Loophole found in speed camera law

Thousands of drivers could have speeding convictions overturned after the discovery of a legal loophole in existing legislation, the RAC said yesterday.

In a recent case, police speed camera evidence against a speeding motorist was deemed inadmissible because photographs were enlarged to make them more readable. Now the RAC believes thousands of other motorists convicted by cameras might be able to take advantage of the loophole.

In the specific case at Uxbridge Magistrates Court in Middlesex, a businessman was accused of exceeding a 60mph limit on the M25 in Surrey.

His solicitor successfully argued that some of the camera picture was enhanced to make the number plates more readable and that only evidence produced directly by the speed camera was admissible.

"This type of enhancement is commonly used by police camera units throughout the country in an attempt to identify vehicles," said RAC head of campaigns Edmund King.

He went on: "Motorists concerned about their speeding prosecutions, where photographic enhancements were a factor, should in the case of fixed penalties contact the police force involved and, in court cases, contact the court involved to question the validity of their conviction."

The RAC said the confusion needed to be cleared up because speeding was the biggest single cause of death and serious injury in road accidents, and it constantly campaigned for consistent enforcement of the law.