White van man convicted after tooting horn to get his friend’s attention
A white van driver has been convicted after tooting his horn to get his friend's attention.
The motorist from Chelmsford was left with a criminal record and ordered to pay nearly £300 after sounding his horn outside a train station in Essex.
Jamie Spence, 52, was driving his Ford Transit past Braintree station on December 4 when he honked multiple times whilst attempting to get his friend to notice him.
A police officer who witnessed the incident subsequently reported him for the offence of sounding an unauthorised audible warning instrument on a vehicle.
PC Asa Smith provided evidence to the court explaining that he had initially begun observing Mr Spence's vehicle because he suspected the driver might be exceeding the 20mph speed limit in the area.
In his written statement, the officer noted: "When outside the station, subject vehicle hooted horn a number of times to try and get the attention of a friend.
"Not for the purpose of warning other road users."
Essex Police formally charged Mr Spence on April 29, with the matter coming before Colchester Magistrates' Court a fortnight later on May 12.
The 52-year-old entered a guilty plea to the charge.
Magistrate Richard Deacon imposed a £146 fine along with £120 in court costs, bringing the total penalty to £266.
According to court records, Mr Spence had been given an opportunity to resolve the matter without going to court by accepting a fixed penalty notice from police, but he failed to respond to this offer.
His case was among more than 100 criminal matters processed by the magistrate that day.
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The RAC guidance states that the Highway Code permits drivers to use their horn solely for alerting other road users to their presence.
The motoring organisation notes: "It can also be used to alert drivers when approaching a blind spot or corner.
"Misuse of a car horn is illegal and can result in fines for the driver and owner of the vehicle."
In January, Hampshire Constabulary criticised a group of impatient drivers who repeatedly sounded their horns after a police car partially blocked a road during a vehicle stop that later uncovered drugs and a machete.
Officers had been responding to reports of suspicious activity involving a vehicle on Gosport Road.
During the stop, the police car partially obstructed the road, prompting frustrated motorists to begin honking their horns.
After searching the vehicle, officers discovered a large machete and a quantity of cannabis on one of the occupants.
The force later mocked the disgruntled motorists on social media, writing: "While we fully respect everyone’s commitment to expressing their feelings through car horns, our officers were a little busy dealing with the situation at hand."
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