More speeding advice wanted

[Windymiller]

Is it still the case that, when caught speeding and the 2 pieces of evidence (is it still 2 that are required) are the police officer and his video system, you need to be followed & recorded speeding for a certain period of time or distance?

Also, is there any way of obtaining the recorded footage without going to court?

I was caught speeding on an empty 50mph dual-carriageway surrounded by fields on Friday by an unmarked Volvo who appeared on the road miles behind just as I was slowing down for a bend.

It's fair enough, but being told "I was going to stop you and just tell you to slow down, but then I changed my mind" it winding me up

Any advice would be most appreciated as this takes me to 10 points after receiving 7 a year ago when I was involved in an accident in my girlfriends car that she 'hadn't got round to insuring me on'

I do 400/500 miles a week so am very worried.

[Windymiller]

Also, I've read that acceptance of a Fixed Penalty thing is admission of guilt. What exactly is 'accepting' it? I wasn't asked, just told that I was being given one.

[Dwight VanDriver]

For the offence of speeding corroboration is required.
This can form the evidence of two officers (one corroborates the other) or the evidence of one officer backed up by mechanical/electronic equipment. i.e. Officer in patrol car with speedometer, Vascar/Radar Gun and the Gatso etc themselves.

In offences involved a timed distance on a follow/Vascar the ACPO Guidelines recommen not less than two tenths of a mile. Nothing specific at law on distance.

Speeding offences can be dealt with in one of two ways.

The Conditional Offer which is made following the issue of a Ticket. The idea behind this is that it allows a person who knows he is Guilty of the offence and has no argument or no more than 8 points on his Licence to get the matter without involving Court and overdone with in 28 days by paying &60 and collecting 3 points on his Licence. As a result a lot of Court time is not taken up on a straight forward matter. This is not an inquisition and there is no requirement at law for the prosecution to disclose any evidence/photograph/video etc although some do.

If CO is ignored, is not accepted or there are grounds for an argument on procedure/evidence etc then a Court case can be elected under a Not Guilty plea when the Prosecution have to to dislose its evidence to the accused.

DVD

[hodsonb]

You may have some joy quoting the "data protection act" at them. It gives you the right of access to any electronic information held on you. A video tape counts.

They can charge you a maximum (I think £10) for the information.

[Windymiller]

He also said he spotted me a mile or 2 back doing just over 30 in a 30 zone, and that's when he was going to 'have a word' but instead waited to see once I hit the totally empty 50-limit dual carriageway.

It's the 'luck of the draw' side of it I hate.

A few years back, I was pulled by an unmarked car for speeding and was being issued with a ticket by one copper whilst the other was looking over my car. I overheard my girlfriend chatting to him, and then he walked over to me, and closed the book on the copper who was writing the ticket and said 'it's allright, I'll sort this one'

Turns out she'd cut his hair for the last 12 months or so (she's a hairdresser). Obviously I was chuffed to get away with it, but the whole corruption of it drove me nuts