UK traffic policing is great! (NOT!!)

These two articles in Yahoo! and Sky News yesterday and last week really show how daft traffic policing in the UK has become, oh dear:

(Quote from January 28th, 2010)
'Stunned' Driver Fined For Blowing His Nose

A motorist has told Sky News of his disbelief at being fined for blowing his nose while his vehicle was at a standstill.

When he moved off, he was pulled over by police who told him he had not been in control of his vehicle.

Mr Mancini, from Ayrshire, was handed a £60 fixed penalty and given three points on his driving licence.

He told Sky News: "I thought they were joking and that it was a wind-up.

"I was stopped in traffic and had the handbrake on and thought to myself, 'Ive just got time to blow my nose.'

"Then police pulled me over and I was booked. I genuinely thought they were joking, that it was a wind-up."

The incident occurred in October, but Mr Mancini has refused to pay the penalty.

His solicitor wrote to prosecutors earlier this month explaining the offence could not have occurred because Mr Mancini's handbrake was on.

But prosecutors replied the next day warning that if the fine wasn't paid, the case would be taken to court.

Mr Mancini added: "I intend taking this all the way to court. I still don't believe it actually happened."

A Strathclyde Police spokesman said: "A 39-year-old man is the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal in connection with an alleged traffic offence on October 26."
(End quote)

and.....

(Quote from January 22nd, 2010)
Speed Camera Fines Driver Of Parked Car

A man from Nottingham has been caught "driving" at 0mph by a speed camera - not once but twice.

His parked car had been snapped by a speed camera on his street, apparently as other cars sped past.

The latest incident occured on 13 December 2009.

Nottinghamshire Police claimed he was snapped while driving his Vauxhall Zafira at 37mph in a 30mph zone.

When Mr Buck demanded to see the photographs, police dropped the case.

The problem for Mr Buck is the camera is situated outside his home where his car is parked.

When speeding drivers are caught by the camera, his car is snapped too and he gets sent the fine by mistake.

Mr Buck said: "The photographs must presumably show two vehicles, with mine parked halfway on the pavement and road.

"It's amazing that whatever system is in place cannot tell the difference between a car that is motionless and one travelling at 37mph.

"I am amused by it, but also angry that I have to go to the trouble of contacting the police.

"My only option is to park the car on the road as I don't have a garage or driveway."

Police have since apologised for the mix-up. In a statement they said: "The software used to read number plates has captured his car's number plate in the image.

"On both occasions the offending vehicle number plates were similar to those of Mr Buck's vehicle registration number.

"We will examine the processes and see if improvements can be made to minimise the chance of this happening again in the future."
(End quote)

Genius! You couldn't make it up and be believed, could you?