Help - handheld laser gun (caught speeding I think)
Discussion
Hi guys,
May not be place to post this but could do with some advice, earlier today I was traveling on the M62 and took the junction to come off to go on the A1 south. For a short section of the junction (dual carriageway) it goes to 50mph before back to 70mph on A1. Anyway, i drove around the bend into the 50 at around 78mph (stupid I know) I started to slow down but not quickly as I had a car up my bum. I noticed police office around corner holding out a hand held laser gun out his windows. When I got closer I could see he wasn't actually looking through it or aiming it and was adjusting his body position. Could I be lucky and he just got there? Or had he just been writing down my license plate and then turning to set up? Who knows. What I am asking is, would he have pulled me then? Or should I expect a NIP in the post? If he caught me at the fastest then am I looking at court appearance and a ban (6 points in one go and I'm in first two years of driving). Also lots cars behind me also speeding I just happened to be first in line. There isn't any excuse for speeding I know this, it was really stupid, but obviously it's done now.
Worth noting he was on his own, and no police car further up.
Please help with advice. I suffer bad anxiety so this is eating away at me. I'm currently a uni student and work as a van driver part time so ban would mean losing my job. Also it's a new car that I saved for and would likely have to sell due to the hike in insurance. I aren't looking for sympathy I know what I did was wrong, just explaining my situation.
May not be place to post this but could do with some advice, earlier today I was traveling on the M62 and took the junction to come off to go on the A1 south. For a short section of the junction (dual carriageway) it goes to 50mph before back to 70mph on A1. Anyway, i drove around the bend into the 50 at around 78mph (stupid I know) I started to slow down but not quickly as I had a car up my bum. I noticed police office around corner holding out a hand held laser gun out his windows. When I got closer I could see he wasn't actually looking through it or aiming it and was adjusting his body position. Could I be lucky and he just got there? Or had he just been writing down my license plate and then turning to set up? Who knows. What I am asking is, would he have pulled me then? Or should I expect a NIP in the post? If he caught me at the fastest then am I looking at court appearance and a ban (6 points in one go and I'm in first two years of driving). Also lots cars behind me also speeding I just happened to be first in line. There isn't any excuse for speeding I know this, it was really stupid, but obviously it's done now.
Worth noting he was on his own, and no police car further up.
Please help with advice. I suffer bad anxiety so this is eating away at me. I'm currently a uni student and work as a van driver part time so ban would mean losing my job. Also it's a new car that I saved for and would likely have to sell due to the hike in insurance. I aren't looking for sympathy I know what I did was wrong, just explaining my situation.
They have 14 days to serve an NIP on the registered keeper. if that is you and you've had nothing within the 14 days, probably nothing will happen.
If they have nabbed you, while 78 in a 50 is 28mph over the limit, they might still offer you a speed awareness course - much depends on policy but, in my experience, you're better off coming clean and get that form back.
A course is £85/no points instead of the £100/3PP.
If it does go to court, there is a discretion as to points but they have guidelines and they are "guidelines not tramlines".
Attending would stand you in good stead, with appropriate contrition. However, they now have a new single justice scheme and I don't have any experience of that.
Guidelines - formatting issue here so imagine the vertical lines. - see sentencing guidelines for motoring offences on the internet - p.131
Speed limit (mph) Recorded speed (mph)
20 21 – 30 31 – 40 41 – 50
30 31 – 40 41 – 50 51 – 60
40 41 – 55 56 – 65 66 – 75
50 51 – 65 66 – 75 76 – 85
60 61 – 80 81 – 90 91 – 100
70 71 – 90 91 – 100 101 – 110
Starting point Band A fine Band B fine Band B fine
Range Band A fine Band B fine Band B fine
Points/disqualification 3 points/ 4 – 6 points / 6 points
Disqualify 7 – 28 days
Disqualify 7 – 56 days
On your scenario (78 in a 50), the guideline would suggest 6 points which, within 2 years, would revert you to provisional status but they could, alternatively, disqualify you for 7 to 56 days which wouldn't (though this will mean you have to declare the disqualification on your insurance, pushing it up).
You could and probably would argue that the 70 to 50 to 70 is confusing and leniency might be the right course. HOWEVER, note that your speedo is likely to be up to 10% higher than your actual speed and you may have been clocked at a slightly lower speed than you think, anyway - so you could have been doing nearer 70.
Ultimately, there is no point "worrying about it", you've either been nicked or you haven't so sit back and wait, you can't change it.
Hand helds are harder to lock on so you may be lucky.
If they have nabbed you, while 78 in a 50 is 28mph over the limit, they might still offer you a speed awareness course - much depends on policy but, in my experience, you're better off coming clean and get that form back.
A course is £85/no points instead of the £100/3PP.
If it does go to court, there is a discretion as to points but they have guidelines and they are "guidelines not tramlines".
Attending would stand you in good stead, with appropriate contrition. However, they now have a new single justice scheme and I don't have any experience of that.
