M42 Fonts on signs / Conviction

HPJ888

Hi

This relates to the recent news that the signs on the M42 have been using the incorrect font and therefore any convictions could be seen as unlawful. I cannot post the link here as I am a new user, however a quick look online and you will find it.

I was caught by a camera on M42 (the junctions where the wrong fonts are) in April 2012 had to appear in Court. I was awarded 6 points and a fine of roughly £550.

What are people's thoughts? Would I have a case to get my conviction squashed? If so, how should I proceed?

Thanks

HPJ

Chopper_Read

Which court did you attend, Nuneaton or Coventry?

kingstreet

You will find more information on this issue here;-

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=5

HPJ888

Hi

Royal Lemington Spa. Through Warwickshire Police. Offence location was M42/M6 Toll, Junc 9-7, Gantry 6514B / 1165B, MP 41/4 Southbound

Thanks

HPJ888

Thanks Kingstreet I'll take a look

Chopper_Read

HPJ888 wrote: »

Hi

Royal Lemington Spa. Through Warwickshire Police. Offence location was M42/M6 Toll, Junc 9-7, Gantry 6514B / 1165B, MP 41/4 Southbound

Thanks

01926415000 ask for the central ticket office and ask their advice. Since 11,000 are wrong you won't be the first. You may have to go back to court tho.

HPJ888

Chopper_Read wrote: »

01926415000 ask for the central ticket office and ask their advice. Since 11,000 are wrong you won't be the first. You may have to go back to court tho.

What do you mean 11,000 are wrong? As in they were wrongfully convicted, or they were wrong to try to get it overturned?

Chopper_Read

HPJ888 wrote: »

What do you mean 11,000 are wrong? As in they were wrongfully convicted, or they were wrong to try to get it overturned?

11,000 offences prosecuted wrongly.

Tilt

Well if you want my honest opinion, you're not going to like it.

I'm a regular user of that stretch of road myself and it is quite clear to me what the signs mean. I think it's just some clever lawyer who has found out that the font isn't quite right and isn't consitant with the traffic signs manual and want's to make a few quid out of it. But lets remember that these are electronic signs so they are going to be slightly different to that you normally see mounted on a post. But I for one know what they are telling me.

From a good driver pint of view, do they really need to be fully compliant to get you to drive at a safe speed? But then again, I believe that the motorway speed limit should be increased but this being a motorway interchange, then a drop by 10 mph is pretty sensible to me.

As for whether your conviction should be quashed... well that would depend on what speed you were clocked at doing. If it was no more than 70mph, then I would say yes. If it was no more than 75mph then I would say maybe. More than say 80mph, then it would be a no.

neilmcl

Out of interest OP, what speed were you doing to get 6 points and the £550?

I'd imagine if you were doing well over the NSL rather than over the currently displayed enforcement speed you may not have a case. Could be wrong though.

HPJ888

I was doing 81 in a 50. Totally my mistake. I thought it was 70 and I was only doing a little over the limit.

But, the British legal system, used all over the world, is built on the premise that a conviction must be lawful. Whether I was over the limit or not, if the conviction is unlawful for whatever reason, it has to be quashed. I know it's a loophole but we all have to take the rough with the smooth.