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BaronVonVaderham
558 posts
16 months
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Was done for 105mph on the M11, excellent conditions, v light traffic, clean licence etc
Went along to the magistrates with cap in hand, smart suit, apologised profusely for wasting everyone's time, told them that use of car is solely for pleasure not work.
Result: 14 day ban, ZERO points and £365 fine.
Basically, it comes down to your attitude and what you put on the statement of earnings as to what mix of points vs fine vs ban.
If you are a reasonable chap with a good wage and good reason not to be banned (i.e. needed for work) then you will get a large fine (approx. one weeks wages-ish) and lots of points but no ban.
If you are a track-suited chav who turns up in your best polo shirt then you will get a ban, points but no fine.
ETA: Don't turn up with a solicitor unless you are pleading not guilty and trying to fight it all the way. I've been told (by a magistrate no less!) that they generally take a dim view of it as you will be trying to 'get away with it' via some form of mitigation.
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creampuff
1,219 posts
12 months
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If you get a ban, chances are it won't be a long ban.
Personally I'd prefer a short ban to points. The ban is over with in a couple of weeks, use those weeks to go on holiday in the Canaries if you really can't get by without driving in the UK. Points otoh will be hanging around for 3 years.
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fluffnik
17,279 posts
96 months
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welshsurferdude said: so all you can do is lawyer up and hope mags is lenient! ...and campaign to have Motorway limits raised or removed. We should all be letting our MPs know that the limit is far too low!
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SpudLink
328 posts
61 months
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creampuff said: If you get a ban, chances are it won't be a long ban.
Personally I'd prefer a short ban to points. The ban is over with in a couple of weeks, use those weeks to go on holiday in the Canaries if you really can't get by without driving in the UK. Points otoh will be hanging around for 3 years. I agree that a ban of 7 or 14 days would not be too bad. But wouldn't the insurance companies take a dim view of this?
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creampuff
1,219 posts
12 months
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SpudLink said: I agree that a ban of 7 or 14 days would not be too bad. But wouldn't the insurance companies take a dim view of this? Maybe someone else can comment. I'm guessing insurers wouldn't be too thrilled with 6 points either.
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BaronVonVaderham
558 posts
16 months
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SpudLink said: creampuff said: If you get a ban, chances are it won't be a long ban.
Personally I'd prefer a short ban to points. The ban is over with in a couple of weeks, use those weeks to go on holiday in the Canaries if you really can't get by without driving in the UK. Points otoh will be hanging around for 3 years. I agree that a ban of 7 or 14 days would not be too bad. But wouldn't the insurance companies take a dim view of this? That was the bit i was bricking it about, but called up my insurance company (think wooly mammoth with a full-body hollywood  ) to be told that the ban was irrelevant, they just wanted the offence code (SP50), number of points and size of fine - result was a one-off admin charge of £17.50
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Aretnap
338 posts
20 months
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SpudLink said: I agree that a ban of 7 or 14 days would not be too bad. But wouldn't the insurance companies take a dim view of this? The answer to almost any question about insurance is "it depends on the insurance company and your own risk profile". It's interesting to play around on some comparison sites (don't use your real name or car reg in case it ends up on a database) and see what effect various endorsements would have on your premium. I found that for me there wasn't much difference between 6 points and a one month ban - either would increase my cheapest quote by about 25%. But other people often find that a ban pushes it up by more.
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creampuff
1,219 posts
12 months
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BaronVonVaderham said: That was the bit i was bricking it about, but called up my insurance company (think wooly mammoth with a full-body hollywood ) to be told that the ban was irrelevant, they just wanted the offence code (SP50), number of points and size of fine - result was a one-off admin charge of £17.50 £17.50 for what? I assume the policy was already in force?
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10 Pence Short
27,547 posts
86 months
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Insurance companies often charge a fee for amending details mid-policy.
As for comments regarding points or a short ban- the offence code for either is the same, as it is only the punishment that is different. In respect of insurance companies, you will be able to enter 0 in the points column but a small figure in the disqualification one. There seems little difference in financial penalty between 6 points and a short ban.
If I were doing high mileages I would prefer to maintain a point free licence and use up some holiday time than to risk totting up at some point in the following 3 years (assuming you won't be able to drive like Miss Daisy for that period).
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creampuff
1,219 posts
12 months
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10 Pence Short said: Insurance companies often charge a fee for amending details mid-policy. But what is to amend? Am I missing something? You tell them about your points, if any, when you take out your policy, why tell them again before renewal time?
