The police’s focus on the ‘Fatal 4′ revealed hundreds of drivers flouting the law during April. And that’s just in Nottinghamshire.
The campaign, which has been rolled out in other areas of the country as well and targets the biggest causes of death and serious injury on the roads, found many motorists not wearing seatbelts, drink driving, speeding and using mobile phones. Click here to read more »
It has been reported today that Nottinghamshire has been involved in a trial for the government whereby specialised traffic courts have been instigated in an effort to fast track the court system dealing with motoring offences such as speeding and no insurance.
Since May 2012, in Nottinghamshire, most routine motoring offences have been scheduled to be heard at the Mansfield Magistrates Court, freeing up valuable court time for more serious matters at the Nottingham and Worksop Magistrates’ Courts. Initially on Mondays, but now also on Tuesdays, Mansfield has operated courts devoted to dealing with road traffic law – the case load of 160 or so cases now being split to around 80 cases a day! Ironically, this scheme came about hot on the heels of the closure of the Newark and Retford Magistrates’ Courts in Notts on ‘cost saving’ grounds. Click here to read more »
A new offence of drug driving became law last week after the Crime and Courts Bill received its Royal Assent.
It means that those found guilty of the offence can receive a maximum of six months in prison and a fine of up to £5,000, with a 12-month automatic driving ban.
Previously, in order to prove impairment, drivers had to go through a series of outdated roadside tasks, such as balance and coordination tests.
A failure led to a visit to the police station and a blood sample taken by a doctor was then sent off to a lab for analysis. Click here to read more »
Q: What was wrong with the signs?
A: The electronic speed warning signs on the M42 used between Junctions 7 and 9 featured the wrong shaped numbers that appeared “stretched”, contravening the Traffic Signs Regulation and General Directions 2002. For those of you interested, see Schedule 13 Part V of Regulation 13 (9), which refers to the proportions and forms of letters, numerals and other characters for use on variable message signs. Click here to read more »
Philosophy collided with business and statutes last week after the rates levied by a roadside recovery operator were branded “immoral” by a company staring down the wrong end of a £3,000 bill.
R McDowell Haulage almost needed another recovery operator to revive its boss after 24/7 Recovery and Rescue invoiced the West Yorks operator for dealing with the aftermath of an RTA in Flintshire.
Is our criminal justice system really on the verge of collapse? These are strong words, and no, they’re not to be found screaming from the front page of a tabloid newspaper. They were spoken by the chairman of the Law Society’s criminal law committee, Ian Kelcey.
Kelcey knows a thing or two about law. As well as being a senior partner and owner at a firm of solicitors, he is also a member of the Home Office Police and Criminal Evidence Act Review Board and past chairman of the Criminal Law Solicitors association.