Was justice metered out here?

[anotheoldgit]

http://tinyurl.com/37w3e3h

If it is an offence to warn other drivers of the presence of a speed trap, are not the authorities also braking the law by erecting signs warning motorists of the possibility of police mobile speed cameras?.

[squarebear]

I wouldn't have thought so. In the same way a sign inidicating a low bridge ahead wouldn't be illegal.

[jake-the-peg]

Yup

If he'd gone into a pub and warned a bunch of escaped convicts that the police were about to raid the place you'd not be asking the question would you.

Do you think that speeding isn't really a crime?

[anotheoldgit]

jake-the-peg

/// Do you think that speeding isn't really a crime? ///

Of course I don't, but that is not under discussion.

What is under discussion is the fact that he was prosecuted for warning drivers to slow down because of a speed trap.

There are signs warning drivers to slow down even signs indicating one's speed, are these committing a crime, of course not so why was he?

In this case the police are miffed because they lost the chance of boosting their crime sheet figures and at the same time partaking in a 'nice little earner' exercise..

[R1Geezer]

It's "meted", anyway I can see your point they are warning of a potential prosecution and intending to cause a behavioural change as a result so I can see where you are comming from.

[jake-the-peg]

So you accept that what this man did was to obstruct the Police in aprehending criminals then?

Personally I think he was very lucky not to be charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice!

I do take the point about the warning notices around speed cameras but I think you are stretching it.

The signs and warnings are set up to get people to ammend their behaviour but a hard core do not pay any notice to them and the Police set up speed traps to catch them.

Speed traps that this man took it upon himself to undermine.

I'm sure the Police were very unimpressed with that and knowing your traditional support of the forces of law and order I'm rather supprised that you're not showing more support for them.

[DrFilth]

in the cardboard cutout world no one speeds

[R1Geezer]

the thing is though jake, flashing his lights is intended by him to have the effect of changing the behaviour of those speeding so on that basis he is doing no more than the warning signs. By prosecuting the police are effectivley saying he spoilt their game by reducing the number of transgressors they could nick. They appear to want it both ways so I can see what AOG is getting at.

[anotheoldgit]

jake-the-peg

/// So you accept that what this man did was to obstruct the Police in aprehending criminals then? ///

These drivers were not criminals, they hadn't even been apprehended for committing a crime.

Do you drive Jake, or are you among those who condemn every driver as criminals?

I don't know what country you would wish to live in? but we in this country are 'innocent until proven guilty'.

Sorry I just had to revert back to the original AOG avatar, because yours was setting a bad impression.

[R1Geezer]

put it thiis way if plod went out to catch speeders and caught none would that be considered a success?

[Infomaniac]

One of the main tasks of our police force is supposed to be prevention of crime, so citizens who act to prevent others from committing a crime are surely to be applauded.

[DrFilth]

policeman is there to help and protect us

police officer is there to make money

guess which one was after the speeders

[rojash]

Not often (in fact, never before) I find myself agreeing with AOG and disagreeing with JtP, but..
The argument usually trotted out in defence of speed cameras is that they act as a deterrent to speeding. They can only do this if we are aware of them. Whether we are made aware by a sign or by another motorist is (logically) completely irrelevant.