David Beckham banned from driving after driving at 76mph along the A34 near Cheadle The conviction was overturned thanks to the work of Knutsford lawyer Nick Freeman, Mr Loophole.

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Road speed limits are used in most countries to regulate the speed of road vehicles. Speed limits may define maximum (which may be variable), minimum or no speed limit and are normally indicated using a traffic sign. Speed limits are commonly set by the legislative bodies of nations or provincial governments and enforced by national or regional police and / or judicial bodies.
The first maximum speed limit was the 10 mph (16 km/h) limit introduced in the United Kingdom in 1861. The Isle of Man and some of the less congested Autobahns or roads with more than one lane for each direction in Germany are the only places in the world that do not have a general speed limit. The highest general speed limit is in Abu Dhabi, which has had a speed limit of 160 km/h (100 mph) on select highways since 2005.
Speed limits are usually set to attempt to cap road traffic speed; there are several reasons for wanting to do this. It is often done with an intention to improve road traffic safety and reduce the number of road traffic casualties from traffic collisions. In their World report on road traffic injury prevention report, the World Health Organization (WHO) identify speed control as one of various interventions likely to contribute to a reduction in road casualties. (The WHO estimated that some 1.2 million people were killed and 50 million injured on the roads around the world in 2004.) Speed limits may also be set in an attempt to reduce the environmental impact of road traffic (vehicle noise, vibration, emissions), to reduce fuel use and to satisfy local community wishes.
Speed limits are used to reduce the differences in vehicle speeds by drivers using the same road at the same time which increases safety. In situations where the natural road speed is considered too high, notably on urban areas where speed limits below 50 km/h (31 mph) are used then traffic calming is often also used. For some classes of vehicle speed limiters may be mandated to enforce compliance.
Since they have been introduced, speed limits have been opposed from various sources; including motoring advocacy groups, anti-motoring groups and others who either consider them to be irrelevant, set too low or set too high.

Nick Freeman (born 1956 in Nottingham) is an English solicitor. Freeman is the owner of Manchester based legal practice Freeman & Co., and is best known as a celebrity defence lawyer, specialising in traffic and speeding offences.
He has been nicknamed "Mr. Loophole" by the British tabloid press, a soubriquet which he has since Trademarked.

Freeman is Jewish and was privately schooled at Uppingham School in Rutland. Freeman’s father was in retail, but warned him there would not be a business for him to take over. Although harbouring ambitions to become a professional golfer, he was persuaded to study law.[4] Freeman completed his A-levels a year early, and went on to study law at Trent Polytechnic, followed by law school at the College of Law in Chester.
On graduation, Freeman became an Articled Clerk in Nottingham. He won an advocacy competition, and was hired as a prosecutor for Greater Manchester Police in 1981. In 1983, he moved to a firm of criminal lawyers in Manchester, and was a partner within six months. Aged 42, he left and set up Freeman & Co in Manchester. Freeman gained notoriety for getting acquittals for a number of high profile celebrities, and is reputed to be one of the highest paid lawyers in the UK. Freeman also still handles legal aid work and is on the Legal Services Commission’s specialist fraud panel.

