NIP - Single witness, no measuring device (Excess of 50MPH)

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Already posted on Pepipoo, but thought I'd test the general PH opinion on this:


I was traveling along a country B road direction, a police car with a solitary officer was traveling in the opposite direction.

The officer flashed his headlights at me as i passed.
The officer completed a U Turn, and pulled me over.
The officer walked to my window and the converstaion porceeded as follows:

Officer: "I dont know how fast you were going but it was far in excess of the stated speed limit, I am going to report you for an offence" Officer: "...[Caution]..."
Me "I dont think i was" [Speeding].

The officer took my licence, filled out the form, and suggested he was recommending me to go to driver / speed awareness and that a decision would be made (by central ticket office..?) and 'someone' would be in contact whether to prosecute, offer a FPN, or offer the awareness course.

I asked the officer what this decision would be based on

Officer: "my opinion".

I asked the officer if there was any video evidence:
He avoided the question and told me he'd "been a traffic officer for 15 years, argue it with a judge if you like" (I had the impression that there wasn't video evidence)

The traffic car had some kind of recording device in the front windscreen, however I could not say whether it was operating.

I smiled, said nothing more, signed the form and left.

I think I was within the limit, but generally I wonder how any prosecustion would stand up based on the above?

Is it worth fighting if it comes to it, or just roll over...???

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Signed the form as couldn't be bothered with an argument with someone who was clearly going to report me for the offence anyway before I even said anything- and nothing on the form is an admission of guilt as far as I can see.

There's no recorded speed, and under 'Device Used' the officer has written 'opinion'.

As to whether or not I was speeding, I don't think so: the officer disagreed. - Its a country road and i was making progress whilst looking out for hazards etc, not staring at the speedo.

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Apologies for lack of rotation...

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herewego said:

Unless on a motorway there has to be some form of backup. Could he have observed your speed on his speedometer after turning around?

Nope, was down to 40 mph in a nanosecond, I saw him u turn in my RVM, then he drove up to me and pulled me over, I didn't get very far away and saw him tunr around as i wasn't really going that fast!

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There was no chase after u turn, I'd seen him turn with blues, and after being flashed assumed it May be for me so I practically stopped and waited the inevitable.

If I was traveling really fast I'd have been out of view before I saw him turn.

I guess nothing for it now but to wait and see. I don't think I was over but If there's proof I was then I'll take my medicine, but if it relies on that slip then I guess I'll challenge it.

Following previous dealings with Avon and Somerset I'm half expecting 3 other coppers to state that they wereconveniently passing at the same time...

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Just to add, yes was a marked car - mondeo estate.

The police car was about 30-50 yards behind another 'Member of public' car, both were traveling towards me.

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Not exactly. I'll Simply state that my view of A&S Constab is jaded, the reasons for which are not relevant to this topic - my previous comment was largely facetious.

Fundamentally, the topic regards the level of evidence required to prove beyond reasonable doubt, to a magistrate, that an offence was committed; and perhaps to a lesser degree the manner in which such evidence is obtained ("I'm gonna 'ave you Vs objective collation of corroborating facts).

For obvious reason I'm not making any comments about my driving other than my assertion that I believe I was below the limit, (though I'm happy and interested to read the various speculation!!)

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NinjaPower said:

There was a thread a while ago where many people, including myself, admitted gunning it after seeing a police car going in the opposite direction take an interest in them.

I salute your restraint.

...This time

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Time to update: Although it looks as though the last few posts went a little off topic.

I decided not to add any more information whilst correspondence was ongoing with the ticket office, but heres what happened:

Following the roadside stop, I received an invitation to attend a speed awareness course – I replied stating I would be happy to attend once the police sent me copies of any evidence showing me committing the alleged offence.

Afterwards the ticket office replied stating that they wouldn’t share any evidence It went quiet for a few weeks.

The next correspondence was a letter telling me that unfortunately the offence could no longer be dealt with by a course and that I had the choice of a) £100 Fixed Penalty and 3 points, or b) Court.


Again I replied stating that in order to accept any Fixed Penalty I would need evidence otherwise I would be unable to accept. Furthermore, If the case was to go to court I would be requesting said evidence to pass to my solicitor.

Nothing heard since, roadside stop was back in February so I guess by now its all blown over(?).

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55palfers said:

I wonder how many man hours have been wasted on this by Plod and the back room crew?

This is the kind of thing I bear in mind when I hear them bleating about lack of resources. Taxpayer money in action.