Has anyone else avoided a nicking by being contrite?
Discussion
Was reading a few threads about people being nicked for speeding, and it reminded me of something which happened to me back in 1993.
Back then, I rode only motorbikes all year round, didn't have a car. The trouble was, being around 21 years old and riding 1,000cc superbikes all the time, as big bike owners will know, it's SO easy to speed - especially when you're youthfully exhuberent
Anyway, because of this, I had managed to obtain 9 points on my licence. And yes, I know, I know, I should have been more careful - and I had been for a while - the first 3 points were due to drop off my licence fairly soon.
But I went to a local pub, for their weekly 'rock music' night. I was there with a brand-new girlfriend, but neither of us drank any alcohol - I never did on the bike.
When we left the pub, the main road away is straight and fairly wide. I rode off up the road, and as I was thinking about what I was going to do to the girlfriend in 10 minutes' time, I wasn't really concentrating. So I just accelerated gently up through the gears.
Unfortunately, an officer of the law was holed up in a car park about half a mile ahead, and pulled me over. I just didn't see him as his car was in the car park and he was standing with a speed gun behind a brick pillar.
He showed me the gun, which read 37mph. In a 30 limit.
We were on an almost brand-new bike, which was all legal - standard sized numberplate, no loud exhaust etc. We were both wearing full leathers, so I'd like to think the first impression wasn't that of a total hooligan.
I was obsequeously polite from the get-go. The breathalyser came back at zero.
He told me he'd have to give me a fixed-penalty ticket. I explained, rather sheepishly, that I already had nine points. He said 'oh dear' - and explained how he'd have to report me and I'd have to go to court and probably get a ban.
I pleaded that I was so sorry etc. etc. and as I worked shifts 25 miles away, I might lose my job, yadda yadda. Yeah I know this was totally my fault, but I did everything I could to appear contrite and sorry (and I really was!) and assure him that I would be a model motorist from then on.
He did um and ahh for a bit actually, but did say that he'd already given out tickets that night for people doing a lesser speed than me, and he wouldn't be doing his job properly if he let me off. I finally accepted, politely and with good grace, that I would have to go to court and face the music.
Off I went.
Every day for the next 6 months, I rode impeccably, but was terrified every time the postman came, waiting for my summons.
It never came.
And I was still living at the address I gave him, so I don't think it was a case of it going astray. And anyway, I never heard another thing.
So I can only assume that he decided to give me a break. Actually, it probably did me more good than a ban - because I rode so carefully for months on end, and since then, have never forgotten that act of kindness. Well, assuming it was and he didn't just lose his paperwork or something!
Anyone else?
Back then, I rode only motorbikes all year round, didn't have a car. The trouble was, being around 21 years old and riding 1,000cc superbikes all the time, as big bike owners will know, it's SO easy to speed - especially when you're youthfully exhuberent
Anyway, because of this, I had managed to obtain 9 points on my licence. And yes, I know, I know, I should have been more careful - and I had been for a while - the first 3 points were due to drop off my licence fairly soon.
But I went to a local pub, for their weekly 'rock music' night. I was there with a brand-new girlfriend, but neither of us drank any alcohol - I never did on the bike.
When we left the pub, the main road away is straight and fairly wide. I rode off up the road, and as I was thinking about what I was going to do to the girlfriend in 10 minutes' time, I wasn't really concentrating. So I just accelerated gently up through the gears.
Unfortunately, an officer of the law was holed up in a car park about half a mile ahead, and pulled me over. I just didn't see him as his car was in the car park and he was standing with a speed gun behind a brick pillar.
He showed me the gun, which read 37mph. In a 30 limit.
We were on an almost brand-new bike, which was all legal - standard sized numberplate, no loud exhaust etc. We were both wearing full leathers, so I'd like to think the first impression wasn't that of a total hooligan.
I was obsequeously polite from the get-go. The breathalyser came back at zero.
He told me he'd have to give me a fixed-penalty ticket. I explained, rather sheepishly, that I already had nine points. He said 'oh dear' - and explained how he'd have to report me and I'd have to go to court and probably get a ban.
