Red Light Camera News Bradford motorists could have been wrongly penalised
Ban the Cams note: Another example of the scamera side changing the "definition" of a "violation" to churn tickets! IN this case the scamera side moved the trigger line 3 meters (about 9 feet). Thanks to Camerafraud for the link!)
Bradford motorists could have been wrongly penalised
8:30am Tuesday 10th May 2011
By Marc Meneaud »
A former police officer fears hundreds of motorists fined for running a red light on a major Bradford road could have been wrongfully penalised following a lengthy Court battle to clear his name.
Alan Haigh said it was “absolutely disgraceful” that a traffic light camera in Manchester Road was still operating, despite questions about its legality.
The 62-year-old, who now works as a private investigator, claims the camera, near the junction with Ransdale Road, is incorrectly aimed about three metres behind the point it should be focused on – giving “totally inaccurate” readings and leading to drivers being wrongly prosecuted.
“There are hundreds of people who could have been wrongly fined and should be having money paid back,” he said. “It could run into thousands of pounds.”
West Yorkshire Police started a prosecution against Mr Haigh after the camera caught him “jumping” the lights 1.1 seconds after they had turned red on July 24, 2009.
He started gathering evidence to prove the camera was focused on the wrong stop line, which is ahead of an area for cyclists to pull up.
That is about three metres from the legal stop line, which runs across the road between the traffic lights, Mr Haigh argued.
However, officials in the Casualty Reduction Partnership (CRP), which is responsible for enforcing traffic cameras, stuck to their guns, claiming the camera was focused on the correct spot.
Magistrates in Bradford found Mr Haigh guilty, ordered him to pay £85 in fines and costs and endorsed his licence with three penalty points.
The decision was, however, overturned by a judge ahead of an appeal at Bradford Crown Court after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) changed its stance and offered no evidence leading to his conviction being quashed.
Mr Haigh said the judge told CRP officers, who were in court at the time, to review how the camera was operating.
He has also written numerous letters to the partnership and used the Freedom of Information Act to try to find out how many drivers have been prosecuted after being caught by the camera.
The CRP has refused to release that information.
“This information should be made public,” said Mr Haigh. “The whole reason I have been doing this is to try to get this sorted out. They should at least cover this camera up until this is sorted out.”
The CPS confirmed to the Telegraph & Argus that Mr Haigh’s conviction had been quashed after it offered no evidence against him. The CRP did not want to comment.
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