Via JuliaM my attention is drawn to Vera Baird.
The former Labour Solicitor General tried to dodge a driving ban yesterday by claiming ‘hardship’ after being kicked out as an MP at the General election.
Barrister Vera Baird – who occupied the £125,000-a-year post for Gordon Brown until last month – was caught on camera speeding at 98mph.
But she claimed a ban would cause her ‘excessive hardship’ because she needed her car to wind up her affairs after losing her seat in Redcar, Cleveland.
And she told magistrates the punishment would cost taxpayers more money, as she is still eligible to claim MPs’ expenses and would have to file a bill for taxi fares for the delivery of her paperwork.
Put aside for a moment the point Julia makes about chutzpah, and consider this; the M4 where the offence took place is currently reduced to a 50mph speed restriction due to extensive road works as they widen the carriageway in some places and lay cables in others. It goes on pretty much from Newport to just after Cardiff.
Any driver who is prepared to drive at roughly twice the posted speed limit and not see the blindingly obvious speed cameras deserves to lose their licence for failing to possess the necessary observation skills.
Oh, and for thinking that the law only applies to the little people, of course – that goes without saying.
Good point on the speed restrictions – I’ve never understood how people could fail to see the cones, the warning signs, etc.
Are you sure the speed restrictions were in force at the time? AIUI if you go more than 30mph over the speed limit, you get an immediate 1-2 month ban rather than points…
I can’t be precisely sure as the limits have moved as the work has moved. The offence took place last August and I’m not exactly sure where, so, yes, it’s possible she may have just left it…