A speed camera which has collected more than £5 million in fines over two years has been found to be faulty by police.
The 30mph-limit camera, on Maybray King Way in Southampton, caught 51,049 people over the limit between 2015 and 2017, and was triggered 70 times a day over that time.
Its minimum fine starts at £100 and is believe to have gathered more than £5 million over that time.
But now Hampshire Police has revealed it is ‘aware of an issue’ that the camera could record incorrect readings of vehicles with a ‘high flat rear’.
Two drivers have been able to prove they were incorrectly penalised by the camera, leading to fears the same may have happened to others.
Nathan Thompson, an NHS IT engineer, said he could have lost his job over the matter.
The 37-year-old was flashed as he drove his motorhome well under the limit at 25mph in August, but was able to prove the mistake using his dash camera footage.
He received a letter which said he could be prosecuted for travelling at twice his actual speed – more than 50mph – but he argued his case and it was dropped.
Mr Thompson said: ‘If I was in a hire car or a work car and from outside the area and I didn’t have proof of going 25mph I’d have had to pay it, so I wonder how many other people have been in a similar situation with that camera, as it’s the most profitable in the country.
‘If I didn’t have the evidence that I was going 25mph, then it would have ended up with me going to court. I’d have lost my job. That technology shouldn’t go wrong. It has the potential to seriously ruin lives.’
The Alliance of British Drivers has now called for every driver caught by the camera and consequently fined to be refunded.
Founding member Hugh Bladon said: ‘We are aware that sometimes cameras are not exactly accurate.
‘But for this camera to be recording a driver as travelling at 50mph, something is seriously wrong.
‘Every driver, regardless of what speed he has been shown doing by this camera, should have their fine refunded and any points removed.
‘If people, as a result of this camera, have to do a speed awareness course, that should be refunded as well as together with compensation for the time that the person has had to spend completing it.’
A Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of an issue with the camera on Maybray King Way, which can lead to incorrect readings with vehicles with a high flat rear.
‘Our Summary Justice Unit has thorough processes in place to ensure that we prevent any incorrect prosecutions occurring.
‘There have been two cases in which we have identified this issue and have stopped proceedings.’
The speed camera still remains in place, with a similar camera the other side of the dual carriageway.
Police have not said how many more people may have been affected by the malfunction.
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