 |
New police powers under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 have led to what’s thought to be the first road traffic prosecution for misusing a public bridleway. Darren Cook and Robert Laybram of Derby were each fined £100 plus £50 by Chesterfield Magistrates Court after being caught driving their 4x4s down a public bridleway, part of the Coffin Road near Ashover in Derbyshire.
It’s been a road traffic offence to drive a motor vehicle along a footpath or bridleway since 1988, but the CRoW act amended the 1988 Road Traffic Act, shifting the burden of proof from prosecution to defence. Briefly, before CRoW was passed the prosecutor had to prove that motorists didn’t have a right to use the track. But now it’s down to the defendants to prove that they did.
The two motorists concerned say that they’ve been picked upon and that they believed that the track had vehicular rights. It has at the ends, but a stretch in the middle is bridleway. As far as we can tell, the track in question is this one here – any locals care to confirm that?
Derbyshire County Councillor Brian Lucas said: “We are determined to stamp out the practice of drivers using public bridleways.” Which will be good news for anyone who’s ever encountered a wrecked bridleway thanks to 4×4 or trailbike use…
More on this story from the Derbyshire Evening Telegraph.
Share