Motorists Using 'Speed Camera Spotters' To Claim Compensation
Published: 5th January 2005
A supplier of a Radar Detector (speed camera spotter) is claiming compensation for motorists using their device - the government has been asked to pay up to two million pounds or a £100 per motorist in compensation.
Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Transport, has asked for a total ban on a radar detector that can detect mobile speed cameras.
Mobile speed cameras are a huge source of income to the Government. One Police officer managed to give 329 tickets in five hours, raising nearly £20,000 in revenue. Police overtime pay is regularly given to officers willing to carry out the mobile speed checks.
The supplier of one the best selling speed camera spotters, the Quintezz XT7000 radar detector is taking action against Alistair Darling.
Darling has been asked to leave the law alone and allow motorists to continue to use their speed trap detection device.
Mark Cornwall of Car Parts Direct, the company supplying the Quintezz Radar detector said: "Our Radar detector does exactly what a speed camera is supposed to do - it advises a motorist to check their speed and keep within the limits of the law. It is a road safety device that has helped thousands of motorists keep their driving licence and avoided hefty speeding fines. Alistair Darling has demonstrated once again his greed for speed camera cash - road safety is just a feeble excuse to extort easy money from the motorist."
Cornwall caused outrage with the Government last year when he announced that any motorist using their device who is unfortunate enough to receive a speeding ticket would have the cost of their fine paid. The company also ran a series of adverts depicting a Policeman as the Devil - the policeman was holding a mobile laser speed trap.
Cornwall said: "Any customer purchasing our £199 Quintezz XT7000 Radar detector will have up to £100 refunded to them if the Government manages to ban the product within 12 months of purchase. We will then take action against Alistair Darling to recover the costs from the Government - and the Government fails to pay, further action will be taken through the European Court of Human Rights."
Car Parts Direct has a five year agreement to supply the Quintezz XT7000 Radar Detector in the UK. Cornwall says he will do everything possible to make sure the law remains unchanged. He added, "While ever there are speed cameras we will have huge demand - and we will also continue to supply the Quintezz and pay the cost of the £60 speeding ticket to our customers – it’s about the only defence the motorist has left against speed cameras."