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fflyingdog
486 posts
108 months
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In 2002 i got stopped for excess of 120 Mph ,4:00 AM ,M42,very light traffic,dry conditions,i was summoned for Dangerous Driving and Excess speed (apparently if over 120mph you automatically got charged with DD),i employed a solicitor ,the Dangerous Driving couldn't be proved so the CPS settled for a guilty plea on the Speeding.
I received a 20 day ban ,no points and a fine of £450.
I still miss my Aprilia RSVR .
ETA.Spelling
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daz3210
5,000 posts
109 months
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fflyingdog said: In 2002 i got stopped for excess of 120 Mph ,4:00 AM ,M42,very light traffic,dry conditions,i was summoned for Dangerous Driving and Excess speed (apparently if over 120mph you automatically got charged with DD),i employed a solicitor ,the Dangerous Driving couldn't be proved so the CPS settled for a guilty plea on the Speeding.
I received a 20 day ban ,no points and a fine of £450.
I still miss my Aprilia RSVR .
ETA.Spelling
I vaguely recall a chap getting caught on the A1 around Newcastle area on a motorbike at in excess of 150mph. I think he got a fine and only a few points, the mitigation being that he spends most of his time in Germany and is used to that kind of speed. Courts are a funny old place sometimes when it comes to sentencing.
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KevinA4quattro
6,076 posts
149 months
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creampuff said: But what is to amend? Am I missing something?
You tell them about your points, if any, when you take out your policy, why tell them again before renewal time? Quite simply there are material changes to the risk, therefore notify immediately.
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creampuff
1,219 posts
12 months
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KevinA4quattro said: Quite simply there are material changes to the risk, therefore notify immediately. So? Say you crash into someone. You are then a higher risk. The insurer cannot then decide to un-insure you for the rest of the life of the policy.
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BaronVonVaderham
558 posts
16 months
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creampuff said: £17.50 for what? I assume the policy was already in force? Yes policy already active but need to notify them of any material change in circumstances. The charge is an admin one due to changing details on policy - it's the same charge if you were to update address details, sexual preference, that kind of thing.
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covboy
1,341 posts
43 months
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KevinA4quattro said: Quite simply there are material changes to the risk, therefore notify immediately. This I was given a mild b  king a few years back for not declaring my 3 points when it happened - I only bought it up at renewal time.
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Aretnap
338 posts
20 months
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covboy said: I was given a mild b king a few years back for not declaring my 3 points when it happened - I only bought it up at renewal time. That would depend on your insurer's terms and conditions. Mine specifically say that I have to tell them about bans immediately, but I only have to tell them about points at renewal time. Others (I'm told) require you to notify them of all convictions immediately.
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RtdRacer
1,274 posts
70 months
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BaronVonVaderham said:
ETA: Don't turn up with a solicitor unless you are pleading not guilty and trying to fight it all the way. I've been told (by a magistrate no less!) that they generally take a dim view of it as you will be trying to 'get away with it' via some form of mitigation.
Hmm. Not sure. I don't think it makes that much difference. Briefs are usually liked by the court for the reasons given earlier - the mags have to spend less time explaining what's going on. But if you are articulate and sincere, and also contrite you can do a good job mitigating for yourself. Just be humble, on-topic and *succint*. Benches hate people who waffle on. They have 60 more cases including 10 appearances after you. Turn up , say you're sorry, if there's a *good* excuse then quickly and clearly explain it. But bear in mind there are very, very few good excuses (mitigating reasons). The only ones I've heard that swayed a bench were: 1) My wife had just gone into labour after a difficult pregnancy. And I'm very sorry still and will accept whatever the bench will give me. 2) My child died last week and I'm frankly still in a bit of a daze. 3) And that's about it. Late for meetings, late for the school run, anything like that - forget it. Really.
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sugerbear
496 posts
27 months
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No need to bring a solicitor to court, what you need to do is concentrate on how your ban will affect others (ie lose your job, unable to support your family) or if other members of your family rely on you to drive.
I was in the exact same position as you about four years ago, 6points and a hefty income based fine. I never attended court. Was caught officiallly doing 101, I knowi it was nearer 95 which I did argue in my plea, ie that I was speeding and deserved punishment ( caught on Vasar so some room for error)
I was advised against taking a solicitor to court because a magistrate might view that negatively and also I didn't really want to lay out £1000's before appearing before a court. Solicitor fees can easily cost more than any fine.
Good luck
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markcjd
623 posts
56 months
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A good few years ago (late 90's) I was stopped on the M40 at 101 mph. I was caught fair and square, no other issues and no noted aggravating factors. Plead guilty in court and was delighted with 6 points and £105 fine.
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