Driver 'caught speeding 94 times' walks free
A French motorist accused of 94 speeding offenses was acquitted by a judge this week because he couldn't be sure who was behind the wheel.
The driver was accused of endangering people’s lives after a car belonging to his company was flashed by speed cameras almost one hundred times over 2011 and 2012.
The 40-year-old, who runs a grocers' company in the northern town of Rouen, was allegedly caught on camera speeding at 180kmh on roads with a 70kmh speed limit. One camera snapped the car travelling at 250kmh.
But despite the number of alleged offences, President of Versaille Criminal Court Françoise Dufour allowed him to walk free, because photographs from the speed cameras could not prove the accused was behind the wheel of the company car.
“Legally this decision is absolutely correct because there are no photographs and no witness testimonies to prove my client was driving the vehicle,” lawyer Adrien Weil, told France’s TF1 television.
“The car was used for both company and private use and this is the problem with speed cameras,” he added. “Notice of the violation is sent out to the owner of a vehicle a little like a bottle in the sea and then they must find out who committed the offence.”
The businessman had been facing a year’s prison sentence and three years suspension of his driving licence if he had been convicted.
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The driver was accused of endangering people’s lives after a car belonging to his company was flashed by speed cameras almost one hundred times over 2011 and 2012.
The 40-year-old, who runs a grocers' company in the northern town of Rouen, was allegedly caught on camera speeding at 180kmh on roads with a 70kmh speed limit. One camera snapped the car travelling at 250kmh.
But despite the number of alleged offences, President of Versaille Criminal Court Françoise Dufour allowed him to walk free, because photographs from the speed cameras could not prove the accused was behind the wheel of the company car.
“Legally this decision is absolutely correct because there are no photographs and no witness testimonies to prove my client was driving the vehicle,” lawyer Adrien Weil, told France’s TF1 television.
“The car was used for both company and private use and this is the problem with speed cameras,” he added. “Notice of the violation is sent out to the owner of a vehicle a little like a bottle in the sea and then they must find out who committed the offence.”
The businessman had been facing a year’s prison sentence and three years suspension of his driving licence if he had been convicted.
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