Dorset speed camera blunder

In what has been described as an “historical clerical error”, the Dorset Strategic Safety Camera Partnership is having to track down all of the drivers who have been caught by a particular speed camera over a period of ten years and inform them that their fines are to be refunded and any penalty points rescinded. If every driver is contacted, they face a potential bill of over £1 million.

The problem arose when it was discovered that the paperwork for the camera, identifying its location was incorrect. A lorry driver, Alan Dawe, challenged a fine imposed upon him and during the course of the challenge it came to light that the camera was described as being on Seatown Road, when in fact it was located on Duck Lane, in the Devon village of Chideock.

The practical consequence of this apparently small error is that every one of the 24,889 speeding tickets issued since the original Traffic Regulation Order was drafted is illegal. Not only will fines have to be refunded and penalty points rescinded, but also there is likely to be a claim from motorists who have faced higher insurance premiums as a result of their convictions.