Got caught!!
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Discussion

dannyboyo

Original Poster:

2,392 posts

299 months

Thursday 19th June 2003
quotequote all
Don't worry! This isn't going to be one of those "how do i get out of it" posts!

I got caught speeding on the M4 the other day in my Chimaera, I put my hands up and have no excuses, I was just in a bit of a hurry. I'm always very polite and apologetic to the police which normally goes in my favour, and it looks like it definatly did this time.......

The copper showed my my average speed (VASCAR unit?) and it was 102mph! He said that if it went to court it would be an instant ban, which I knew and was expecting as soon as i got pulled over.

But he said he's going to deal with it by means of a fixed penalty. He gave me a producer, with an automated number for me to pay my £60 fine. So, it looks like I'm just gonna get 3 points right? There's no mention of what speed I was doing on the producer/speeding ticket. I take it I got away pretty lightly. Just gotta show my documents, hand over my license at the cop shop and get my three points put on.

p.s. On the drive back from Wales to london today I didn't go over 80!! Can stand the thought of not being able to drive my Tiv!

deltaf

6,806 posts

273 months

Thursday 19th June 2003
quotequote all
This is what we're all harping on about! Cops doing the job, NOT CAMERAS SCAMMING!!!

To the cop in question, good on ya bud.

rich 36

13,739 posts

286 months

Thursday 19th June 2003
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Well 3 points might'ent make too many odds with insurance, you are going to tell em' right?
know what you mean though, having spent this week alone actually walking about as car being mended is a pain, Broke spare car on Friday, wife needs hers for work.

gh0st

4,693 posts

278 months

Thursday 19th June 2003
quotequote all
deltaf said:
This is what we're all harping on about! Cops doing the job, NOT CAMERAS SCAMMING!!!

To the cop in question, good on ya bud.


Exactly. He assesed the situation and saw that although it was grossly exceeding the posted speed limit that there was no real danger involved but however you must be punished for breaking the law.

My response had it of happened to me:
Fair cop guv, been caught, respect for the police there and I will watch my speed in future.

He was clearly not a member of the Shafting wker partnership.

tuscansix

535 posts

296 months

Thursday 19th June 2003
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Did you use your special Pistonheads greeting?
'Going very fast weren't we sir'?

'Yes but then again I'm with PH'.

'Ahhh I see, well here's a small ticket instead then sir'.

tonyrec

3,984 posts

275 months

Thursday 19th June 2003
quotequote all
Dan......

Pleased that you were given the softer option,

If i can give you some advice...send your cheque off straight away.......sooner the better!
As long as you do this you wont have a problem.

******* Very Important Advice************

Ive seen it first hand that when we have given tickets for over 96mph (you shouldnt do this according to Acpo)...the local Crime Support Group have in their wisdom changed the ticket to a Summons and the person has had to attend court and is therefore possibly facing a ban.
It makes us look stupid but when we explain this to the Court they see that we had their best interest at heart.

However.....if this were to happen and you have already paid the fine then it will be harder for them to reverse it.

So i will say to all...if you are lucky enough to get a ticket for over 100mph....pay the ticket fine like theres no tomorrow........

Im sure this wont happen to you Dan....but please be wary of it in the future...

dannyboyo

Original Poster:

2,392 posts

299 months

Thursday 19th June 2003
quotequote all
Cheers tony, I'm off to get the ticket and pay it off over the phone right now!!

edc

9,457 posts

271 months

Friday 20th June 2003
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To a certain extent I agree with the posts above but just like in football refereeing there is a wide variation in the application of the law. I'm not necessarily calling for an automatic penalty but when one gets away with it another certainly feels aggrieved.

toad_oftoadhall

936 posts

271 months

Friday 20th June 2003
quotequote all
edc said:
To a certain extent I agree with the posts above but just like in football refereeing there is a wide variation in the application of the law. I'm not necessarily calling for an automatic penalty but when one gets away with it another certainly feels aggrieved.


I got pulled at 102 and had the speed written down a 90-something and given fixed penalty.

He explained that under 95 he wouldn't have done me at all.

Of course that's all changed now.

46TEE

70 posts

270 months

Friday 20th June 2003
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toad_oftoadhall said:


I got pulled at 102 and had the speed written down a 90-something and given fixed penalty.

He explained that under 95 he wouldn't have done me at all.

Of course that's all changed now.


Not in my book, except that I write the true speed and if the punter elects to fight we both get a roasting

toad_oftoadhall

936 posts

271 months

Friday 20th June 2003
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46TEE said:

toad_oftoadhall said:


I got pulled at 102 and had the speed written down a 90-something and given fixed penalty.

He explained that under 95 he wouldn't have done me at all.

Of course that's all changed now.



Not in my book, except that I write the true speed and if the punter elects to fight we both get a roasting

Yes, but you, like the other PH rozzers, are a professional.

I don't think anybody here has a problem with individual rozzers on the beat/on traffic duty.

It the Police attacking the innocent motorist at the expense of al other crime that p*sses people off.

