Mum-of-three wins landmark case over ‘confusing’ road sign that nets council £100k-A-WEEK – and now thousands of motorists could fight fines

A MOTORIST has successfully argued her case to overturn a fine issued by one of the UK’s most profitable traffic cameras.

Emma Bartholomew appealed the £65 penalty charge after her mother made a left turn at a junction in Hackney, East London, claiming signage was inadequate.

Emma’s 72-year-old mother was snapped by the camera while visiting the area and was unable to see the poorly placed sign which is partially obstructed by traffic lights.

Hackney Council banned drivers from turning left at the junction last June in a bid to reduce air pollution near a local school.

According to the new rules, vehicles can no longer turn left onto Richmond Road between 7am and 10am and between 3pm and 7pm.

But the mum-of-three claimed the signs banning the turn at certain times of the day are “not clear and confusing for motorists”.

Emma said: “(My mum) had no idea about the camera and the first we knew was when a fine appeared in the post.

“The conditions she was driving in were not very good and she just did not see the sign.”

An initial appeal to have the fine overturned was rejected by the council, before Emma took the case to a tribunal.

With the London Tribunal ruling in her favour to have the fine overturned, the case has opened the door for close to 20,000 drivers to challenge fines and potentially apply for a refund.

Since traffic cameras were installed nine months ago, almost 21,000 penalty charges have been issued to cars turning into Richmond Road from Mare Street.

The fines have made around £14,000 every day for Hackney Council – almost £100,000 a week.

But according to figures released by the council, just 1,544 of the 3,705 appeals made by drivers in that time were successful, meaning thousands could fight to have charges overturned.

Despite Hackney Council refusing to change the signs, the Tribunal ruled they were poorly positioned and not easy for motorists to read.

Mr Sean Stanton-Dunne, London Tribunal adjudicator, told the “The no left turn sign is positioned beyond the traffic lights so that it may not be clearly seen before the lights.

“The lights are in front of the sign and so risk causing an obstructed view from car level in the left hand lane.

“There is an advance warning sign further back from the lights but this is tilted at an angle so that it does not directly face the approaching motorist.”

Emma has urged other motorists to appeal their own penalty charges.

Had she lost her case at the tribunal, she would have been forced to pay £130.

A Hackney Council spokesperson said: “Two thirds of cases heard by the adjudicator have been won by the Council.

“There are three signs warning of the no-turn before and at the junction, as well as an illuminated sign on the traffic light which warns drivers when the restriction is in force.

“These signs are Department for Transport approved, and go over and above the requirements for a restriction of this type.

“Nonetheless we always remain open to making further improvements, and will be inviting an adjudicator to visit Richmond Road so that we can discuss any concerns they may have, and agree how to address them for the benefit of motorists.”