Bob
18th May 2007, 00:21
A speed-camera hating biker who repeatedly stuck two fingers up the devices whilst riding at speeds reported as being “up to 105mph” has been banned from riding for a year.
(105mph = 170mph approx - UK national speed limit is 70mph = 110kph. Depending on the road, it would be slower than this, possibly as low as 30mph = 50kph)
Philip Coffey, 45, thought he would get away with the gesture as his face was obscured by his helmet and bikes do not have front numberplates. However, he had not counted on a determined police search. Checking with BMW and the national registration database, they found only three such bikes in his home county of Bedfordshire. Coffey had also changed the bike to add additional headlights – a feature that made him all the easier to identify.
Judge Michael Kay, QC: "Some of these speeds were eye-watering. You decided to take the system on and I am pleased to say you lost." The jury at Luton Crown Court cleared Coffey of dangerous driving but convicted him of nine counts of careless driving.
Coffey told the jury "A lot of the time I was just accelerating for the cameras. I don't like them. I don't like the existence of them in this country."
He was fined £900 with £600 costs (a total of about NZD 4,050)
(105mph = 170mph approx - UK national speed limit is 70mph = 110kph. Depending on the road, it would be slower than this, possibly as low as 30mph = 50kph)
Philip Coffey, 45, thought he would get away with the gesture as his face was obscured by his helmet and bikes do not have front numberplates. However, he had not counted on a determined police search. Checking with BMW and the national registration database, they found only three such bikes in his home county of Bedfordshire. Coffey had also changed the bike to add additional headlights – a feature that made him all the easier to identify.
Judge Michael Kay, QC: "Some of these speeds were eye-watering. You decided to take the system on and I am pleased to say you lost." The jury at Luton Crown Court cleared Coffey of dangerous driving but convicted him of nine counts of careless driving.
Coffey told the jury "A lot of the time I was just accelerating for the cameras. I don't like them. I don't like the existence of them in this country."
He was fined £900 with £600 costs (a total of about NZD 4,050)