Motorists may face substantial fines, possibly reaching four figures, for utilizing social media to alert others about police speed traps or flashing their headlights.
The Highway Code strictly allows headlight usage solely for signaling one’s presence to other road users, not for conveying other messages.
Drivers issuing warnings about police speed traps may breach section 89 of the Police Act 1997, as it is deemed an offense to willfully obstruct a constable in the execution of duty.
This warning extends beyond the road to social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter (X) and Instagram.
The penalty, potentially up to £1,000, applies not only to headlight flashing but also to disclosing police speed trap locations on social media channels.
Traffic and travel groups on platforms like Facebook may inadvertently lead users to legal consequences if they share such information.
The law, under rule 110 of the Highway Code, emphasizes using headlights solely for indicating presence and not for conveying messages or intimidating others.
Breaching section 89 of the Police Act 1997 by obstructing police duties, including speed checks, could result in criminal charges, with a maximum fine of £1,000.
Do some research before you post this tosh.
“wilfully obstruct a constable in the execution of his/her duty.”
1: They aren’t police officers in the back of those vans
2: Posting about an accident hotspot online is not the same as obstructing a constable
3: Has anyone ever been convicted of this? I.e. where they didn’t plead guilty? none that I can find!
Valid points Damienj, this post wasn’t written by us if you check the original credit. Thank you for your comment.
Is fine for various employees of various police forces to be using police helicopters to film people in their own homes engaging in sexual activity tho, I’m with NWA, fuck the police.
I laugh at people who get speeding fines, they reep what they sow. Wish I could see all there Stupid looking faces when they have to pay up. It puts a big smile on my face 😆😆😆
Many years ago there was an attempt by the police to convict someone of this; The police lost the case because it had to be proved that the driver being warned was “speeding” at the time of the warning. It went all the way to the high court so the claims in this article are false.
quote “t is an offence to “wilfully obstruct a constable in the execution of his/her duty.”unquote
but they are NOT police officers in the speed camera vans
Strangely I take a different attitude to this. Should all concerned people not try to prevent someone breaking the law? If you try to stop a bank robber when leaving a bank you could be prosecuted? I don’t think so! At a lesser level should you not comment on someone dropping litter?
Total Balony !!!! How could prove to a court or even a Copper that you were warning other motorists ?
As far as your concerned you saw someone you knew or you were turning windscreen wash on or even you mistook it for an indicator!!! If you admitted to the copper that’s what you were doing then yes expect a fine but they have to prove that is what you were doing !!
Total Balony !!!! How could prove to a court or even a Copper that you were warning other motorists ?
As far as your concerned you saw someone you knew or you were turning windscreen wash on or even you mistook it for an indicator!!! If you admitted to the copper that’s what you were doing then yes expect a fine but they have to prove that is what you were doing !!
Well, posting where you have seen a speed trap, aids the point of the speed trap in slowing people down.
You’re helping the police’s “Safety” cameras.
The only viable point of prosecution is for lost earnings from fines.
Also fining a person for telling the truth – is a violation of your freedom of speech as the info is factual in the interest of the general public and aids safety, perfectly legal and arguable in a court of law.
As for flashing headlights – they have to prove you did, then they have to prove you did so for the very reason they claim you did so.
Safety Cameras are valid and helpful, however, they often break the guidelines of use and go unchallenged.
The first duty of ALL police officers is to prevent crime. The 2nd is where a crime has been committed is to investigate it. It is NOT a crime when someone Prevents someone else committing a crime or offence
I am helping and assisting the police if I manage to reduce the rate of speeding which reduces the danger to other road users.
Am I committing an offence if I stop someone assaulting or murdering someone else. I think not
If I understand traffic speed enforcement is not for collecting fines but to ensure drivers stay within limits . Therefore flashing lights must assist the speed enforcement officers in their goal of improving road safety not obstruct them . Unless it is mainly about fines and revenue generation.
Criminal defense lawyers are tasked with safeguarding the rights of their clients, irrespective of the charges they face.
Around our area we always Flash our lights to each other as a gesture of recognising each other and being friendly (Morning, afternoon, evening etc.). The only one ones that never respond to say hi are the police and the speed trap peeps. Even when we stop to say hello, they never come out of their vans to have a chat. I’m begining to think they weren’t brought up to be sociable by their parents or via police trap school?
A few comments here saying, “They are NOT police officers”. They don’t need to be as long as they have been given designated powers by the Chief Constable, in which case they then have the same power/protection as a police officer. Case Law states that where evidence suggest that a person, who was speeding, slowed down as a result of being waned, then an offence of obstruction has been committed. But that cannot be the case on social media as the person would need to see the post when driving, which may then, create the offence of using a mobile phone.