Court Overturns Radar Fine on the Way to Hospital
A company in Antalya Free Zone faced a hefty traffic fine after their vehicle was caught speeding while rushing an injured employee to the hospital. Süleyman K, an employee at a yacht company in Konyaaltı district, injured his finger in a work machine accident, prompting his colleagues to quickly transport him to the hospital.
However, during their haste, the company vehicle exceeded the speed limit by more than 50 percent, resulting in a traffic fine of 6 thousand 439 liras imposed by the Traffic Inspection Branch Directorate team. In response, the company’s lawyer filed an application to the Antalya 3rd Criminal Court of Peace to appeal the administrative sanction.
The application emphasized that the speeding was not intentional, as it was necessary to violate the speed limit in order to urgently get the injured worker to the hospital. Hospital documents confirming the worker’s injury were also submitted as evidence.
After reviewing the case, the court ruled in favor of the company, lifting the administrative sanction. The judge considered the situation under the principle of ‘passage priority’, reasoning that the employee’s safety was the priority and that rushing to the hospital did not pose a threat to traffic safety.
This incident serves as a reminder of the complexities that can arise in emergency situations and the importance of considering the circumstances before imposing penalties. In this case, the court’s decision to prioritize the well-being of the injured employee demonstrates a humane approach to enforcement.
