Message from Alex Paxton 'I'm immensely grateful for the CDF's support, and of course all of you that have donated! Thank you very much indeed'

In August, Alex Paxton was issued with a fixed penalty notice (FPN) for failing to stop behind the Advanced Stop Line (ASL) at a set of traffic lights. He did not stop behind the line (i.e. in the cycle box) because a car was illegally positioned in the box. For his own safety he positioned himself ahead of the car, past the white line. A police officer witnessed this incident and radioed a colleague, who stopped Alex further down the road and gave him the FPN. This officer had not seen the alleged offence, so could not assess the greater risk Alex would have been in had he positioned himself behind the white line, and therefore did not accept Alex's justification of his actions. 

The Highway Code encourages cyclists to 'use cycle routes, advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings unless at the time is it unsafe to do so'. Alex's adoption of a safer position is therefore entirely justified.  

There have been several cases recently of cyclists being given on the spot fines for stopping in front of ASLs, despite there not being room in the box because a car has taken the space. 

Alex wants to contest the FPN and CDF has decided to fund the legal challenge in a bid to create a precedent that will hopefully stop future spurious fines being given out by police officers. 

Any funds raised in excess of the £2000 this challenge is expected to cost will be used to support other legal challenges that defend the rights of cyclists.

Thank you for your support.