Finger gesture motorist fined

Simon Thomson, 41 was fined £80 for giving a speed camera the finger. Mr Thomson made the middle finger gesture while driving, under the speed limit past a mobile speed camera unit as he drove home according to reports in The Sun newspaper.

Half an hour later he was pulled over by two police officers and handed a fixed penalty under the Public Order Act.

Although Mr Thomson was very lucky as he never received any points on his licence, so his car insurance premium will not be affected, he felt very angry and bitter towards the police. Days earlier a fellow colleague of Mr Thomson was attacked outside his work place and the police failed to react quickly enough.

A statement by the Essex police said: "The man received the fine because he was seen to gesture several times to officers operating a mobile speed camera in an obscene and offensive way."

Mr Thomson replied to the police statement saying: I accept what I did was foolish and it wasn't my finest hour. But this shows the police have got their priorities completely wrong.

He continues by saying: "I wasn't giving the officers the finger, I was aiming my anger at the camera. I've got as much contempt for speed cameras as everyone else. I am careful driver. My licence has been clean for ten years."

Let this be a warning to any motorist thinking of doing the same.

Date - 15/09/2006