Incidentally those who are suggesting a good talking to followed by letting off is a positive thing from Plod. I agree and would go further. Even if you're still getting a ticket a good bollocking and a bit of education helps sweeten the pill. At least it means Plod reckon's you did wrong and is not just getting a couple of quid off you.

Was never more incensed than the to55er that told me I was perfectly safe as he gave me the SP50... [1]


[1] Cue MC. ;-)

chrisgr31

14,178 posts

275 months

Friday 20th June 2003
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46TEE said:

toad_oftoadhall said:


I got pulled at 102 and had the speed written down a 90-something and given fixed penalty.

He explained that under 95 he wouldn't have done me at all.

Of course that's all changed now.



Not in my book, except that I write the true speed and if the punter elects to fight we both get a roasting


Its ok I can understand why you write the true speed. I imagine that some plonkers having got away lightly with £60 and 3 points (and a verbal bollocking), then dicide that as the copper wrote 90 instead of 102 on the ticket they might as well contest it.

As has been said I agree that its far better to be stopped by a real policeman because he has discretion, and a bollocking at the time is more effective. Not only that but other drivers will see one stopped and it will remind them to check their speed.

All in all a good deal.

In the meantime lets wonder how many people are going to lose their licences due to using mobiles!

toad_oftoadhall

936 posts

271 months

Friday 20th June 2003
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[quote]Its ok I can understand why you write the true speed. I imagine that some plonkers having got away lightly with £60 and 3 points (and a verbal bollocking), then dicide that as the copper wrote 90 instead of 102 on the ticket they might as well contest it.
[/quote]

Oh I considered it...

dannyboyo

Original Poster:

2,392 posts

299 months

Friday 20th June 2003
quotequote all
I totally agree that being stopped by a copper and giving a talking to in the back of their car is much more of an effective way of dealing with the situation. On monday I was cacking myself that I was going to lose my license when I sat in the back of the Volvo and saw the readout at 102mph!!

It seems alot more of a fair cop ('scuse the pun) to be caught by the police rather than some anonymous camera that you probably didn't even notice flashed you. Since my little incident on Monday I've been driving like a model citizan, whereas if I'd have been caught on camera, then right now I'd be totally oblivious to the fact that there's a ban in the post.

I like that fact that the cops can deal out the punishment they deam necessary. I was speeding I know, but I don't believe I was a danger to anyone, it was a quiet stretch of motorway and I'm driving a car that can easily handle the speed, I wasn't weaving in and out of traffic or cutting anyone up. So I think my three points and fine is fair enough. If I'd have been driving like an idiot then I'd expect more.

I think there should be some sort of sliding scale punishment, but it would be to hard to define legally, so I'm happy that the police have the sence and decency to judge for themselves the seriousness of an incident and deal out the appropiate punishment as they wish.

Also, like I said in my original post, being polite (which I always am, or try to be anyway), appologetic and straight with them goes a long long way.

tonyrec

3,984 posts

275 months

Friday 20th June 2003
quotequote all
Dan,
Best way to be mate.....it always more difficult to report someone thats being nice and polite..but conversly, its easier to report someone who is giving you the arse.

BTW. Did you pay it?

Big_M

5,602 posts

283 months

Friday 20th June 2003
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Well done Dannyboyo - just goes to show a bit of oldfashioned politeness goes a long way. I was a passenger in the car when Mr Big got pulled over on the M25 a few years back. Before he stopped the car I suggested a few body language tricks (ie get out of the car if it is safe to do so - the Police don't like having to talk to you through your window - better to meet them in their 'space') and be polite - he got 3 points and a £30 fine and they registered 96 mph instead of the 100+

And have some more brownie points matey for putting the guilty hand up.

zetec

4,931 posts

271 months

Friday 20th June 2003
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This is the problem with cameras they cannot accept politness or guilt, you go over the limit you get NIP'd, regardless of conditions. If you are caught by a car then unless you are speeding welllll over the limit you may just well get a talking to, which in some cases like the one above will do the trick with no nastiness involved.

tonyrec

3,984 posts

275 months

Friday 20th June 2003
quotequote all
I personally wouldnt drop the speed.....

I would either give an FPNE if the speed wasnt too high over the 100mph or i would verbally warn if it was well below 100.

The problem i see is that if i stop someone for say 100mph and i drop it to 95 because they are a good egg then when it/or they elect to go to Court and plead Not Guilty then they would probably get off with it because i dont have any credible evidence.

On the other hand...if i managed to do 2 or 3 checks on the person then im ok because if i went for the lower speed i would have the correct distance and time to make the check credible if needed.

Hope that this makes sense.

Big_M

5,602 posts

283 months

Friday 20th June 2003
quotequote all
tonyrec said:
they elect to go to Court and plead Not Guilty
Tony - just out of interest any idea of the percentage of those that plead not guilty that get let off?

tonyrec

3,984 posts

275 months

Friday 20th June 2003
quotequote all
Its very very low and quite isolated.
Ive heard it happen to one person over the years and i certainly dont want it to happen to me.

Imagine the embarrasment.

In answer to your question i would have thought that with a good solicitor you would ceretainly throw some doubt which would be enough to get you off.

>> Edited by tonyrec on Friday 20th June 23:07