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Caught by a traffic vigilante?

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The fact that many police forces allow road users to upload footage and complaint details online has led to a rise in so-called traffic ‘vigilantes’.

One notable traffic vigilante, known as Cycling Mikey, is said to have reported over 1,000 drivers for indiscretions in the past three years, with an estimated 80% of those going on to face prosecution.

So, what happens if you are caught by a traffic vigilante? And what legal defences might you have? We discuss those issues below.

While we hope this information is useful, please note that it should not be taken as legal advice. If you are concerned about the prospect of facing prosecution after being caught by a traffic vigilante, then please get in touch and our team can advise you.

What are traffic vigilantes?

A traffic vigilante is someone who undertakes any form of traffic law enforcement without official legal authority (i.e. a police officer). The most common tactic of a traffic vigilante is to film other road users and send reports to the police if they believe an offence has been committed.

Is vigilantism legal in the UK?

The act of vigilantism is illegal in the UK. This is where there can be some confusion, as it is important to determine what acts would actually amount to vigilantism in the eyes of the law.

Taking Cycling Mickey as an example, simply filming other road users using a GoPro camera and then passing this footage on to the police is unlikely to be considered vigilantism, especially if no attempt is made to take the law into their own hands or to ‘police’ someone else’s actions.

What are the legal defences against traffic vigilantes?

Exactly what legal defences may be available if you are a road user who has been caught by a traffic vigilante will depend on the circumstances of the case and the offence you have allegedly committed. Video footage can be compelling evidence, but with the support an expert motoring offence solicitor, you will stand the best possible chance of avoiding charges or having a punishment reduced as far as possible.

What should you do if you have been caught by a traffic vigilante?

Being caught by a traffic vigilante can be extremely distressing, especially as there is a risk that you could face prosecution further down the line. If you are concerned that you will be investigated for a driving offence, having expert legal advice on your side is essential.

At JD Spicer Zeb, our criminal defence offence solicitors have over 45 years of experience in supporting individuals accused of a wide variety of offences, including driving offences. Our experience and specialist expertise ensure that we understand exactly what is required to build the strongest possible defence against the allegations you are facing and what steps will be required to secure a positive outcome. This could mean having charges dropped, or a punishment significantly reduced.

We are highly skilled at collecting and presenting the various types of evidence that will be relied on these types of cases. Notably, we can also carefully scrutinise any evidence which is being used by the prosecution, identifying any flaws in the case against you.

As a firm, we have been accredited by the Law Society for Criminal Litigation. We have a strong track record of success and have been able to build strong relationships with many of the country’s leading criminal defence barristers.

If you are facing a charge after being caught by a traffic vigilante, we are here to provide you with the support you need.

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Fees and funding

We understand the importance of providing clear information regarding fees.

If you need to attend court for a driving offence, legal aid public funding may become available. Whether or not this is the case will depend on whether the grant of public funding is justified.

Where you do not qualify for legal aid public funding, the alternative option is to fund the case on a private basis.

To find out more about the way we handle fees (both legal aid public funding and private fees) for driving without due care and attention, please use the links provided below:

Contact our criminal defence lawyers today

If you are due to attend the police station, require any urgent specialist advice, or immediate representation for a motoring offence that has been reported by a traffic vigilante please do not hesitate to get in touch.

You can contact our dedicated criminal defence lawyers in London, Birmingham, and Manchester by telephone on:

Or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online enquiry form, and we will get back to you quickly.

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We are available to represent clients all over England and Wales at any time, so please contact our Emergency Number at 07836 577 556.