Officers responsible for processing speeding tickets in Warwickshire say it’s ‘bonkers’ the lengths that a small minority of drivers and vehicle owners will go to in an attempt to avoid prosecution.

Alison Treharne from Warwickshire Police Road Safety Unit said, “Despite their attempts to avoid accountability for speeding on a road, this approach has always failed at Court, and we are sharing some of the examples so you can see why.”

A 44 year old man from Malvern received a Notice through the post requiring him to identify the driver of a vehicle registered to his address that was caught doing 65mph in a 50mph limit on the M42 near Tamworth in Arden on 15 July 2023.  Instead he provided officers with a 65 page document claiming fraud, and referencing a parking fine. He also provided an exhibit about the insanity of tax entitled ‘There is a loaf of bread on Morrisons Shelf’.  Unfortunately this didn’t work and he was sentenced for Failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver when required by Warwickshire Magistrates on 16 January 2024 to £660 fine and 6 points on his licence. 

A 62 year old man from Redditch also failed to give details of the driver of his vehicle that was caught speeding at 57mph in a 50mph limit in roadworks on the M40 near Lapworth on 1 September last year.  Instead he decided to send letters relating to the Magna Carta, claiming fraud and that his name was ‘trademarked’ and ‘copyrighted.’  He claimed charges of £1,500,000.00 with 8% interest per day if not paid within 10 days.  Needless to say, this didn’t work and he was sentenced on 23 January 2024 to a £660 fine and 6 points on his licence. 

The driver of a vehicle owned by a 57 year old man from Kings Norton, Birmingham was caught doing 48mph in a 40mph limit on the M6 J3-J2 in June last year.   When required to confirm the identity of the driver, he returned a blank notice to Warwickshire Police with a letter attached stating that the person at the address is a ‘dead soul’ and ‘not a living entity’. Staff investigating the offence received a further letter stating that the named person is not deceased but is a legalise fiction of which he has ownership under Common Law Listing.  The 57 year old was fined £660 and received 6 points on his licence when he appeared in court on 16 January 2024. 

The driver of a vehicle owned by a 48 year old woman from Rugby was caught on speed camera doing 38mph in a 30mph limit on the A426 Dunchurch Road.  Instead of providing details of the driver as required she sent a letter to police signed and marked with an ink finger print, referencing maritime law and wanting to be shown laws, titles and codes in the ‘correct-sentence-structure-communication-parse-syntax-grammar’.  Sadly for her she received a postal requisition to appear before Warwickshire Magistrates on 23 January 2024 where she was sentenced to a £660 fine and 6 points on her licence.

In addition to the respective fines and points, all 4 defendants were also ordered to pay a £264 victim surcharge and £90 costs.

Alison Treharne continued, “Sadly for them, if they had cooperated with us and provided the driver’s details when required, then the most likely outcome would be for the driver to be offered a speed awareness course.  Those eligible can attend one every three years, or complete a conditional offer of a £100 fine and 3 points.  However those caught doing very high speeds go straight to court. Our appeal to the public is, to please comply with the Road Traffic legislation, and do not be taken in by bogus material on the internet that will result in a much more costly outcome.”