Police officer fined for dangerously parking speed camera van over pavement and cycle lane
The van forced pedestrians and cyclists to cross a busy road at peak commuter time
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The driver of a police speed camera van found themselves on the other side of the law after a member of the public spotted their dangerous parking on a busy road.
The Mercedes van was caught in the hazardous spot in Longlevens, Gloucestershire, as it monitored traffic travelling down Cheltenham Road .
Jamie Leon Britton, a Longlevens resident, took a picture of the van’s inappropriate parking place, which obstructed both the pavement and a cycle lane.
Police mobile cam unit gets fixed penalty for parking over a cycle lane - nice to see fairness applied here
Posted by Gloucestershire Echo on Sunday, 8 November 2015
Mr Britton said he was “stunned” at how poorly the police vehicle was parked, forcing pedestrians and cyclists to cross the busy road at peak commuter time, according to the Gloucestershire Citizen.
The officer who parked the van has received a fixed penalty fine, the Gloucestershire Echo reports.
A Freedom of Information act has also recently revealed the officer has been given “management advice” by the Gloucestershire Constabulary.
The van was attempting to catch speeding drivers as they headed towards Gloucester at 9am earlier this year. Drivers caught by the van would usually be issued a £60 fine and receive three points on their license.
Robert Vestey, of the Camera Enforcement Unit at Gloucestershire Constabulary, said: “We do not condone such actions and we hope that the fixed penalty notice and management advice shows that this has been taken seriously.”
“A member of the police workforce is not exempt from following road and parking rules, which is why the individual has been treated as any member of the public would be.”
Tactics to tackle speeding have often been a point of contention. Earlier this year police admitted to hiding speed cameras in farm vehicles despite government advice saying mobile speed cameras should be “clearly identifiable as an enforcement vehicle.”
Humberside Police said it hid officers with speed cameras in tractors and horseboxes in an attempt to catch speeding bikers on a rural road that had been the site of a high number of casualties.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments