Got my first ticket

[IROC]

Hi all,

I got stopped a few months ago for doing 52.89mph in a 30 limit main road. It was at night with noone around (except the cops...obviously!) and before I knew it I was wafting along at that illegal rate of knotts. Traffic police pulled me over, took the details and reported it to the Fiscal. I received the letter through asking if I'm pleading guilty to the offence and if I admit to the convictions. The form goes onto enquire about my earnings, expenses marital status etc.

I'm looking for advise on whether I should just send the form back, or hand it in on person if I attend the court. Has anyone attended the court before or do the majority just send it in and wait for the reply? I have no other convictions. I take it it will just be a hefty fine and no ban or anything like that?

Thanks for any help.

[Streetcop]

Don't really know about Scotland, but in England, you'd be looking at 3-4 points and £150-£500 fine...

Street

[miniandy]

My mate got done doing 50 in a 30 in the middle of the day. His uncle is a criminal lawyer so he decided to fight it and managed to string it out for a whole year and got 3 points and £100 fine. It really depends on if you think you can fight it like he did or if you'd be better off just accepting the fixed penalty. I reckon it will be a court appearance anyway for that speed, so you may aswell fight it.

[IOLAIRE]

IROC said:

Hi all, I got stopped a few months ago for doing 52.89mph in a 30 limit main road. It was at night with noone around (except the cops...obviously!) and before I knew it I was wafting along at that illegal rate of knotts. Traffic police pulled me over, took the details and reported it to the Fiscal. I received the letter through asking if I'm pleading guilty to the offence and if I admit to the convictions. The form goes onto enquire about my earnings, expenses marital status etc. I'm looking for advise on whether I should just send the form back, or hand it in on person if I attend the court. Has anyone attended the court before or do the majority just send it in and wait for the reply? I have no other convictions. I take it it will just be a hefty fine and no ban or anything like that? Thanks for any help.

What definitely helps in Scotland is to appear personally and look good. Clean, well dressed, good suit; address the court confidently but with humility, and offer a plea of mitigation. Now before anyone starts shouting about rights and prejudice, Im talking from years of experience here.
If you go into a court of law and look as if you've made an effort to turn up formally and explain yourself to the court you usually get a lot of credit for it. If you go in with a reversed baseball cap and Levi antifits hanging off your arse they'll throw the book at you.
That's the way it is.

[northernmonkey]

about 2 yrs ago i got 6 points and £400 for 51 in a 30.....i was a bit miffed as the road was not really one you'd expect to be a 30...but hey...fair cop guv. driven like a nun since

[Streetcop]

miniandy said:

His uncle is a criminal lawyer

I love it how they call themselves criminal lawyers....The irony is suberb...

Street