Speed camera use illegal, says Robbie the Pict
6 Jul 06
Claim that no proper authorisation as each type of device requires statutory instrument
The man who successfully led the campaign to scrap the Skye Bridge tolling scheme yesterday claimed to have established a legal argument against speed cameras.
Robbie the Pict claims that under the Road Traffic Act 1991, each particular type of device such as a speed camera or radar has to be authorised by statutory instrument before evidence based on its use is admissable in court. The order must, he said, have a specific description of the device being used and be laid before Parliament.
Having checked with the UK's statutory instrument registrar at the Cabinet Office, Mr Pict said he had discovered that statutory instruments had not been made for the particular monitoring equipment in use. He claimed that his argument could lead to the Home Office being found liable to pay millions of pounds in compensation to affected drivers.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said speed cameras had been shown to save lives and that the department was prepared to answer any queries raised by Mr Pict.