Snap-happy speed camera nabs parked car – twice!

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Thursday, January 21, 2010
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This is Nottingham

POLICE have apologised to a man after he was given two speeding fines from a camera outside his house – despite the fact his car was parked at the time.

Jeff Buck has always parked outside his home in Watnall Road, Nuthall, with no problems.

But in recent weeks he has been surprised to find two speeding fines land on his doormat.

It is believed that when speeding vehicles drive past his parked car the camera is triggered, but instead of snapping the real offenders it is taking a picture of Mr Buck's number plate.

Mr Buck, 55, successfully contested the fines and has since received written apologies from Notts Police.

Mr Buck said: "I assumed the first time it happened that the police would put something in place to prevent it from happening again.

"I'm concerned now that every time someone triggers the camera I'll get these notices. I am amused by it, but also angry that I have to go to the trouble of contacting the police."

Mr Buck received his latest apology from Notts Police on Monday.

He had queried the accuracy of a speeding offence he had supposedly committed on Watnall Road on December 13. Notts Police said they had caught Mr Buck's Vauxhall Zafira travelled at 37mph along Watnall Road, which has a 30mph speed limit.

After Mr Buck requested to see photographic evidence, police dropped the case.

"The photograph must presumably show two vehicles, with mine parked halfway on the pavement and road," Mr Buck said.

"My only option is to park the car on the road as I don't have a garage or driveway."

He added: "It's amazing that whatever system is in place cannot tell the difference between a car that is motionless and one travelling at 37mph."

The speed camera was put up across the road from Mr Buck's home around a year ago.

bryan.henesey@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk

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30 Comments

  • Profile image for This is Nottingham

    by Mr B J Mann, Nottingham

    Friday, February 05 2010, 1:23PM

    “Still Looking?
    .”

  • Profile image for This is Nottingham

    by Mr B J Mann, Nottingham

    Saturday, January 23 2010, 1:34PM

    “Plonk, I don't usually pursue this as I don't want to encourage unnecessary pavement parking.

    But with the proliferation of widened pavements, narrowed roads, and other congestion creating measures, it's time we addressd the facts:

    Please advise exactly under which under local bye laws it is illegal to park on, or partially on the pavements where councils have been "enforcing" such supposed measures.

    Let's start with Watnall Road and the Nottingham Ring Road.

    .

    The actual relevant clauses of the actual relevant local bylaws covering these actual roads please.
    .”

  • Profile image for This is Nottingham

    by Mr B J Mann, Nottingham

    Saturday, January 23 2010, 1:25PM

    “Errrmmmmmmm, gary, before telling me what to read:

    Buy a dictionary as I advised:

    Before you start telling people that they are wrong, Read this taken out of the Highway Code

    244

    You MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London,


    That's the Law.

    As in dicated by the "MUST NOT"

    But *THIS* is *NOTTINGHAM*

    And as I advised, even in London, even the councils:

    Mark out street parking bays half on the pavement!

    and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it. Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.

    That's a suggestion, as indicated by the lack of "MUST NOT".

    If you *ARE* *obstructing* and *seriously* inconveniencing pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.

    Then if *could* be used in evidence against you.

    But it's not illegal in iself.
    .”

  • Profile image for This is Nottingham

    by Plonk, Heanor at work

    Friday, January 22 2010, 12:43AM

    “BJ it is illegal to park on, or partially on the pavements under local bye laws in all areas as the pavements are not designed to take the weight of the vehicle. The only places that are designed to take the weight are the drop downs across the pavements which allow people to access driveways as they have to conform to the NRSWA requirements for private vehicles up to 3500KG's.”

  • Profile image for This is Nottingham

    by Plonk, Heanor at work

    Friday, January 22 2010, 12:39AM

    “Forget the politics show and refer to the actual statistics from the government, the real ones they tried to stop having published, but which were leakec from several sources to several sites and institutions.
    These stated very clearly that of all the speed cameras in the uk only 2 had actually been proven to reduce incidents, 2 out of several thousand cameras. Now we see the real reason the government wanted these figures hidden, the same factual figures that also revealed that road safety partnerships who were responsible for these cameras and recieved the revenues. The same road safety partnerships who kicked up when they were asked to manipulate the figures for a second time and refused claiming they were pure lies to con joe public.”

  • Profile image for This is Nottingham

    by Dave, Nottingham

    Friday, January 22 2010, 12:15AM

    “"speed cameras have cut incidents across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicester by between 50 and 80%," - what on earth is defined as an "incident", Mr S?”

  • Profile image for This is Nottingham

    by gary, Attenborough

    Thursday, January 21 2010, 7:22PM

    “B J MANN

    Before you start telling people that they are wrong, Read this taken out of the Highway Code
    244
    You MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it. Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.”

  • Profile image for This is Nottingham

    by MT, Nottingham

    Thursday, January 21 2010, 6:43PM

    “As much as it gauls me to agree with Mr Mann, it is only an offense to park on the pavement if you cause an obstruction on the pavement. This is judged to be the ability of a wheelchair or pushchair's inability to pass that vehicle.”

  • Profile image for This is Nottingham

    by Mr B J Mann, Nottingham

    Thursday, January 21 2010, 5:56PM

    “Errrmmmmmmmm, gARY, ATTENBOROUGH:

    I suggest *YOU* you go out and buy yourself a Highway code book.

    And one of them there *DICTIONARY* *BOOKS* .

    And *YOU* have a read:¿

    Ii is *NOT* an offence to park on the pavement, except in certain specific circumstances.

    And as for "you are causing a obstruction":

    The *REASON* why motorists park on the pavement is so that they DON'T cause an obstruction!

    Clearly you aren't one or you would have understood.

    .

    Oh, and if you do ever start to learn to drive, and get a "Highway Code Book" of your very own:

    It's not even right about London:

    As it's not unusual to see the parking bays marked out half on the pavement!
    .”

  • Profile image for This is Nottingham

    by gary, Attenborough

    Thursday, January 21 2010, 5:25PM

    “B J MANN
    I suggest you go out and buy yourself a Highway code book and have a read, it an offence to park on the pavement, you are causing a obstruction.”

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