A motorist from Greater Manchester has become only the second driver in the North to be prosecuted following a complaint from new Highways Agency Traffic Officers.
The driver, who appeared at Bury Magistrates' Court last month (Friday, June 29), admitted driving without due care and attention and was fined £500 with six penalty points added to his driving licence.
The driver was witnessed using the hard shoulder to drive past the rolling road closure, heading towards an area where Traffic Officers were working in the carriageway. He was subsequently reported to Greater Manchester Police and summonsed.
The size of the fine and the penalty of six points were viewed by the North West Traffic Officer Service today as reflecting the seriousness and potential danger of the driver's actions.
Hang on a minute. We have unscrupulous drivers committing far more serious crimes such as drink driving, driving with no insurance nor tax, and getting away with far less than this.
OK he was in the wrong albeit a bit funny, and invariably late for wherever he was going, but he did no actual harm. 6 points is pretty steep when you think of all the other real rouge drivers out there getting away with blue murder.
Jackie Violet