Congratulations police and courts for confirming that speed traps have nothing to do with safety and are just about raising revenue. :clap:sarcasm
Driver fined for flashing lights to warn motorists of speed trap
FOUND GUILTY: Michael Thompson thought it was his 'civic duty' to warn other drivers of the speed trap.
A DRIVER who flashed his headlights at oncoming motorists to warn them of a police speed trap has been left with a £440 court bill for "obstructing police".
Michael Thompson thought it was his "civic duty" to warn other drivers coming the opposite direction of the police speed trap – but Grimsby magistrates took a very dim view of his actions.
Thompson, 64, of St Augustine Avenue, Grimsby, denied wilfully obstructing a policewoman in the execution of her duty on July 21 but was convicted after a trial.
The vigorously-pursued prosecution – and the conviction – were branded "ridiculous" and "a complete waste of taxpayers' money" by members of the legal fraternity at court that day. One solicitor praised Thompson and told the Grimsby Telegraph: "He should be given a medal."
The trial, which took more than a morning of court time, cost the Crown Prosecution Service at least £250 to bring – and three police officers involved in the case were at court for much of that time, waiting to give evidence.
Even police officers at court privately questioned the decision to pursue the case to a prosecution – and admitted that members of the public overwhelmingly believed that valuable police time should be given to catching burglars and victims of more serious crime.
The trial heard that Thompson was driving down Laceby Road, between Bradley crossroads and the Morrisons roundabout, just before 10am and was heading westbound out of Grimsby on to the A46 dual carriageway when he spotted a police speed trap.
He flashed his headlights about seven times to warn oncoming drivers heading towards Grimsby – but was pulled in by the police. He claimed that, after he challenged the officers, one of them told him: "I was going to let you off with a caution – but I'm not now."
He told the court the officer told him he was "perverting the course of justice" but he told the officer: "I don't believe that's the case."
He branded the officer "a Rambo character" and claimed he was acting like "Judge Dredd" in using the law against him unnecessarily.
Thompson claimed he was not trying to warn vehicles that there was a speed trap but that he was anxious to avoid other vehicles having to brake sharply when they spotted the speed trap – potentially causing an accident.
http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/news...p-warning/article-3058953-detail/article.html
Driver fined for flashing lights to warn motorists of speed trap
A DRIVER who flashed his headlights at oncoming motorists to warn them of a police speed trap has been left with a £440 court bill for "obstructing police".
Michael Thompson thought it was his "civic duty" to warn other drivers coming the opposite direction of the police speed trap – but Grimsby magistrates took a very dim view of his actions.
Thompson, 64, of St Augustine Avenue, Grimsby, denied wilfully obstructing a policewoman in the execution of her duty on July 21 but was convicted after a trial.
The vigorously-pursued prosecution – and the conviction – were branded "ridiculous" and "a complete waste of taxpayers' money" by members of the legal fraternity at court that day. One solicitor praised Thompson and told the Grimsby Telegraph: "He should be given a medal."
The trial, which took more than a morning of court time, cost the Crown Prosecution Service at least £250 to bring – and three police officers involved in the case were at court for much of that time, waiting to give evidence.
Even police officers at court privately questioned the decision to pursue the case to a prosecution – and admitted that members of the public overwhelmingly believed that valuable police time should be given to catching burglars and victims of more serious crime.
The trial heard that Thompson was driving down Laceby Road, between Bradley crossroads and the Morrisons roundabout, just before 10am and was heading westbound out of Grimsby on to the A46 dual carriageway when he spotted a police speed trap.
He flashed his headlights about seven times to warn oncoming drivers heading towards Grimsby – but was pulled in by the police. He claimed that, after he challenged the officers, one of them told him: "I was going to let you off with a caution – but I'm not now."
He told the court the officer told him he was "perverting the course of justice" but he told the officer: "I don't believe that's the case."
He branded the officer "a Rambo character" and claimed he was acting like "Judge Dredd" in using the law against him unnecessarily.
Thompson claimed he was not trying to warn vehicles that there was a speed trap but that he was anxious to avoid other vehicles having to brake sharply when they spotted the speed trap – potentially causing an accident.
http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/news...p-warning/article-3058953-detail/article.html