I pleaded that I was so sorry etc. etc. and as I worked shifts 25 miles away, I might lose my job, yadda yadda. Yeah I know this was totally my fault, but I did everything I could to appear contrite and sorry (and I really was!) and assure him that I would be a model motorist from then on.
He did um and ahh for a bit actually, but did say that he'd already given out tickets that night for people doing a lesser speed than me, and he wouldn't be doing his job properly if he let me off. I finally accepted, politely and with good grace, that I would have to go to court and face the music.
Off I went.
Every day for the next 6 months, I rode impeccably, but was terrified every time the postman came, waiting for my summons.
It never came.
And I was still living at the address I gave him, so I don't think it was a case of it going astray. And anyway, I never heard another thing.
So I can only assume that he decided to give me a break. Actually, it probably did me more good than a ban - because I rode so carefully for months on end, and since then, have never forgotten that act of kindness. Well, assuming it was and he didn't just lose his paperwork or something!
Anyone else?
Lots of times in the last 15 years.
Twice in the last few months.
First time overtaking an unmarked police car at 60 in a 40 (it was middle of the night…)
Last week got pulled over for 60 in a 40; told to be a good boy. Another unmarked car.
Both times being very sheepish.
Also accidentally raced an undercover Audi off the lights a few weeks back; got a wagged finger (in fairness he took off like a lunatic too for seemingly no reason).
On the whole the unmarked car dudes are pretty reasonable.
Dunno how I've managed to keep a clean licence for 15 years really…luck I suppose.
Twice in the last few months.
First time overtaking an unmarked police car at 60 in a 40 (it was middle of the night…)
Last week got pulled over for 60 in a 40; told to be a good boy. Another unmarked car.
Both times being very sheepish.
Also accidentally raced an undercover Audi off the lights a few weeks back; got a wagged finger (in fairness he took off like a lunatic too for seemingly no reason).
On the whole the unmarked car dudes are pretty reasonable.
Dunno how I've managed to keep a clean licence for 15 years really…luck I suppose.
I was caught doing "lots" in a NSL A Road on new years eve. I was pulled over by 2 marked cars that had been sitting in the layby. I was polite and immediately apologised, The cops who were at first angry soon calmed down and turned out to be quite chatty and were happy to talk to me and my passenger. They were fairly interested in my track prepped 306 and asked where I was going, I told them I was off to a party and was running a bit late. They said they didn't want to hold me up any further and to slow down in future. I thanked them for their patience and carried on with my journey. Lying doesn't get you far in my opinion.
Edited by Pebbles167 on Tuesday 29th July 03:40
I've been pulled over 3 times so far and "got away with it" each time, as it were...
First time I was in my first car and I took a roundabout rather exuberantly and accelerated up the following dual carriageway. Little did I know there was an unmarked car behind me.
I got pulled, he accused me of doing "more than 110" mph up the DC (more than the car was capable of) and that I was showing off. I didn't really say much up to this point, just took the verbal beating. I hadn't been driving for 2 years at this point so 6 points would have been the end of my license. I apologised, said that I was sure I was only doing 85, which was speeding and that I would be more careful. He then went to his car, got a call on his radio and said I was "very lucky he had somewhere more important to be". All a bit strange.
The next time I was guilty as sin and should have had the book thrown at me really. I had come back from university for a weekend to go and collect some new wheels for my car at the time. I hadn't driven it for months so I may have got a little excited and come very sideways out of a junction onto a small piece of dual carriageway at around 11pm after filling the car up with go juice. Copper was waiting in the lay-by with a speed gun.
The conversation went something like this:
Police - "Do you know how fast you were going?"
Me - "Um... not really, I wasn't looking at the speedo"
Police - "47mph. This is a 40mph zone. Although impressive in such a short distance, you were speeding"
Me - "I'm sorry, not that it's an excuse but I've been at university and haven't driven the car for a while, I got a bit carried away"
Police - "I haven't mentioned the dangerous driving yet"
Me - "Again, I'm very sorry"
He went and had a look round the car at this point, remarked that my tax disc wasn't quite up to date and the rear tyres were looking a little sorry for themselves. I mentioned that I was going to pick up some new wheels and tyres the following day so the tyres would be getting sorted imminently.
