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Traffic Officers lay down the law
09 May 2007
Motorists are being warned to obey the instructions of Highway’s Agency Traffic Officers after the successful prosecution of a second driver reported by the civilian motorway patrols.
A driver in the north west was fined £60 and endorsed with three points after pleading guilty to ignoring lane closure signs that were helping HA Traffic officers cone-off a section of the M60.
The driver tried to push to the front of the queue behind a ‘roliing road block’ by driving up the empty lane under the closure sign and was reported to the police, who brought charges.
“Hopefully this case will highlight the powers of traffic officers,” said the Highways Agency.
Traffic officers are the new motorway patrols introduced to free police for more serious duties. They are trained civilians and lack police powers, although motorists have to obey any instructions given by them.
The first motorist to fall foul of the new patrols was prosecuted in February after failing to comply with an officer trying to hold back traffic on the Kent section of the M25 while coning off lanes to deal with a crash between a car and truck. He was fined £500 and got three points on his licence.
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