BBC: U turn over speed camera blunder
Thousands of motorists caught at a speed camera site in Wiltshire are no longer able to challenge their fines.
Originally, people caught speeding at the A303 Folly Bottom roadworks between May 2003 and August 2004 were told they could have fines and points reviewed. Now, the Wiltshire Swindon Safety Camera Partnership says only people caught between October 2003 and 13 January 2004 can apply. The change is down to record keeping, the partnership said.
The original invitation to have convictions reviewed came from the partnership after a woman had her court case for speeding dismissed. Clair Allison was caught on camera exceeding the temporary limit at the roadworks, but claimed there were no warning signs.
A spokeswoman for the camera partnership told the BBC: "The timeframe [for reviewing cases] only relates to when contractors cannot provide documentary evidence to show the signs were there when we say they were."
The partnership will only be contacting 2,467 drivers caught speeding and fined when the temporary limit was in place between October 2003 and January 2004. It cannot say how many people were fined between May 2003 and August 2004.
"We have had letters and calls from people caught outside our timeframe. We are taking advice and will respond individually," the spokeswoman added.
But a Wiltshire Police statement, issued on behalf of the partnership in July 2004, said more than 5,300 motorists were caught and fined in the first six weeks of the enforcement alone. A police spokeswoman then said each case could cost up to £250 to review.
Paul Smith, from the Safe Speed Road Safety campaign, which is critical of speed cameras, claims the signs at the roadworks were faulty throughout the whole period. "The right way forward is for someone with authority to now step in," he said.
Ms Allison's case was dismissed by Salisbury Magistrates' Court on 17 February because of a lack of evidence from the Crown Prosecution Service.