Thousands of motorists fined for speeding on one of the North's busiest roads should have their money refunded because of an illegal warning sign, a leading motoring organisation said last night.
The RAC Foundation says a mobile speed camera unit which was catching more than 60 drivers an hour at peak times for more than a year should not have been allowed to issue tickets because a 30mph sign had been sited illegally.
The sign, on the A1058 Coast Road near the Cradlewell tunnel, Jesmond, Newcastle, was a small, "repeater" sign which should only be used to remind drivers of a speed limit, not to mark a change of the limit, the foundation said.
But the Northumbria Safety Camera Partnership says that, although the sign was smaller than it should have been, fines from mobile cameras in the area are still valid.
The sign, put up in July 2003 when the road was changed from 40 to 30mph, was replaced just over a month ago by a larger sign.
Enraged drivers caught on the road have complained to police and the Partnership about the trap.
RAC Foundation spokesman Kevin Delaney said: "The law says the speed must be displayed by a valid sign and there are guidelines as to how big it should be. The entry sign to a speed limit must always be bigger so motorists can adjust their speed.
"If the sign doesn't meet legal requirements then, unless the local authority can show a good reason why not to have it the right size - for example it could obstruct pedestrians or be hit by large vehicles - then it shouldn't be there.
"The local authority or Camera Partnership may have to refund the fines and take points back off licences.
"This is not a loophole for people to wriggle out of speeding, but if the authorities can't be bothered to put the right sign in place, what message does that put out?"
Repeater sign are 6ins across - the larger signs are several feet wide so they can be seen from a distance.
One penalised driver, who did not want to be named, said: "The van has been there three times a week over the last year - it must have caught out thousands of people."
A spokeswoman for the Northumbria Safety Camera Partnership accepted that the sign had been smaller than it should have been but refused to consider refunds.
She said: "The Department for Transport confirmed the 30mph signs are perfectly legal.
"Any sign that is visible and between 300mm and 1500mm is acceptable. Local geography and road layouts will determine the exact size."
A Newcastle City Council spokesman said: "The 30mph limit was enforced after several accidents on that road.
"The larger sign was put in thanks to drivers asking for it.
"We put up signs when we are told to. They are legal and meet all requirements of size."
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Call our safety first team: Neil Gibson (0191) 201-6290 and Daniel Cochlin (0191) 201- 6040.
