Drivers caught lying to avoid speeding fines

A pioneering partnership between detectives and safety camera teams is hunting drivers who are trying to dodge justice by lying about speeding.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Nov 2013, 15:06 BST

CID officers are investigating motorists who have been sent tickets after being caught breaking the speed limit but have then spun a story to try to hide their guilt.

So far seven drivers in Sussex have been convicted of perverting the course of justice while a string of others are being investigated.

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The partnership works by camera enquiry officers from Sussex Safer Roads Partnership putting together files on drivers who they believe could be lying to avoid speeding fines and points on their licences.

The files are then passed to detectives who question the suspects and charge them if there is enough evidence that they are deliberately lying.

Among those named in the Sussex Police statement is Robert Tuffield who tried to help a driver who had been caught speeding from getting points on their licence by claiming he had been behind the wheel at the time.

The 40-year-old, of Chanctonbury Road, Burgess Hill, was given a four month suspended sentence, told to do 140 hours of community service and was tagged and banned from leaving his home at night for two months.

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Inspector Chris Collins, from Sussex’s central ticket and summons unit, said: “We believe these drivers are just the tip of the iceberg and that many more motorists have lied about speeding and got away with it.

“We do not take the decision to prosecute drivers lightly and this is not about targeting motorists or pursuing people who have made genuine mistakes in their paperwork.

“Each and every one of the drivers we have caught deliberately lied about what they had done to try to get away with it and they have had to face the serious consequences of their actions.”

Detective Inspector Gavin Patch, of East Sussex CID, said: “If you think you can get away with speeding by giving us false details or making up a story, think again.

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“Our staff are experts at spotting lies on forms and will find you out. Being convicted of perverting the course of justice will cost you more than being caught speeding and could even see you jailed.”