Reading Bus Lane Scam traps Thousands

The_Deep

In order to plug the black hole in its finances, Reading has public sated that it will recoup the shortfall by targeting
motorists, and appears to be placing revenue collection above the free flow of traffic and the legitimate access by private motorist to some of the roads which they have paid for.

One bus lane alone, Minster Street, which is largely unnecessary, has brought in over £500,000 in fines since May this year, and another, the A4 heading East has a whole lane reserved for a handful of buses an hour.

In September 2010 the Bus Lane Adjudicator's pointed out that Reading Borough Council had issued more PCNs for bus lane infringements than Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Bristol, the whole of Essex, and Nottingham combined .

There have been hundreds of complaints about all aspects of the process, the legality of the signs, the necessity of the restriction, the wording on the PCNs, the lack of road markings and adequate signage, the quality of the photographic evidence, the legality of the cameras, etc., etc., etc., there were even cases of PCNs being issued before the restriction signs were in place, and a long queue is forming at the door of the adjudicator.

If Reading loses on a technicality, and I am sure that it will, it could cost them hundreds of thousands of pounds to repay all of those who have been wrongfully penalised. As a Reading Council Tax payer I would take a very dim view of this, and might seek to have councillors responsible surcharged.

poppasmurf_bewdley

I've never been to Reading (except passing through on the train) and after reading the above post, I don't think I ever will. Why would anyone want to visit a place that deliberately sets out to trap motorists.

When will these prats who run our towns and cities ever learn? No wonder local councillors and officials are held in less regard than the Yorkshire Ripper and Fred West.

vax2002

These are penalty's not fines .
A penalty is not a fine according to judges, even if every dictionary in the world says it is, including blacks law dictionary.
So as it can only be summary justice, trial and sentence by authority with no right of innocence which is banned in international law and human rights legislation.
If the adjudicator overturns one case, one case gets its fine..sorry PENALTY returned.
It sets NO precedent for other cases as these penalty's are not subject to any precedent or law.

Why we stand for summary justice that is only used in North Korea and Tibet China and banned in the rest of the free world is a sign of our jelly backbones as a nation of people !

gilbert_and_sullivan

The_Deep wrote: »

As a Reading Council Tax payer I would take a very dim view of this, and might seek to have councillors responsible surcharged.

Good luck with that one.

If you should get the result it opens Pandora's box, could be feasable to make MP's and other dishonourable public servants responsible for things they do and money they waste, that would never do, so you'll meet a million hurdles.

I therefore won't hold me breath but wish you every success.

I suppose this is what happens when a country can't balance the books and needs to borrow ever more just to pay the last lot off, next we'll be printing money Zimbabwe style to balance the books, oh, hang on a minute....