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Traffic Cone Amnesty
Posted on 15/11/2007
P. Klein
15th November 2007
Charnwood Borough Council is declaring an amnesty for the 160 traffic cones which were taken from the Loughborough roadsides on Saturday 10th November 2007.
The plastic traffic cones, which were in place to allow for emergency vehicle access during the 2007 Loughborough Street Fair, were taken from the Forest Road area. Initial reports suggest that they were taken as mementoes by young people from the surrounding areas.
In the UK, the stealing and maltreatment of innocent traffic cones by students has gained sufficient reputation that a spokesperson from the National Union of Students has stated that "stereotypes of students stealing traffic cones" are "outdated". However some Universities refer explicitly to the theft of traffic cones as unacceptable behaviour.
Taking a traffic cone home may seem like a jovial and innocent drunken prank. However legally under the Road Traffic Act:
"A Person is guilty of an offence if he/she intentionally and without lawful authority or reasonable cause-
(a) Causes anything to be on or over a road, or
(b) Interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer or cycle,
(c) Interferes (directly or indirectly) with traffic equipment,
Cllr David Snartt, Cabinet Lead for Community Safety, said: "The cones were in place to ensure that the emergency services could have clear access in case of injury or incident. The fact the cones were removed could have resulted in a potentially very dangerous situation, which fortunately did not happen. We want those who took them to be able to bring them back and know that there will be no consequence for their actions " a two week cone amnesty. However, if cones are found after this time and offenders traced the result could be a fine or even criminal record.
The plastic cones which cost £6 each can be taken to Loughborough Town Hall, The Shopmobility Offices (Town Hall Passage, Loughborough) or dropped at the Loughborough Students Union, main offices. The Amnesty will begin on Wednesday, 14 November 2007 and go on until Wednesday, 28 November 2007. So if you woke up on Sunday morning and there was something in your room that shouldnt have been there, now is the time to return it. Cones dont make very good pets and need to be kept on concrete and asphalt and kept in groups. Do the best for your cone and return it to people who can give the cone the care and attention it deserves.