Guidelines - formatting issue here so imagine the vertical lines. - see sentencing guidelines for motoring offences on the internet - p.131
Speed limit (mph) Recorded speed (mph)
20 21 – 30 31 – 40 41 – 50
30 31 – 40 41 – 50 51 – 60
40 41 – 55 56 – 65 66 – 75
50 51 – 65 66 – 75 76 – 85
60 61 – 80 81 – 90 91 – 100
70 71 – 90 91 – 100 101 – 110
Starting point Band A fine Band B fine Band B fine
Range Band A fine Band B fine Band B fine
Points/disqualification 3 points/ 4 – 6 points / 6 points
Disqualify 7 – 28 days
Disqualify 7 – 56 days
On your scenario (78 in a 50), the guideline would suggest 6 points which, within 2 years, would revert you to provisional status but they could, alternatively, disqualify you for 7 to 56 days which wouldn't (though this will mean you have to declare the disqualification on your insurance, pushing it up).
You could and probably would argue that the 70 to 50 to 70 is confusing and leniency might be the right course. HOWEVER, note that your speedo is likely to be up to 10% higher than your actual speed and you may have been clocked at a slightly lower speed than you think, anyway - so you could have been doing nearer 70.
Ultimately, there is no point "worrying about it", you've either been nicked or you haven't so sit back and wait, you can't change it.
Hand helds are harder to lock on so you may be lucky.
I got done for this a few weeks back in a similar scenario. I got stopped immediately then awaited my punishment through the post which was 3 points and £100 fine... I've also seen other YouTube videos of people also getting stopped immediately. One in particular was 2 cars 'racing' but not flat out, they went for the faster car.
I got three points and the usual fine for doing similar a few years ago from a mobile unit.
Early Sunday morning dual carriageway with cruise set at 70 and as i approached the 50 i knocked off cruise and let the car slow itself.
Didn't quite get low enough before i spotted the speed camera van around the corner though!
Early Sunday morning dual carriageway with cruise set at 70 and as i approached the 50 i knocked off cruise and let the car slow itself.
Didn't quite get low enough before i spotted the speed camera van around the corner though!
You can get lucky both with the vans and the handhelds.
You could have caught him at a time when he wasn't actively using/aiming the camera.
I drove up the A38 when I was late for a light from Bristol Airport to Paris. Got stuck behind a tractor for a few miles so as soon as it opened up to two lanes up the hill I just booted it, and as I came over the crest of a hill there was a speed van on the other side. Didn't even touch the brakes as it would have been too late anyway. Nothing came of it, other than me worrying for a couple of weeks.
On a bike night they had one of the camera vans that you could have a look around. The camera in that van had a 100-400mm lens on it.... I'd imagine moving it from one lane to another quickly isn't particularly feasible if they are using it at distance.
You could have caught him at a time when he wasn't actively using/aiming the camera.
I drove up the A38 when I was late for a light from Bristol Airport to Paris. Got stuck behind a tractor for a few miles so as soon as it opened up to two lanes up the hill I just booted it, and as I came over the crest of a hill there was a speed van on the other side. Didn't even touch the brakes as it would have been too late anyway. Nothing came of it, other than me worrying for a couple of weeks.
On a bike night they had one of the camera vans that you could have a look around. The camera in that van had a 100-400mm lens on it.... I'd imagine moving it from one lane to another quickly isn't particularly feasible if they are using it at distance.
spookly said:
You can get lucky both with the vans and the handhelds.
You could have caught him at a time when he wasn't actively using/aiming the camera.
I drove up the A38 when I was late for a light from Bristol Airport to Paris. Got stuck behind a tractor for a few miles so as soon as it opened up to two lanes up the hill I just booted it, and as I came over the crest of a hill there was a speed van on the other side. Didn't even touch the brakes as it would have been too late anyway. Nothing came of it, other than me worrying for a couple of weeks.
On a bike night they had one of the camera vans that you could have a look around. The camera in that van had a 100-400mm lens on it.... I'd imagine moving it from one lane to another quickly isn't particularly feasible if they are using it at distance.
You could have caught him at a time when he wasn't actively using/aiming the camera.
I drove up the A38 when I was late for a light from Bristol Airport to Paris. Got stuck behind a tractor for a few miles so as soon as it opened up to two lanes up the hill I just booted it, and as I came over the crest of a hill there was a speed van on the other side. Didn't even touch the brakes as it would have been too late anyway. Nothing came of it, other than me worrying for a couple of weeks.
On a bike night they had one of the camera vans that you could have a look around. The camera in that van had a 100-400mm lens on it.... I'd imagine moving it from one lane to another quickly isn't particularly feasible if they are using it at distance.
Ahhh mine was just single officer in the 4*4, didn't seem to be looking at the gun or me, just adjusting his body position.
Alucidnation said:
I got three points and the usual fine for doing similar a few years ago from a mobile unit.
Early Sunday morning dual carriageway with cruise set at 70 and as i approached the 50 i knocked off cruise and let the car slow itself.
Didn't quite get low enough before i spotted the speed camera van around the corner though!
Sunday morn on a DC, where / when most of the accidents happen of course.Early Sunday morning dual carriageway with cruise set at 70 and as i approached the 50 i knocked off cruise and let the car slow itself.
Didn't quite get low enough before i spotted the speed camera van around the corner though!
TX.
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