Thousands of speeding convictions may be overturned due to wrong font on signs.

[letsmakeamark]

Thousands of speeding convictions could be overturned because the wrong font was used on signs along parts of the M42 near Birmingham.

The Crown Prosecution Service told Warwickshire Police in November 2012 that the numbers on the variable speed limit signs were too tall and narrow and may not have complied with traffic regulations.

As a result police stopped using the signs between junctions 3a and 7, and 7 to 9, as a means of enforcement and dropped prosecutions it was going to go ahead with relating to affected stretches of the motorway.

The Highways Agency said it believed they were the right size and were clearly visible.

In a statement they described it as a "minor discrepancy".

"The signs were considered to meet the appropriate standards when they were installed and became operational.

"Following queries that suggested that this may not be the case, the Highways Agency clarified the issue and a specific authorisation was signed in November 2012."

In a separate statement Warwickshire Police said the Department for Transport has now granted authorisation for all of the signs and officers recommenced enforcement of the cameras on January 1 2013.

It said: "There were no issues as to the accuracy of the speed cameras or as to whether the signs were fully illuminated showing the correct speed limit when the cameras detected offences.

"The Statutory Instrument imposing the speed limit was also lawful."

Despite this some lawyers now want to see all previous speeding convictions for the six years the signs were in place along the M42 quashed.

Neil Davies, a lawyer, said: "These are signs which haven't had the appropriate authority over a period of time.

"That has now been rectified, but what we would say is that whilst these signs weren't properly authorised that there is an argument to say that motorists were wrongly prosecuted.

"The real issue here is that there has been a disparity in the way people have been treated."

Similar signs have been used on other motorways so the number of people affected could be wide reaching.

The signs are used to reduce congestion on busy stretches of motorway.

 

 

Original here :

http://news.sky.com/story/1062548/speeding-fines-m42-used-wrong-font-on-signs

[Old Cogger]

again?

[crem]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?384782-M42-speeding-sign-error

[renegadeimp]

That must be the most stupidest reason to get tickets revoked that i have ever heard of.

[Conniff]

It will be like all the rest, they won't give back or reverse any, it will be up to motorist to appeal.

[letsmakeamark]

Its been done before4 but cant remember when.

[porkyp1g]

Its been done before4 but cant remember when.

 

I've used that motorway a lot and still managed to read if it said 60 or 40. Speeding is still speeding and whether it was the right font or not it was still readable perfectly fine.

[Surfer01]

I've used that motorway a lot and still managed to read if it said 60 or 40. Speeding is still speeding and whether it was the right font or not it was still readable perfectly fine.

Agreed and don't see why any tickets should be revoked just because font is out by a few mm! Speeding is speeding!

[roxiejarrigan]

If people appeal and win, then our justice system is a bit laughable

[Hungrydoug]

Agreed and don't see why any tickets should be revoked just because font is out by a few mm! Speeding is speeding!

 

The counter argument then is that roads/highway authorities can erect any design of signs they want, without any consistency from area to area and now publicity and fine people who don't know what they mean. There needs to be consistent designs so that everyone puts up signs that look the same around the country so people (in theory) understand them and can act on them. But I completely agree that this is a ridiculous state of affairs that people will get off for such a minor irregularity.

[letsmakeamark]

The counter argument then is that roads/highway authorities can erect any design of signs they want, without any consistency from area to area and now publicity and fine people who don't know what they mean. There needs to be consistent designs so that everyone puts up signs that look the same around the country so people (in theory) understand them and can act on them. But I completely agree that this is a ridiculous state of affairs that people will get off for such a minor irregularity.

 

The government does exactly the same thing.