I was told to be more careful next time and let on my way. I genuinely have no idea to this day how I got away with it.
I then got pulled the very next day apparently for having no insurance, and having dodgy looking rear tyres on my way down to collecting the aforementioned new items. My insurer wasn't open at weekends and I couldn't find the certificate (it was in the kitchen... 45 miles away) so he took me at my word because "you seem like a nice lad" and said if he caught me with dodgy looking tyres on the way back he would give me some points. Which was fair enough.
I maintain that the Police aren't all bad really, but if you give them lip then you'll probably get a raw deal.
First time I was in my first car and I took a roundabout rather exuberantly and accelerated up the following dual carriageway. Little did I know there was an unmarked car behind me.
I got pulled, he accused me of doing "more than 110" mph up the DC (more than the car was capable of) and that I was showing off. I didn't really say much up to this point, just took the verbal beating. I hadn't been driving for 2 years at this point so 6 points would have been the end of my license. I apologised, said that I was sure I was only doing 85, which was speeding and that I would be more careful. He then went to his car, got a call on his radio and said I was "very lucky he had somewhere more important to be". All a bit strange.
The next time I was guilty as sin and should have had the book thrown at me really. I had come back from university for a weekend to go and collect some new wheels for my car at the time. I hadn't driven it for months so I may have got a little excited and come very sideways out of a junction onto a small piece of dual carriageway at around 11pm after filling the car up with go juice. Copper was waiting in the lay-by with a speed gun.
The conversation went something like this:
Police - "Do you know how fast you were going?"
Me - "Um... not really, I wasn't looking at the speedo"
Police - "47mph. This is a 40mph zone. Although impressive in such a short distance, you were speeding"
Me - "I'm sorry, not that it's an excuse but I've been at university and haven't driven the car for a while, I got a bit carried away"
Police - "I haven't mentioned the dangerous driving yet"
Me - "Again, I'm very sorry"
He went and had a look round the car at this point, remarked that my tax disc wasn't quite up to date and the rear tyres were looking a little sorry for themselves. I mentioned that I was going to pick up some new wheels and tyres the following day so the tyres would be getting sorted imminently.
I was told to be more careful next time and let on my way. I genuinely have no idea to this day how I got away with it.
I then got pulled the very next day apparently for having no insurance, and having dodgy looking rear tyres on my way down to collecting the aforementioned new items. My insurer wasn't open at weekends and I couldn't find the certificate (it was in the kitchen... 45 miles away) so he took me at my word because "you seem like a nice lad" and said if he caught me with dodgy looking tyres on the way back he would give me some points. Which was fair enough.
I maintain that the Police aren't all bad really, but if you give them lip then you'll probably get a raw deal.
Haggleburyfinius said:
On the whole the unmarked car dudes are pretty reasonable.
I found this, 50 in a 30 followed by 75 in a 60 5 months after passing my test (could have seen me lose my license) and I was let off with a few choice words! I was very polite and put on my best private education voice that I have spent so many years trying to get rid of!!!Interestingly, the reason I zoomed off was that his N/S wing mirror of the Skoda Octavia VRS was hanging off - I thought 'That can't be an undercover, they wouldn't possibly drive without fixing that!'
ChasW said:
Daughter's boyfriend in court about two weeks ago having been caught at 107mph on a dual carriageway. He was expecting the worst but must have come across as contrite as the magistrate gave him 6 points and £180! The staff on duty couldn't believe it.
I got the same points but a much larger fine for 125 on the M6.The court staff were staggered as the 3 mags I had were known for being harsh!
I used to have an impreza- but stock as a rock, bought from subaru, when I had it, it was perhaps 12-18 mths old ------- if such a car does exist in the subaru world it wasn't a chav'd up council estate drug dealers wreck. i.e no loud fart can pipe or sticker'd up like it had crashed into halfords window.
add to this at that point I was in my 30's.
probably a lot of my driving was day time, thus in a suit, briefcase on passenger seat, radio 2 on....... I'm a careful type.
however the police loved pulling me over on any pretext.
why- well I live in Bradford....... and a black impreza in Bradford is just the typical gangsta car.
