The Offence:
Failing to conform to a traffic signal is an absolute offence. This means that a person is guilty whether or not they intended not to conform to the signal or whether they simply failed to see it.
The Penalty:
This is an offence which carries a three point licence endorsement. The police will often offer a fixed penalty ticket and if the matter goes to court the magistrates will impose a financial penalty.
How we can help:
There are limited occasions where it may be appropriate to assist, for example if the offence is committed whilst already the subject of nine points. The accumulation of 12 points within three years of each other will result in you totting and your licence will be at stake.
We have also assisted in cases where the relevant traffic signal has been proven to be "non prescribed". Basically the law requires the traffic signal to be of a prescribed nature - for example a stop line must be of a certain width - and if it is shown that the signal is "non precribed" a person cannot be convicted.
Legal aid will not be available to defend such a case but you may rest assured that our fees will be transparent.
Case study:
Dr L inadvertently ran a red light whilst looking for a parking space in Leeds City Centre. He would have run the risk of conviction as he already had nine points upon his licence. Our solicitor was able to show that the stop line (as opposed to the traffic light) was too wide to be of the "prescribed nature" and the case against him collapsed
|
