Drivers are being warned they could face up to a month in prison or a fine of as much as £1,000 if they use social media to tell other motorists where mobile speed cameras are. Posting messages on Twitter and Facebook to alert others can be viewed as a criminal offence and people can be prosecuted, police have said.
It comes after a motorist in Wales posted on Facebook with the location of a speed camera van. He was urged to take it down by other users, North Wales Live reports - plus, in another potential driving offence, he had posted a photo of the speed trap he had taken while passing.
North Wales Police said drivers who alert others to a police speed trap could be in breach of section 89 of the Police Act 1997. The section says: "Any person who resists or wilfully obstructs a constable in the execution of his duty, or a person assisting a constable in the execution of his duty, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or to a fine not exceeding level 3 (£1,000) on the standard scale, or to both."
A spokesperson for the force's road policing unit said: “Publicising the locations of speed traps hampers the good work that staff and officers do to reduce speeding motorists, which is one of the “Fatal Five” offences. Motorists could be prosecuted if they are caught warning other drivers on the road for any speed trap.”
In practice, police may use their discretion as to whether to pursue a case, says North Wales Live. This is because the rough locations of speed camera vans are often publicised in advance by forces.
