truthfindergeneral
Senior Member
'A traffic policeman has been cleared of speeding through roadworks, as a sign had been knocked over in bad weather.
Mark Treleaven-Jones, 42, accepted that he had been caught, on 4 February, driving at 56mph through a 40mph temporary light at Penmaenmawr, Conwy.
But his defence argued one sign had been knocked over and another had been obstructed because of the weather.
District Judge Andrew Shaw told the officer he was satisfied that the 40mph sign had been blown to the floor.
The officer, with 22 years experience, is based with North Wales Police at Bangor, Gwynedd.
'Windy weather'
He told the court at Llandudno that he was familiar with the roadworks concerned, which went on for months, and he was aware of a speed restriction in the area.
But he said the contraflow had been changed, and so the signs were very important.
He said the weather that weekend had been "particularly bad" and very windy.
The prosecution said the court had to consider whether there was adequate guidance for drivers to know the speed limit.
Defence solicitor, Huw Edwards, argued that on the night there had been more than a trivial departure from the signage requirements.
"The speed limit wasn't operative on that night," he said.
District Judge Shaw said he was satisfied that on the night the 40mph central sign had been blown to the floor.
He added that he was also satisfied that the view of another sign had been obstructed.'
'He said the weather that weekend had been "particularly bad" and very windy. '...If the weather was SO BAD, what was he doing traveling at 56 mph ???
Mark Treleaven-Jones, 42, accepted that he had been caught, on 4 February, driving at 56mph through a 40mph temporary light at Penmaenmawr, Conwy.
But his defence argued one sign had been knocked over and another had been obstructed because of the weather.
District Judge Andrew Shaw told the officer he was satisfied that the 40mph sign had been blown to the floor.
The officer, with 22 years experience, is based with North Wales Police at Bangor, Gwynedd.
'Windy weather'
He told the court at Llandudno that he was familiar with the roadworks concerned, which went on for months, and he was aware of a speed restriction in the area.
But he said the contraflow had been changed, and so the signs were very important.
He said the weather that weekend had been "particularly bad" and very windy.
The prosecution said the court had to consider whether there was adequate guidance for drivers to know the speed limit.
Defence solicitor, Huw Edwards, argued that on the night there had been more than a trivial departure from the signage requirements.
"The speed limit wasn't operative on that night," he said.
District Judge Shaw said he was satisfied that on the night the 40mph central sign had been blown to the floor.
He added that he was also satisfied that the view of another sign had been obstructed.'
'He said the weather that weekend had been "particularly bad" and very windy. '...If the weather was SO BAD, what was he doing traveling at 56 mph ???
