Driver Parked in Front of Speed Camera Gets Tickets

Source Telegraph, 21st January 2010

A driver was sent speeding tickets twice after parking in front of a speed camera because police officers failed to notice his vehicle was stationary in the images, it has emerged.

Jeff Buck parks in front of the camera on Watnall Road outside his home in Nottingham, because he does not have a drive or a garage. Now he has been sent two speeding fines by Nottinghamshire Police.

The mix-ups happened because the officers failed to spot his car was parked as another vehicle triggered the camera while breaking the 30mph speed limit. The Police have apologised to 55-year-old Mr Buck after he successfully contested the fines.

He told the Nottingham Evening Post: ''I assumed the first time it happened that the police would put something in place to prevent it from happening again. I'm concerned now that every time someone triggers the camera I'll get these notices. I am amused by it, but also angry that I have to go to the trouble of contacting the police.''

Mr Buck received his most recent apology on Monday after he asked to see photographic evidence that his Vauxhall Zafira was doing 37mph along Watnall Road on December 13. A spokeswoman for Nottinghamshire Police said the camera wasn't faulty and staff were being given guidance about the importance of verifying images properly.

She added: ''We hope that residents in this area appreciate that the camera is there to reduce the number of speeding motorists. We have written to Mr Buck to offer our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.''