I've also got a very foreign name, which you'd never place where it was from.
so I guess if they anpr'd the car, worth a tug.
on every occasion, the moment they clocked my face, my suit etc------- a stream of nonsensical rubbish came from them about why they'd pulled me.
in fairness- if I were plod- yes I'd have been pulling impreza's in Bradford on every occasion !!!!
and I have no issue whatsoever with plod pulling me over- good job I say in yr policing.
add to this at that point I was in my 30's.
probably a lot of my driving was day time, thus in a suit, briefcase on passenger seat, radio 2 on....... I'm a careful type.
however the police loved pulling me over on any pretext.
why- well I live in Bradford....... and a black impreza in Bradford is just the typical gangsta car.
I've also got a very foreign name, which you'd never place where it was from.
so I guess if they anpr'd the car, worth a tug.
on every occasion, the moment they clocked my face, my suit etc------- a stream of nonsensical rubbish came from them about why they'd pulled me.
in fairness- if I were plod- yes I'd have been pulling impreza's in Bradford on every occasion !!!!
and I have no issue whatsoever with plod pulling me over- good job I say in yr policing.
Many years ago had to drive from Bristol to Barnsley then to Manchester Airport for a flight. If anything could go wrong it did on the journey. Anyway trying to make up time was driving an XR2 turbo well into three figures when from nowhere the rear of the car was full of range rover with lights on. I was slowing down as we went into roadworks. Once through I pulled up jumped out and basically said that I was wrong, I was very late, I was sorry but just quickly give me the ticket so I could at least still make the plane.
One b
king later and the advice to keep it under a hundred and have a nice holiday. Did make the flight just but I did so many wrongs and was very lucky indeed.
One b
king later and the advice to keep it under a hundred and have a nice holiday. Did make the flight just but I did so many wrongs and was very lucky indeed.J8 SVG said:
Interestingly, the reason I zoomed off was that his N/S wing mirror of the Skoda Octavia VRS was hanging off - I thought 'That can't be an undercover, they wouldn't possibly drive without fixing that!'
I had an Octavia estate come flying up behind me late one night with a headlight out, didn't bother slowing down as I assumed a police car would never drive around in that condition. Unfortunately, I almost immediately found out that his blue lights were working fine 
He let me off with a warning and simply said "yeah, I know" when I pointed out the broken light.
Just shows how the actual BiB are better than the cameras.
I got a speed awareness course (would have been 3 points and £60 if I hadn't done it) for doing 80mph on a 3 lane motorway at 4am, on a Sunday. We were on our way up to Gatwick to catch a flight, so I set the cruise control at 76, and it oversped a little too much on a downhill section. Camera on the bridge at the bottom of the hill.
Fairly sure a copper wouldn't even bothered pulling us over for that one.
I got a speed awareness course (would have been 3 points and £60 if I hadn't done it) for doing 80mph on a 3 lane motorway at 4am, on a Sunday. We were on our way up to Gatwick to catch a flight, so I set the cruise control at 76, and it oversped a little too much on a downhill section. Camera on the bridge at the bottom of the hill.
Fairly sure a copper wouldn't even bothered pulling us over for that one.
twice (ish)
First time got let off with 3 pts and £60 for being caught at 101 (had been going faster). I was on a bike, in leathers, 7.15am. I pulled over in a layby which I knew was 1/2 mile ahead, I put the bike on the main stand, took helmet off and was polite and apologetic.
second time was let off completely for 38 in a 30, due to me having pizza on the passenger seat - and he didn't want me to have to take cold pizza home
First time got let off with 3 pts and £60 for being caught at 101 (had been going faster). I was on a bike, in leathers, 7.15am. I pulled over in a layby which I knew was 1/2 mile ahead, I put the bike on the main stand, took helmet off and was polite and apologetic.
second time was let off completely for 38 in a 30, due to me having pizza on the passenger seat - and he didn't want me to have to take cold pizza home
Just last week, in the US..... was doing about 45 in a 30, police motorcyclist coming the other way, he saw me, u-turned and came up behind me with the lights on.
