Taxi driver wins fight over Marine Drive speed fine A TAXI driver had his speeding ticket cancelled after successfully challenging the action because the stretch of road was not correctly signposted.
Ged Stenberg, 59 was travelling along Marine Drive near to its junction with Weld Road when he was caught driving at 49mph by a police traffic officer.
Under the impression he was driving below the 50mph speed limit, Mr Stenberg was stopped by the officer and told he had exceeded the 30mph limit for that road.
Mr Stenberg, a taxi driver for eight years, said: “I thought the limit was 50mph so I stuck to that speed. The part of the road I had been driving along had no clear 30mph signs.
“I just couldn’t believe it when I was charged with speeding. Driving is my job, if I get points on my licence it could be the end of my career.”
After seeking advice from a solicitor Mr Stenburg challenged the speeding ticket. He took photographs of the road to illustrate the lack of signage and produced a video as evidence.
The taxi driver was asked to appear at South Sefton Magistrates’ court on January 30 to face the speeding charge, but then received a letter on December 18 from the Crown Prosecution Service saying that no further action would be taken because there was not enough evidence to “provide a realistic prospect of conviction”.
Mr Stenberg, who works for Scenic Cabs in Formby, said: “It’s disgraceful that people are being prosecuted for speeding along this road when it is not correctly signposted.
“Under law 30mph signs have to be in view on both the nearside and offside. This is not the case along Marine Drive. Since my case nothing has changed.
“I have put in a request under the Freedom of Information Act to the police to find out how many people have been prosecuted since 2000 for speeding along that stretch.
“I hope my story encourages others to challenge their charges.”
George Halsall, of the North Sefton Hackney Carriage Association, said: “They are catching people out by changing the speed limits but not properly informing people of this change. If they are moving the goalposts they should clearly identify that change.”
http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/south ... -30150157/
Login
Register
FAQ
