Blake Lapthorn wins speeding case for Portsmouth client

The Motoring Offences team at Blake Lapthorn has this week won a speeding case for its client in Portsmouth.

Barry Culshaw from the firm's Motoring Offences team was consulted by the client who was facing a prosecution from Hampshire Constabulary that he had exceeded the 40 mph speed limit along Mile End Road in Portsmouth on 10 November 2007.

The client questioned the accuracy of the signing of the speed limit and a report was commissioned from a Traffic Management and Signing Consultant.  The report was critical of the adequacy of the terminal signing, which purported to commence the 40 mph speed limit off the Church Street Roundabout and was also critical of the absence of 40 mph paired terminal signing at the junction of Prospect Road and Mile End Road.

Despite the Crown Prosecution Service at Portsmouth having been served with a copy of the report in September 2008, the prosecution of Blake Lapthorn's client continued and was heard by District Judge Arnold at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on 14 January 2009.  The Crown Prosecution Service decided to offer no evidence on the morning of the trial, conceding that it could not prove to the criminal standard of proof that the offside terminal sign was capable of being illuminated at the time of the alleged offence.

The District Judge dismissed the allegation of speeding and made a defendant's costs order in favour of the client, payable out of Court Central Funds.

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Contact:

Daniel Baber, Public Relations manager

T: 020 7814 5489

E: daniel.baber@bllaw.co.uk