A Sunderland man who parked up against a police camera van has earned a criminal record for his troubles.
Jason Sayers, 47, parked his Ford Transit in front of a Northumbria Police speed camera van parked on the city's Keir Hardy Way on 28th January 2019.
He was charged with wilfully obstructing a police constable in the execution of his duty, contrary to section 89(2) of the Police Act 1996. The maximum penalty on summary conviction for this offence is one month's imprisonment, or a level 3 fine (currently £1,000), or both.
Sayers, of the city's Hendon Close, was requisitioned to court but failed to attend and Magistrates granted a warrant without bail for his arrest. He was later arrested and brought before South Tyneside Magistrates' Court, where he admitted the offence.
Magistrates fined Sayers £86 and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30.
PC Pete Burke, Team Leader of Northumbria Police’s Camera Enforcement Unit, said: "These vans aren't here as a money making scheme as some people believe.
"All the money from speeding fines goes to central government and they decide who and where it is distributed to.
"What people need to realise is that the vans are specifically allocated to enforce a particular stretch of road which is proven to have a problem with motorists who do not stick to the limits.
"I find it astonishing that people would park in front of one of these vans when they are there to help prevent someone from being killed or injured by a speeding driver."
PC Burke concluded: "I welcome this result and hope it sends a strong message to anyone else thinking of acting in this manner. It is not big or clever and doesn't merit the consequences."
In the Northumbria Police area these vans are often operated by sworn constables. Had the van been crewed instead by someone other than a police constable, a prosecution under section 46(2) of the Police Reform Act 2002 would have been more appropriate.
There are a few videos on YouTube of people looking "big and clever" by doing the same, but what they don't show are the possible legal consequences of such direct action.
No comments:
Post a Comment