Clients
His first high profile case was that of Sir Alex Ferguson in 1999. Freeman argued that Ferguson had to use the hard shoulder to get to the training ground to allow for his upset stomach and need for a toilet. Clients since have included:
Caprice Bourret - Freeman claimed the model had a urinary tract infection, and that she was affected by the drugs she was taking. Banned for 12 months.
Lee Bowyer - the Crown Prosecution Service initially alleged that Bowyer had been driving at an average 112mph (180km/h) on the A1, peaking at 132mph (212km/h). Freeman negotiated with the CPS at Northumberland court, following irregularities with the road markings, (which were too short, giving a *lower* speed than expected). The West Ham United midfielder pleaded guilty instead to driving at 99mph (159km/h) on the A1. He was banned (as it was his second speeding offence in 3 years) for 42 days and fined £650. It prompted a furious response from road safety charity Brake.
Jimmy Carr - cleared of using a mobile phone while driving at Harrow Magistrates Court after Freeman argued that Carr had used the dictation setting of his iPhone to record a joke as he drove and that using the phone for such a purpose was not illegal under current law.
Jeremy Clarkson - after being loaned a car by Alfa Romeo, the vehicle was caught doing 82mph (131km/h) in a 50mph (80km/h) zone on the A40 in Ruislip. Alfa Romeo sent the ticket to Clarkson, who was acquitted and awarded costs because the prosecution did not offer evidence as to who the actual driver was at the time of the offence.
Andrew Flintoff - caught on camera doing 87mph (140km/h) in a temporary 50mph (80km/h) zone, Freeman pointed out that the prosecution notice was sent two days later than the law allows. Flintoff only had to turn up at Liverpool Magistrates Court to confirm his name, age and address to be completely let off.
Claire Ince, the wife of then Wolverhampton Wanderers player Paul Ince. Caught travelling at 100mph in her husband's Mercedes-Benz CL600 along the M56 at Thornton-Le-Moors by Cheshire Police, they sent a Section172 notice to Paul, the registered keeper. Claire filled in the form, and was asked to attend court. Facing an immediate ban, Freeman pointed out that Claire should have been sent her own Section 172, before being charged. She was let off.
Steve McFadden - who "had a remarkable capacity for drink" and was examined by a police surgeon, had drunk the equivalent of nine double vodkas, and was found "for all intents and purposes to be quite sober." McFadden was banned for 18 months, which is a fairly lenient sentence for the amount of alcohol in his blood.
Colin Montgomerie - acquitted when the policeman who was said to have caught him travelling at 96mph (154km/h) on the A3 near Esher, Surrey (a 70mph (112km/h) road) at 12:50am failed to attend court, making it impossible to prove that he was driving. Got him off a second time from a 56 day ban in November 2008, after caught driving his Bentley Continental Flying Spur and failing to pay the fine. Freeman revealed that Montgomerie hated flying, and drove 55,000 miles (89,000 km) per annum in part to see his Surrey based children from his Scottish base. In 2010, Freeman had Montgomerie's points-tot-up ban quashed after revealing the indiscriminate way in which the civilian speed gun operator at Corby Hill, Carlisle had 'zapped' 390 cars in 73 minutes, one every 11 seconds, including Montgomerie's BMW X5 as well as a jogger. The case resulted in over 100 drivers having their points also quashed, and the tax payer with a £30,000 legal bill.
Tiff Needell - cleared of failing to supply details in relation to a speeding ticket, and the speeding offence by Pontypridd magistrates
Ronnie O'Sullivan - Freeman accused the magistrate of winking at a journalist. The magistrate replied: "Why would I wink at anybody? Do you think I'm gay or something?" Freeman subsequently had the trial stopped. At the retrial, the court accepted the explanation that O'Sullivan was "too depressed" to provide a urine sample.
Wayne Rooney - cleared of driving without insurance when Freeman said that a requested adjournment had not been granted and the hearing had been conducted in absentia.
William Stobart - the driver of a car allegedly doing 116 mph (185km/h) on the M6 claimed he was William Stobart: but was he the same William Stobart who exercised his right not to attend the hearing at Penrith Magistrates? The court decided the prosecution had not proved the driver was Mr Freeman’s client, Cumbrian haulage tycoon William Stobart
Jonathan Woodgate - banned from driving and since convicted of affray.[25] Freeman defended Woodgate successfully in August 2008, after the footballer was allegedly caught doing 85mph (135km/h) in a restricted zone in his Mercedes Benz S65 AMG on the A66 near Stockton-on-Tees. The judge dismissed the case as the police said the measurement was taken over a distance of 519 metres, while Freeman showed that the road section was only 405 metres long.
Dwight Yorke - acquitted when a Home Office-approved speed gun could not be shown to have been used under the correct conditions of approval. Freeman defended Yorke again in January 2008, whereby Yorke refused to sign police documentation to confirm he accepted he was speeding at 95mph (152km/h). Freeman advised Yorke to plead guilty to a charge of 85mph (135km/h), which resulted in a fine of £315 and 3points - keeping Yorke below 12 points, and an automatic ban.
The husband of Coronation Street actress Vicky Entwistle, Andrew Chapman, was represented by Nick Freeman against an allegation that he punched a fan who approached his wife on a train and asked her for a photo. Chapman pleaded not guilty at Salford magistrates' court, but was convicted of common assault and fined.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORKING areas in Cheshire
Acton Bridge, Adlington, Alderley Edge, Aldersey Green, Aldford, Allgreave, Allostock, Alsager, Altrincham, Arclid, Astmoor, Aston, Audlem, Barbridge, Barthomley, Barton, Beechwood, Beeston, Betchton, Bollington, Bosley, Bredbury, Bridge Trafford, Broadbottom, Bromborough, Broughton, Broxton, Budworth, Bunbury, Burtonwood, Calveley, Castlefields, Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Chester, Childer Thornton, Christleton, Church Minshull, Comberbach, Congleton, Cotebrook, Crewe, Croft, Crowton, Cuddington, Daresbury, Darnhall, Delamere, Disley, Dukinfield, Eaton, Ellesmere Port, Elworth, Frankby, Frodsham, Gatley, Glazebury, Grappenhall, Great Barrow, Great Budworth, Great Sanky, Great Sutton, Goostrey, Hale, Hale Bank, Handforth, Handley, Hartford, Hazel Grove, Heald Green, Helsby, Higher Burwardsley, Holmes Chapel, Huxley, Hyde, Jodrell Bank, Kerridge, Kingsley, Knutsford, Langley, Little Budworth, Little Leigh, Little Neston, Little Sutton, Lower Peover, Lower Whitley, Lymm, Macclesfield, Malpas, Marple, Marple Bridge, Marston, Mere, Middlewich, Millbrook, Millington, Mobberley, Mold, Mottram, Mouldsworth, Moulton, Nantwich, Neston, Newton, Norley, Northop, Northwich, Oscroft, Over Peover, Parkgate, Penketh, Pickmere, Plumley, Poynton, Prenton, Prestbury, Rainow, Romiley, Rossett, Runcorn, Rushton Spencer, Sale, Sandbach, Sandiway, Saughall, Stalybridge, Stockport, Stoke-on-Trent, Styal, Sutton, Sutton Weaver, Swettenham, Tabley, Tarporley, Tarvin, Timperley, Tushingham, Walgherton, Warmingham, Warrington, Waverton, Weaverham, Weston, Wharton, Whitchurch, Whitegate, Widnes, Willaston, Willington, Wilmslow, Wincham, Wincle, Winsford, Winwick, the Wirral, Woodley, Wrenbury and Wybunbury

