You might have heard of a variety of different excuses being used by some drivers when it comes to trying to get off of a speeding fine, but you probably have not heard of someone claiming that the Police ‘tampered’ with photographic evidence in order to bring someone to court.
That is, of course, until now….
Northamptonshire Police released a story on their website this morning about a driver who tried to claim that photographic evidence from a safety camera that caught him speeding had been ‘altered’ by the Police.
As if the police didn’t have a big enough workload to contend with already, then to think that they would have the time, inclination or motivation to start tampering with speeding camera evidence is almost comical.
However, the defence used in this case did not work for the speeding driver, as the male concerned has been found guilty of speeding and ordered to pay almost £1,500 in costs.
A Northamptonshire Police mobile camera unit captured Hopeton Radcliffe Samuels’ car travelling at 36mph in a 30mph zone on Welford Road, Creaton, on May 9, 2017.
Samuels, 59, confirmed he had been driving but denied speeding, and claimed the photographic evidence had been manipulated.
Northamptonshire Police asked Road Safety Support (RSS), a specialist road safety service provider, to examine the case.
An expert report was produced which used two methods to confirm the speed recorded by the mobile camera was correct.
A trial at Northampton Magistrates Court on September 5 heard evidence relating to the correct set-up and use of the mobile camera by the operator, as well as confirmation that the image had not been manipulated.
The author of the RSS report, Steve Langdon, also gave evidence in relation to his expert findings.
Samuels, of Booth Lane North, Northampton, was convicted by magistrates and ordered to pay costs of £1,200 within two months.
He was also fined £242 with a £30 victim surcharge, and had his licence endorsed with three penalty points.
Of course, no-one wants to get caught speeding. But in reality, all you need to do is keep to the speed limit and then you should not have any problems.
I know this, as I have recently had to attend a speeding awareness course after I was caught speeding. We all make mistakes, and I learnt from mine.
That’s why if you are caught speeding, then it’s probably just easier to admit it and face the music unless you have a genuine defence…
Written by one of the many admins of Emergency Services Humour who is also a regular blogger in our fortnightly eMagazine ’S__ts & Giggles’ which you can sign up to by visiting our Facebook page and clicking on the ‘sign up’ button or by visiting: ShitsAndGiggles.Online
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After the South Wales case where the operator was transferring readings from one vehicle onto another, and other operators using the ‘slimfast’ or ‘thrust’ methods to add several mph to achieve their targets when using handheld LIDAR, it’s not surprising there are challenges.
As for Road Safety Support Co Ltd, the similarities to the now dissolved ACPO Co Ltds lack of transparency, the involvement of Mr Meredydd John Hughes right from the start when he was Chief Constable of South Yorkshire, some of the operating practices, and the circa £400,000 various Police forces pay to subscribe to their ‘services’ might lead the public to suspect not all is as honest and above board is it might be…