Tons of of drivers have been fined after a bogus 50mph signal was put in in a 40mph zone and police have confirmed the fines will nonetheless stand.
The Metropolitan Police says the penalties are nonetheless ”inside the legislation” regardless of troublemakers placing the indicators as much as idiot drivers on the A20 in Sidcup in south London.
And the velocity restrict was solely lowered final yr by Transport for London (TfL) ”in response to quite a lot of incidents brought on by ongoing flooding points”.
An investigation has now been launched into the incident as an try to ”pervert the course of justice” however the Met stated different official 40mph indicators within the space meant they might not overturn fines suffered by drivers on account of studying the fallacious signal.
In response to the fines, a authorized skilled has stated he had by no means ”seen something fairly like this, on this magnitude”.
Dominic Smith, director at Patterson Legislation, which specialises in motoring legislation, instructed Sky Information: ”We have been contacted within the final week by about 400 or 500 people, of which about 100 to 150 are susceptible to shedding their licences due to this.
”Often when a brand new velocity digital camera goes up, we are able to inform right here as a result of we get perhaps about two or three enquiries a day for a few days – 40 to 50 a day we’re getting in the meanwhile. I’ve by no means seen something prefer it.”
TfL stated the indicators had endangered street customers and brought about added confusion over the street’s right velocity restrict.
A spokesman stated: ”For a brief interval, an incorrect 50mph signal was illegally positioned at one location on the street by any person who had not been authorised by TfL to position it right here, placing individuals travelling in danger.
”This was instantly changed with the proper 40mph signage. All different signage is right and compliant with the rules.
”Security is our primary precedence and we briefly launched a 40mph velocity restrict on the A20 Sidcup Street in response to quite a lot of incidents brought on by ongoing flooding points, which may have posed a danger to life.
”It is vital that individuals comply with the brand new velocity restrict to make sure that everybody can journey safely alongside this street and security digital camera enforcement is an important a part of this.
”We wish to be sure that all drivers are handled pretty and new, common velocity restrict signage, compliant with all site visitors signal rules, was put in to make sure that everybody driving right here is conscious of the brand new restrict.”