WORKING areas in Cumbria
Alston, Ambleside, Armathwiate, Arnside, Askam In Furness, Askham, Aspatria, Ayside, Bampton, Barbon, Barrow In Furness, Bassenthwaite, Beckermet, Beetham, Bewcastle, Blancogo, Blawith, Bolton, Boot, Borrowdale, Bowness On Windermere, Braithwaite, Brampton, Broughton In Furness, Burrowgate, Buttermere, Caldbeck, Calthwaite, Cark In Cartmel, Carlise, Carlisle, Cartmel, Casterton, Castle Carrock, Cleator, Cleator Moor, Clifton, Cockermouth, Coniston, Cotehill, Countywide, Crook, Crooklands, Crosthwaite, Cumwhinton, Cumwhitton, Dalston, Dalton In Furness, Dearham, Dent, Distington, Dockray, Dubwath, Duddon Valley, Egremont, Ellenborough, Elterwater, Eskdale, Eskdale Green, Flookburgh, Frizington, Garrigill, Garsdale, Gilsland, Gosforth, Grange Over Sands, Grasmere, Great Broughton, Great Langdale, Great Strickland, Great Urswick, Greystoke, Grizebeck, Haverigg, Haverthwaite, Hawkshead, Hensingham, Hesket Newmarket, Heversham, Holmrook, Ings, Irthington, Irton, Kendal, Keswick, Kirkbride, Lamplugh, Langdale, Lindal, Little Broughton, Little Langdale, Longtown, Lorton, Low Hesket, Low Lorton, Maryport, Mealsgate, Millom, Milnthorpe, Mungrisdale, Nether Wasdale, Outgate, Oxenholme, Parton, Patterdale, Pennington, Penton, Pooley Bridge, Ravenglass, Ravenstonedale, Roweltown, Santon Bridge, Satterthwaite, Sawrey, Seascale, Seathwaite, Sedbergh, Shap, Silecroft, Silloth, Skelton, Southwaite, Spark Bridge, St Bees, Stainburn, Stanwix, Staveley, Tebay, Threkeld, Tirril, Troutbeck, Uldale, Ullswater, Ulverston, Underskiddaw, Warwick On Eden, Wasdale, Wasdale Head, Watermillock, Welton, Wetheral, Whitehaven, Wigton, Windermere, Winster, Winton, Witherslack, Workington and Yanwath

