Social media users warned over £1k fine if they post about speed cameras
-
Loading... - Christina Edward
- 24 May 2022
- 279 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
Drivers could be fined of as much as £1,000, or worse, if they are caught using social media to send other drivers warnings or alerts about the location of speed cameras.
Sharing details or images regarding the whereabouts of a mobile speed camera or a police speed van on platforms such as Facebook or Twitter can be seen as a criminal offence, and people could be prosecuted. According to the police this is because drivers would be obstructing an officer’s work in the field and prevent the fine of someone committing a criminal offence if they weren’t warned.
In the 1996 Police Act, drivers who warn or alert fellow motorists to a police speed trap could be breach of Section 89 of the act, which states: "Any person who resists or wilfully obstructs a constable in the execution of his duty, or a person assisting a constable in the execution of his duty, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or to a fine not exceeding level 3 (£1,000) on the standard scale, or to both."
The warning comes after a motorist in Wales posted the location of a speed camera van on Facebook, North Wales Live reports. The driver was urged to remove the post by other users online and, in another potential driving offence, he had posted a photo of the speed trap he had taken while passing.
A spokesperson at North Wales' road policing unit said: “Publicising the locations of speed traps hampers the good work that staff and officers do to reduce speeding motorists, which is one of the “Fatal Five” offences. Motorists could be prosecuted if they are caught warning other drivers on the road for any speed trap.”
In practice, police may use their discretion as to whether to pursue a case, this is because the rough locations of speed camera vans are often publicised in advance by forces. Read More…
