jurisdiction whose only form of punishment levied against motorists is in the form of fines. This would not pass muster in any other situation.

The manner in which laws have been changed to ease the conviction and collection process are simply appalling. There is absolutely no real burden of proof placed upon the authorities anymore; the entire burden now rests with the citizen to prove their innocence. I wonder if this would remain the case if there was an alternative to the fine. Picking up litter along the freeway, for instance. Serving food in a homeless shelter. Stuff like that. Activities that benefit the community, but require the authorities to supervise and likewise fund. I bet if enforcement resulted in a negative cash flow, or at best breaking even, this insane enforcement situation would dissapear overnight.

[onewhippedpuppy]

The kid would have a bright future as a lawyer, well done.

[Joeaksa]

Speeding cameras and paint ball guns, a match made in heaven.

These things need to be removed, period!

[legion]

Too bad most paintballs do not contain paint. Most of them contain fish oil and food coloring. It will wash off in the rain or drip off in the heat.

What you need to get is enamel paintballs. They still sell them in forestry and ranching catalogues. Those have real paint in them...

[Moses]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I've said it before and I'll say it again - we need to remove the financial incentive from traffic enforcement. There is a clear conflict of interest on the part of any jurisdiction whose only form of punishment levied against motorists is in the form of fines. This would not pass muster in any other situation.

The manner in which laws have been changed to ease the conviction and collection process are simply appalling. There is absolutely no real burden of proof placed upon the authorities anymore; the entire burden now rests with the citizen to prove their innocence. I wonder if this would remain the case if there was an alternative to the fine. Picking up litter along the freeway, for instance. Serving food in a homeless shelter. Stuff like that. Activities that benefit the community, but require the authorities to supervise and likewise fund. I bet if enforcement resulted in a negative cash flow, or at best breaking even, this insane enforcement situation would dissapear overnight.

Wonderful idea.

[varmint]

my lottery winner fantasy is to have a lawfirm on retainer that fights every speeding/parking ticket all the way to the supreme court for me.

the kid is a civil right hero.

[ckissick]

The same thing happened to me when I was 18. I was driving west on a certain road, (westbound would be uphill) in a 1963 bug. The speed limit was 25, and I was barely able to achieve it. I was pulled over and ticketed for going 75. I don't know what the cop's problem was, but he was very angry when he dealt with me. When I started to argue, I thought he'd shoot me or something. So I shut up and signed the ticket.

Anyway, I went to traffic court. When the judge recited my "crime", everyone in the courtroom laughed. 75 in a 25 is pretty funny, I guess. When I told the judge I was driving a '63 bug up a hill, the laughter only intensified. The judge threw it out without hesitation.

[teenerted1]

Originally Posted by ckissick

The same thing happened to me when I was 18. I was driving west on a certain road, (westbound would be uphill) in a 1963 bug. The speed limit was 25, and I was barely able to achieve it. I was pulled over and ticketed for going 75. I don't know what the cop's problem was, but he was very angry when he dealt with me. When I started to argue, I thought he'd shoot me or something. So I shut up and signed the ticket.

Anyway, I went to traffic court. When the judge recited my "crime", everyone in the courtroom laughed. 75 in a 25 is pretty funny, I guess. When I told the judge I was driving a '63 bug up a hill, the laughter only intensified. The judge threw it out without hesitation.

i got out of a ticket doing the same thing with a VW bus on the freeway going up a hill cop had me at 70mph????

yea right maybe down hill with a tailwind

magistrate threw it out the second he read the report. i didn't have to state much more than my name and to confirm all the vehicle info was correct. LEO wasn't there to defend himself.

[Jeff Higgins]

O.k., so flip side of the last two VW stories - how many of us heard the gavel drop right after the judge read "Porsche" on the ticket? I know I have.

Again, a two pronged approach would solve much of this problem. Remove the financial incentive. Restore the standards of evidence to "probable cause" rather than the current "preponderance", so the accusing authorities actually have to prove their case. Not to themselves, but to our fellow citizens. Petty, financially driven enforcement would come to a screeching halt.

[Dave L]

heres your solution

[Jeff Higgins]

Ah yes, the old 'Ring taxi...