Help!

[Drats]

Got caught last night - time was 9pm, dark but dry - was doing >80 in a 40mph zone - was also described as 'weaving', ie undertaking - road is the one parallel with City airport in London. Is well lit, dual carraige-way and has virtually zero pedestrians - but it is one where police have been making push in last year (doh) as it's easy to catch people - police have no camera/gun evidence of my speed - first officer (bad cop) talked of automatic bans (doing 2x speed limit etc.), but next two said could get off with just a warning letter, who knows? - I was very polite and honest at all times - was drivng my Elise - have no previous traffic offences Know these things are horribbly variable up and down the country. I'm expecting 3 or 6 points and a £xxx fine. Should I expect any worse? Or better?

[nubbin]

What evidence do you have? Is it calibrated speedo? If there is no hard evidence, I suspect a warning, but I understand Police can estimate your speed as unsafe - difficult to see anything other than a hefty fine, 6 points +/- a ban, if they have proper evidence. Have a look at the speeding thread, with other people's punishments...

[Drats]

They showed be no evidence of the speed I was doing, and did not define it more exactly than anything but >80mph. I didn't push them it, because I was trying to play the remorseful good citizen. Only hint was that I asked them what would happen if it went to Court - they said they would have to stand up and give evidence. Clutching at straws?

[Nick M (nmilton)]

Innocent until proven guilty..... A lack of evidence is surely going to hamper their case, even if the pair of stand up and state you speed was in excess of the speed limit I'd be amazed if they could make it stick without anything finite to back it up. People have got off when they've been trapped with a laser gun so you have to be on a better footing than them. I'd be interested to see what Mr Robson has to say about this one.....

[Horse]

I know the road well and always thought it a prime candidate for some "cash cow" Gatsoes. I regularly motor up that bit at the highest speed attainable between roundabouts, traffic allowing. You were unlucky and I sympathise but I think that its a case of 2 plods' word for it being good enough for the magistrate.

[john robson]

Did you get told you would be reported for speeding? I am guessing that you did!. If so the matter could not be dealt with via fixed penalty as it was more than 25mph over the limit. The other ref to 2x the limit is up to the court but they do look at a ban. You were probably clocked using a following check ie calibrated speedo if so they would not have anything to show you. If you do go not guilty the officers would have to go to court and that is where the other evidence of your manner of driving would come in, and in my experience it does you no favours if two cops stand up and coment on say a couple of undertakes,etc etc (only you know how good/bad your driving was). Sometimes it better to go guilty and try and play it down at court at least you won't have the cops there challenging what you say. Was it a traffic patrol that pulled you alternatively it could have just been 2 ordinary cops 'advising' you, it does happen, in which case you will get off with it. In any event you need to improve you observations a little

[Drats]

Thanks. Yep I was told they would report it. I'm not sure they were traffic cops - but car was a lowered Vectra so I guess so. Fully-intend to plead guilty if goes to court. 'Good' cop deliberately said that as it was a first offence, I may get off with a warning letter - but refuce (for obvious) reasons to say whether it was likely or not. Would I be lucky to avoid a ban?

[Drats]

I wasn't cautoinned at any time either - if that makes a difference?

[Marv]

Drats, was the vectra a marked or unmarked car. If it was a traffic car then i would assume it would be fitted with vascar. Does anyone know if there are any recomendations of which type of check to use because surely they would of used they vascar to get more substantial evidence (not that i totally agree with vascars accuracy). When i was done i was cautioned and given a verbal NIP at the scene (which i had to sign). I was under the impression that if you were caught by the cops and they spoke to you they had to warn you of there intention to prosecute you. However they can get you in court with out this if they did not stop you for some reason.. but they did so it seems a little strange to me...maybe you might just get a warning but im not 100% sure on how the system works in these cases.. good luck

[Drats]

Is this at all odd? - all I signed was a producer - I was told it would be up to public prosecutor whether to prosecute or not. - I was not told I was being issued a NIP - they did not offer any evidence of the speed I was doing, and only mentionned vague figures of >80mph - car was marked. Do all traffic cars have speed monitoring equipment?

[Marv]

As far as i am aware you have to sign to say you have accepted the issue of a verbal NIP but i could be wrong.. Every traffic car I have had the good fortune to end up sitting in has always had some form of vascar.. I just assumed it was standard issue for traffic cars but again it might not be the case... I think the public prosecuter will decide whether they have a good chance >50% of winning the case otherwise they will drop it so it could be that you are on the unlucky side of things and they used a calibrated speedo or if it was just an estimation by the offices then you chances could be slightly better that they will drop it? JR will be able to give a clearer view on the procedures and standard equipment used by the police as my info is just from my own expirience..

[Nightmare]

at this stage Id advise waiting until you get a NIP to proceed....if they were traffic cops they will still have to have reported it and you'll get a polite invitation or paperwork of some sort... post more when you have that (if it turns up), cos it should have more details of what they allege you were doing Night