If a police officer doesn't serve a summons, can a driver plead not guilty and have no case to answer?

A driver is stopped by the police and after the driver's details are obtained the officer says: "You will be reported for driving without reasonable consideration for other road users". Nothing else is...

Why was I convicted of failing to stop for an accident?

Last autumn I joined the A5 from a minor road at a busy large roundabout with five exits. As I left the roundabout I felt the slightest bump on my nearside. Four days later I received a Notice of Intended...

Why was I pulled over for having no insurance after having taken out a new policy?

I renewed my annual car insurance on 4 January. This was done by phone, paid by debit card and the new certificate arrived by post a few days later. The existing policy was scheduled to terminate ten days...

Why are drivers being prosecuted for using phones when they're scratching their ears?

I’m devoting most of this week’s column to an injustice briefly touched upon on 12th January (‘Wrong Arm of the Law’). It seems that drivers are increasingly being bullied into accepting fixed penalties...

Why are people being wrongly prosecuted for using mobile phones when driving?

The letter from CK about being accused of holding and using his mobile phone when he was not, reminded me of an incident involving my brother some years ago. He was driving with his elbow on the window...

My son was wrongly accused of using a mobile phone when driving.

On the above I thought it would encourage readers that there is hope in challenging false accusations. My son was in his first year of driving and in the eleventh month of that year he was accused by a...

I was wrongly accused of using a mobile phone when driving by the police.

Four years ago, as I made my way to work, I was flagged down and pulled over traffic by two police in a 4x4 using sirens and flashing lights, etc.. They asked me to leave my vehicle and get in the back...

A false accusation by police was thrown out in court after I contested the officer's testimony.

I successfully challenged a penalty notice, similar to CK's son. At Bournemouth magistrates court I defended myself. The court was even-handed. They dismissed the charge when I pointed out the officers...

I am a magistrate and I do not value the evidence of police as greater than that of the defendant.

With reference to the email by CK, as a magistrate I have two comments to make. 1: When I am on the bench I do not regard the evidence by the police as being greater than that of a defendant or any other...

A reader's letter to a police superintendent regarding the wrongful accusation of a driver.

I fully endorsed the prosecution of mobile phone users whilst driving. Made the point that a £60 fine and a 3 point endorsement seems grossly inadequate ‘to protect life by preventing fatal and serious...