Speeding penalty cut on appeal
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• A 2300 fine imposed on a Southampton driver for speeding on the M4 has been cut to 75 on appeal to Swindon Crown Court and the penalty points on his licence were reduced from five to three, David Vaughan had appealed against fines 2400 costs after North Wiltshire magistrates convicted him in his absence of speeding and not having a registration plate on the rear of his semi-trailer.
Prosecuting, Philip Boyd said police had recorded Vaughan's 38-tonne artic doing nearly 75mph. When Vaughan's vehicle was stopped he told police he had not realised he was speeding. The index plate was found in his cab. Vaughan said that as trailers got older the fixings for the registration plates became less. secure. Most drivers carried a spare plate in the cab because they were constantly changing trailers and in case one fell off—he could not check every 30 seconds to see if the plate had fallen off. Judge Paul Barclay refused to interfere with the 250 fine for that offence after being told that it carried a maximum fine of 21,000. He said it appeared the magistrates had treated it as a technicality.
Vaughan said he drove on a casual basis, making night runs for Dennis Transport to help him through university where he was studying for a degree in international transport management.
He had exceeded the speed limit as he was used to newer vehicles which were equipped with speed limiters. His usual vehicle had broken down and he had been given an old vehicle which did not require a limiter. The first he had known of his conviction was when the police arrested him For nonpayment of the fines.