Cyclist who films motorists committing offences at the wheel says HE is now facing a fine of £1,000 after police accused him of breaching traffic laws
- Tom Bosanquet, 42, from Bristol was told he may get slammed with a £1,000 fine
- Police told the cyclist his filming ‘blocked the road’ so he could talk to others
- Mr Bosanquet has said that it would be ‘ridiculous’ to take the matter to court
A cyclist has been warned he could get hit with a £1,000 fine for filming motorists committing offences at the wheel.
Police reportedly told Tom Bosanquet, 42, from Bristol that his ‘civic efforts’ shouldn’t bring him ‘into conflict with other road users’.
The fine threat came after he captured a van driver allegedly using a phone while at the wheel and driving through a red light.
Sending him a notice of intended prosecution, Avon and Somerset police reportedly told Mr Bosanquet that he ‘blocked the road’ so he could ‘converse with the occupants’.
Police told Tom Bosanquet, 42, from Bristol that his ‘civic efforts’ shouldn’t ‘bring you into conflict with other road users’ after the man captured a van driver allegedly using a phone
They added that the van driver probably ‘in his frustration then decided to go through the red light’.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, the cyclist said a warning would have been fairer.
He added: ‘I think it would be ridiculous to try and take this to court. I heard that it might be a £1,000 fine at maximum.’
The incident is understood to have taken place on March 4 in Bristol.
Drivers have been expressing their fury at cyclists who have been given greater freedom on the road following a major revamp of the Highway Code in January.
Under the new rules, cyclists are now advised to ride in the centre of lanes on quieter roads, in slower-moving traffic, and when approaching junctions, to make themselves as visible as possible.
The code also says that cyclists should be aware of people driving behind them and allow them to overtake when it is safe to do so.
The new measures are supposed to boost protection for cyclists and pedestrians but motorists have complained about cyclists deliberately hogging the centre of the road, causing pile-ups of traffic behind them, after the rules came into force.
In London, cyclists have taken advantage of the new Highway Code rules which encourage them to travel in the middle of the road. Pictured: Library image
The new guidance means traffic should give way when pedestrians are crossing or waiting to cross at junctions.
A hierarchy of road users also means someone driving will have more responsibility to watch out for people cycling, walking, or riding a horse, and cyclists will have more responsibility to be aware of pedestrians.
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