what chance has he got

[bodystyling]

Can anyone give advise oon the following.
My son resently was given a £60 fine at road side for going through red lights and is taking it to court to argue hes case.

He was sitting at a set of lights behind a patrol car and also a patrol car to hes nearside. Lights were on red so they were all stationary. The patrol car in front then pull awayat around 5mph across the junction were upon my son followed him. Straight after the junction they both procede through another set of lights on amber. The patrol car goes right son carries on. about 500 mt on and the second patrol car pulls my son over and said he jumped both lights. Then as hes getting out of the car the patrol car infront turns up and says the same. Son replyies well if I jumped the lights which i didnt thick I did you also went through on red. Cop replies i was on a call. can you see were this is going. Car as preversly mentioned 5mph no blues and two. What chance has he got of getting this thrown out.

[Mice_Elf]

By the sounds of what you say, slim to none. It's essentially 2 sets of police against your son.

The only thing to try would be to call the relevant station, give the number plate of the car and the police badges and ask to confirm that they were on a call at that particular time.

However, as a note of caution / future warning - just because the police car pulled forwards, the lights were still red, according to your story above, so your son should obey the rules of the ROAD (Highway Code) and not the car in front, even if it *is* a police car.

To be honest, if he loses at court, he'll face a bigger fine than £60. I'd just pay that and have done with the case, I think.

[Medders]

Not what you will want to hear, but saying "somone else went through" is no defence.
Has he taken advice on this from a solicitor?
Relevantly trained police officers CAN go through red lights, and lights / siren need only be used when necessary., so this isn't going to get the case thrown out. I don't understand why your son thinks it should ?

If he went through he should take it on the chin. As mice elf has already said, he'll likely get a larger fine in court if he goes and loses.

[Medders]

Obviously, the above only takes into account exactly what you have said, and not anything out of the ordinary like broken lights etc.......

[Mk1Mexico]

This offence is the only offence I have been "done" for and was back in 1992.

My case had strange circumstances but in the end was advised that it is an absolute offence (eg you either did it or not) by a solicitor and bit the bullet.

Briefly I was at a set of lights at a T-junction outside my local firestation at 3am and they were at red for way longer then normal, and knowing that the firestation has a button to get them all to red I checked but the station was empty of engines. I made the decision to proceed through slowly with caution followed by the line of traffic behind me. Then rather conveniently a Police patrol car appeared from somewhere and pulled me.

I made a representation to the local station when producing my docs that the traffic lights were malfunctioning, the desk officer went to check a log and said, no there were no reports of a fault on the date, well there would not be if someone had their finger on the button would there though!

I was taken to court without option of a road side fine and got 3 points, £12 fine (£4 for each point) and £30 costs. This was an income related fine and being a poor student then I think I did better than other people.

I don't know if they still operate income related punishments but maybe knowing a good accountant is as important as a good solicitor in a court case? :o