Atomic clock case but no need to care it in reps. We have other such cases.
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218015398A
This PCN was issued for the alleged contravention of being stopped in a restricted area outside a school when prohibited. The alleged contravention occurred in Clovelly Avenue at 4.14pm on 8 March 2018.
I have looked at the CCTV footage and also the site images submitted by the Council. These show that Mr Byanouni's vehicle was stopped on entrance markings in front of Colindale Primary School. They also show that there is a sign at the location warning motorists that there is no stopping on the entrance markings between 2.45pm and 4.15pm Mondays to Fridays.
Mr Byanouni appeals because he says that he stopped to pick up his children from school. He says that he is well aware of the restrictions and that the clock in his car showed the time of 4.15pm. The Council says that its clock is calibrated according to the Atomic Clock, ensuring 100% accuracy. The CCTV timing shows the vehicle stopping at 4:14:18.
I accept the evidence of Mr Byanouni that the clock in his car showed the time of 4.15pm. I find that the alleged contravention did not occur. There must be some application of common sense. Motorists cannot all be expected to wear time pieces calibrated to the exact second according to the Atomic Clock. A motorist reading an ordinary watch will not be able to know the time calculated to the exact second.
The Citizen watch on my wrist is synchronised with the Frankfurt time signal every day, and my old Casio watch with the UK time signal which used to be transmitteed from Rugby, but is now up north somewhere. This morning, I looked at them both, and there is about 1/2 second between them. However, I don't think I should look at a wristwatch when I approach a restriction sign with times on it ! As far as I know, there are no cars on sale that use radio signals to keep the car clock to time. Most car clocks can keep fairly good time, but can gain or lose, and one has to ocasionally correct the time before driving off.
These PCNs that have a time very close to the restriction time are just venal money-grubbing highway robbery. I have a book of railway cartoons, and one of them is a mid-Victorian train with a railway director sitting on the buffer beam with Dick Turpin looking on and saying " Ah, doing a bit in my line, eh" ? To which the railway director replies, "you were hanged, but we rob by Act of Parliament".