First thing he said to me was "where are you from?" as i clearly look like a bumbling English idiot that doesn't belong. Then he just smiled and gave me directions so i didn't get stuck in roadworks on I-90. He was a very understanding chap. International diplomacy that is
First thing he said to me was "where are you from?" as i clearly look like a bumbling English idiot that doesn't belong. Then he just smiled and gave me directions so i didn't get stuck in roadworks on I-90. He was a very understanding chap. International diplomacy that is
Absolutely. In my misspent youth, I used to get pulled over on what felt like a weekly basis. However luckily my parents always taught me to be polite and respectful, even to officers of the law (a lost art it seems) and so I managed to get away with what could only be called some quite shocking lapses in judgement, including nearly running over an armed police officer once, just by being apologetic and polite.
My friends who loved to give it the big I am to the "filthy rossers" used to always wonder how I got away with it when all their licences were peppered with points.
My friends who loved to give it the big I am to the "filthy rossers" used to always wonder how I got away with it when all their licences were peppered with points.
I've certainly got away with lesser punishments for offences by simply refusing to give an excuse. I've always just admitted it. Got caught at 70 mph in a 40 after burning off a tailgating car on a dual carriageway, who then pulled over and watched as I got pulled.
The copper was so surprised by my frankness, he actually said "so if you had an excuse, what would it have been". We laughed about it, and I walked away with 3 points which could have been a lot worse.
Got caught doing 90 mph in a 30 in a Micra of all things when I was 18. I got breathalysed, and after they'd finished issuing their bking, told me I was lucky that they weren't a traffic car, and even luckier they just wanted to get home for the night and had a good laugh at how a Micra could even reach 90 mph
The copper was so surprised by my frankness, he actually said "so if you had an excuse, what would it have been". We laughed about it, and I walked away with 3 points which could have been a lot worse.
Got caught doing 90 mph in a 30 in a Micra of all things when I was 18. I got breathalysed, and after they'd finished issuing their b
king, told me I was lucky that they weren't a traffic car, and even luckier they just wanted to get home for the night and had a good laugh at how a Micra could even reach 90 mph Dad had a vectra sri estate with vxr body kit, big alloys and tinted rear windows someone else in the company (presumably much younger) had specced, and he'd got when they left. I used to get a lot of "you seem to be very young to be driving a vehicle like this" so kept a copy of the paperwork nearby and kept my driving pretty sensible. The one time I was stopped for speeding in it was on the way to collect a friends mother who didn't drive, after said friend had been t-bar'ed off his bike. They radio'd and checked that someone had been brought into the hospital I stated and let me on my way with words of "But if we catch you doing 34 in a 30 zone..."
Yep.
Walked into a court in 2012, fully expecting to be leaving with a ban, due to being caught speeding at 127mph on a Dual Carriageway.
I had taken legal advice prior to attending, and was given the advice to not try to justify it. I had no family emergency etc to use as mitigating circumstances, and any normal 'it was late at night' / 'it was an empty road and dry' excuses would have just made me look like a chancer. I also never stated that my job was dependant on me driving, as my employer point blank refused to get involved, so didn't write me any letter etc, which in hindsight was understandable.
I completely owned up to it, apologised, and truthfully just said 'no' when I was asked if there was any reason for me to be travelling at that speed etc.
I left without a ban, and with 6pts and a ~£350 fine/costs.
Have been significanlty more sensible since.
Walked into a court in 2012, fully expecting to be leaving with a ban, due to being caught speeding at 127mph on a Dual Carriageway.
I had taken legal advice prior to attending, and was given the advice to not try to justify it. I had no family emergency etc to use as mitigating circumstances, and any normal 'it was late at night' / 'it was an empty road and dry' excuses would have just made me look like a chancer. I also never stated that my job was dependant on me driving, as my employer point blank refused to get involved, so didn't write me any letter etc, which in hindsight was understandable.
I completely owned up to it, apologised, and truthfully just said 'no' when I was asked if there was any reason for me to be travelling at that speed etc.
I left without a ban, and with 6pts and a ~£350 fine/costs.
Have been significanlty more sensible since.
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