WORKING areas in Greater Manchester
Abram, Altrincham, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Ashton-under-Lyne, Aspul, Astley, Atherton, Audenshaw, Baguley, Barton upon Irwell, Bickershaw, Birch, Blackrod, Bolton, Bowdon, Bradshaw, Bramhall, Bredbury, Broadbottom, Broadheath, Bromley Cross, Bryn, Bury, Cadishead, Carrington, Castleton, Chadderton, Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Chequerbent, Chester, Chelford, Darcy Lever, Davyhulme, Delph, Denton, Diggle, Droylsden, Dukinfield, Eccles, Edgerton, Ellenbrook, Failsworth, Farnworth, Firgrove, Flixton, Golborne, Gorton, Greenfield, Greenmount, Guide Bridge, Haigh, Harwood, Hazel Grove, Heaton Chapel, Heaton Norris, Heywood, Hindley, Holcombe, Hollingworth, Horwich, Hyde, Ince, Irlam, Kearsley, Lees, Leigh, Levenshulme, Little Hulton, Little Lever, Littleborough, Longdendale, Lowton, Manchester, Marple, Mellor, Micklehurst, Middletone, Millbrook, Milnrow, Moorside, Mossley, Moston, Mottram in Longdendale, New Delph, New Hey, Newton Heath, Northenden, Oldham, Openshaw, Partington, Pendlebury, Prestwich, Radcliffe, Ramsbottom, Reddish, Ringley, Ringway, Rochdale, Romily, Royton, Saddleworth, Sale, Salford, Shaw, Shevington, Smithy Bridge, Stalybridge, Standish, Stockport, Stretford, Stubbins, Summerseat, Swinton, Tameside, Timperley, Tottington, Trafford, Tyldesley, Uppermill, Urmston, Victoria Park, Walkden, Walmersley, Warburton, Wardle, Weaste, West Gorton, Westhoughton, Whitefield, Wigan, Woodley, Worsley and Wythenshawe

WORKINGy areas in Lancashire
Accrington, Adlington, Anderton, Apply Bridge, Arnside, Ashton in Makerfield, Ashton-under-Lyne, Atherton, Aughton, Austwick, Bacup, Barnoldswick, Barrow, Barton, Belmont, Bickerstaffe, Blackburn, Blacko, Blackpool, Bolton, Bolton by Bowland, Bolton-le-Sands, Brinscall, Brookhouse, Burnley, Burscough, Burton, Bury, Capernwray, Carnforth, Chadderton, Chapel le Dale, Charnock Richard, Chatburn, Chipping, Chorley, Churchtown, Claughton, Clayton le Moors, Clayton le Woods, Clitheroe, Cliviger, Cockerham, Colne, Coppull, Darwen, Denshaw, Didsbury, Downholland, Eccles, Eccleston, Euxton, Farnworth, Fleetwood, Forton, Foulridge, Fuelwood, Garstang, Gisburn, Goosnargh, Great Harwood, Greenmount, Grindleton, Haslingden, Heskin Green, Hest Bank, Heysham, Heywood, Hoddlesden, Horwich, Hurst Green, Ince, Kirkby Lonsdale, Knott End-on-Sea, Lancaster, Laneshawbridge, Leigh, Leyland, Little Eccleston, Littleborough, Longridge, Lytham St Annes, Mellor, Mereclough, Middleton, Milnrow, Morecambe, Mossley, Nelson, Oldham, Ormskirk, Oswaldtwistle, Padiham, Parbold, Pilling, Peel, Penworthham, Pleasington, Poulton-Le-Fylde, Preesall, Preston, Preston Chorley, Ramsbottom, Rawtenstall, Ribble Valley, Ribchester, Rishton, Rochdale, Rossendale, Rufford, Salford, Salterforth, Scorton, Silverdale, Skelmersdale, Slaidburn, Southport, St Annes on Sea, Stonyhurst, Thornton, Thornton Cleveleys, Thornton-Cleveleys, Todmorden, Trawden, Turton, Upholland, Uppermill, Waddington, Warton, West Carnforth, Westhoughton, Whalley, Whittle-le-Woods, Whitworth, Wigan, Wilpshire, Wiswell, Withnell, Worsthorne, Wrea Green, Wrightington, Wyre and Yealand Conyers

WORKING areas in Merseyside
Ainsdale, Aintree, Aigburth, Allerton, Barnston, Bebbington, Billinge, Birkenhead, Blackbrook, Blundellsands, Bold, Bootle, Broadgreen, Bromborough, Caldy, Childwall, Clock Face, Crank, Crosby, Croxteth, Earlstown, Eastham, Eccleston, Ellesmere Port, Everton, Fazakerly, Formby, Garswood, Gatacre, Halewood, Haydock, Heswall, Holywell, Hoylake, Huyton, Kirkby, Kirkdale, Knowsley, Liverpool, Lydiate, Maghull, Melling, Mossley Hill, Neston, Netherton, New Brighton, Newton-Le-Willows, Norris Green, Nutgrove, Ormskirk, Orrell Park, Parr, Port Sunlight, Prenton, Prescot, Rainford, Rainhill, Roby, Saint Helens, Sefton, Southport, Speke, St. Helens, Sutton Manor, Thatto Heath, Thornton, Thurstaston, Toxteth, Tuebrook, Wallasey, Walton, Wavertree, Whiston, Widnes, the Wirral and Woolton